Author Archives: tanya brown

Federal Within-Grade Raises, Bonuses on Tight Leash

Posted on July 13, 2011 by tanya brown

Federal pay raises and bonuses are on a short leash. A memo issued last month by Office of Personnel Management Director John Berry told agencies not to give within-grade step increases to employees who are rated lower than fully successful. … Continue reading →

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Florida Orange Forecast Down, But Better Than Last Season

Posted on July 13, 2011 by tanya brown

The Florida orange forecast for the 2010-11 growing season was reduced to 139 million boxes, but still remains above the 133.6 million produced in 2009-10. According to a report by the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service, grapefruit production remains at … Continue reading →

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Online Resource Helps Producers Get Products to Market

Posted on July 12, 2011 by tanya brown

Just because a producer works at a smaller operation doesn’t mean he or she can’t sell on a bigger scale. And the size of a farm shouldn’t limit a producer’s ability to feed local foods to local people. But how … Continue reading →

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Reminder: Deadline for SURE Program Quickly Approaching

Posted on July 12, 2011 by tanya brown

Farmer and ranchers applying for assistance for 2009 crop losses under the Supplemental Revenue Assistance Payments (SURE) program have a little more than two weeks to submit an application. SURE provides crop disaster assistance to eligible producers that have suffered … Continue reading →

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Report: Farmers Prefer Using Genetically Engineered Crops

Posted on July 11, 2011 by tanya brown

American farmers are planting more genetically engineered varieties of soybeans, cotton and corn as opposed to conventional and organic seed, according to a report by the USDA Economic Research Service. The use of genetically engineered corn increased to 88 percent … Continue reading →

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New Online Resource Provides Quick Answers to Software Questions

Posted on July 8, 2011 by tanya brown

Staff searching for a central location to find solutions to their software questions have a place to turn. The Quick Tips and Resource Links site, or QTips is now available to help answer specific questions about Microsoft Office programs such … Continue reading →

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Indiana FSA Bids Farewell to Ag Broadcaster

Posted on July 7, 2011 by tanya brown

Dave Russell (center, holding plaque) was recognized by Indiana FSA employees for 30 years of broadcasting service to the agriculture community. The Indiana Farm Service Agency office bid farewell to Dave Russell, broadcaster with Brownfield Radio Farm Broadcasters, after more … Continue reading →

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New Ethanol Plant to Bring $14 Million to Iowa Farmers

Posted on July 7, 2011 by tanya brown

The development of the nation’s first commercial-scale cellulosic ethanol plant could bring nearly $14 million in new revenue to Iowa farmers. Announced today by U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu, Project LIBERTY will produce up to 25 million gallons of ethanol … Continue reading →

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Dairy Operation Brands Itself Onto Supermarket Shelves With FSA Help

Posted on July 6, 2011 by tanya brown

 Once one of the largest tobacco making farms, The Chaney Family Farm has reinvented itself into a profitable dairy operation that has an ice cream shop and movie night. by Winnie Breeding, Kentucky FSA State Office If you were to ask … Continue reading →

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Southern Drought Takes Toll on Cotton Crops

Posted on July 6, 2011 by tanya brown

The drought that has overtaken most of the south is having a profound impact on the cotton crop, according to USDA meteorologist Brad Rippey. The situation is desperate in Oklahoma where 43 percent of the cotton was rated very poor … Continue reading →

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