Author Archives: tanya brown

Study: Ozone Reduces Soybean Yields

Posted on August 22, 2011 by tanya brown

Exposure to ozone reduces soybean yields, according to researchers with the USDA Agricultural Research Service. The Soybean Free Air Concentration Enrichment experiments showed that exposure to 82 parts per billion (ppb) ozone reduces soybean yields by an average 23 percent … Continue reading →

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TN FSA State Committee Donates More Than 130 Pounds of Food

Posted on August 22, 2011 by tanya brown

 Pictured l to r: State Committee Members Jack Whittenburg, Eddie Anderson, Robert Collier and Patti Hutchinson. The Tennessee FSA State Committee convened for their August meeting last week and brought with them 138 pounds of non-perishable food items for the … Continue reading →

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USDA Releases Farm Labor Report

Posted on August 19, 2011 by tanya brown

The USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service released its Farm Labor report yesterday. The 19-page report includes information collected from nearly 12,000 farmers across the United States on the number of agricultural workers, hours worked and wage rates at the national … Continue reading →

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New Jersey FSA Volunteers Gleen 4,000 pounds of Food for Hungry

Posted on August 18, 2011 by tanya brown

FSA volunteers gleened pounds of squash and zucchini to deliver to food pantries across New Jersey. It was a beautiful breezy morning on Aug. 10 when USDA employees from offices around the Garden State met at Sun Valley Orchards in … Continue reading →

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USDA Releases Initial FY 2012 Sugar Marketing Allocations

Posted on August 18, 2011 by tanya brown

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Commodity Credit Corporation released its initial fiscal year 2012 overall sugar marketing allotment (OAQ) of 9,456,250 short tons, raw value (STRV). The OAQ is equal to 85 percent of the estimated human consumption for the … Continue reading →

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Texas Drought Causes $5.2 Billion in Losses

Posted on August 17, 2011 by tanya brown

The ongoing drought that has seared the entire state of Texas has led to a record $5.2 billion in agricultural losses, according to the Texas AgriLife Extension Service. The previous record set in 2006 saw a $4.1 billion loss. Texas … Continue reading →

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Partnership Saves County $10,000 While Providing 8,700 Pounds of Food

Posted on August 17, 2011 by tanya brown

The four-acre People’s Garden in Kentucky has produced more than 8,000 pounds of food for hungry families. by Winnie Breeding, Communications Coordinator, KY FSA A four-acre plot of land has saved one Kentucky county thousands of dollars while helping to … Continue reading →

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OPM Vacancy Announcements Extended After Hiring System Goes Down

Posted on August 17, 2011 by tanya brown

The Office of Personnel Management extended vacancy announcements for several days after the USA Staffing system went down last week, losing job applications and hindering job seekers from applying. All vacancy announcements that closed between Aug. 7 and Aug. 10 … Continue reading →

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USDA Making Plans to Cut Red Tape for Farmers

Posted on August 16, 2011 by tanya brown

Farmers wondering why they have to report acreage and crop information to multiple agencies may soon be getting a reprieve. USDA is working on a process to standardize information that must be reported to the Farm Service Agency, Rural Development … Continue reading →

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Partnerships Help Farmers and the Environment

Posted on August 15, 2011 by tanya brown

by Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack   America’s farmers are among our nation’s first and finest conservationists.  And at USDA, we support their work to protect natural landscapes by improving water and air quality, and preserving wildlife habitat, forests and soil. This … Continue reading →

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