Category Archives: Features

FSA Youth Loans Build Future Farmers

Posted on April 19, 2011 by tanya brown

 Rebecca Hatcher and Jake Broadway got their first taste of the cattle business through an FSA Youth Loan.   by Patricia F. Jones, farm loan officer, Winchester, TN Across our communities, young farmers are taking out loans, rolling up their sleeves … Continue reading →

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Celebrating 25 Years of CRP

Posted on April 8, 2011 by tanya brown

The Conservation Reserve Program, which has protected the nation’s natural resources since 1985, is celebrating its 25th anniversary. In March 1986, the first CRP contract was signed, igniting a movement that has helped reduce soil erosion by 622 million tons, … Continue reading →

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Connecticut Farmer Honored for Sustainability, Conservation Efforts

Posted on March 28, 2011 by tanya brown

by Dawn Pindell, Windham County FSA A Windham County, Conn., resident was recognized as an outstanding farmer during Ag Week for utilizing environmentally conscious technology and progressive agriculture sustainability. Matthew Peckham, who operates a dairy farm with 140 Holstein and … Continue reading →

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USDA, Producers Meet to Strengthen Partnership

Posted on March 24, 2011 by tanya brown

With the thoughts of spring planting on their minds, more than 200 producers and local agricultural staff discussed ways USDA can strengthen the partnership between small farmers and the USDA agencies that serve them. Eleven different USDA agencies converged earlier … Continue reading →

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Farmers Resort to Making Their Own Energy

Posted on March 24, 2011 by tanya brown

More than 8,500 producers across the U.S. have resorted to making their own energy. According to a USDA survey, the results have led to a significant energy and money savings.

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Panther Spotted at Idaho School Purrrmoting Healthy Eating

Posted on March 15, 2011 by tanya brown

Story by Joseph Claverie, California FSA Photos by Candy Moore, Idaho FSA This month the Farm Service Agency showcased its versatile talent as Idaho FSA State Director Dick Rush entertained students at Owyhee Harbor Elementary school by climbing into a blue panther … Continue reading →

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Researchers Rediscover Heat, Pest, Drought-Resistant Forage Grass

Posted on March 10, 2011 by tanya brown

An unusual forage grass has been rediscovered. USDA researchers in Wisconsin have rediscovered meadow fescue, a highly adaptable, winter-hardy grass that producer Charles Opitz found on his dairy farm. A fungi that lives inside meadow fescue helps it survive heat, … Continue reading →

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Study: Grazing Improves Soil Quality, Reduces Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Posted on March 3, 2011 by tanya brown

Land that has been moderately grazed restores soil quality and cuts greenhouse gases, according to researchers with the USDA Agricultural Research Service. The study, conducted on rolling, eroded land in northeastern Georgia, showed that fertilizer type made no difference in … Continue reading →

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Farm Economy Strong, Poised to Set Record

Posted on February 24, 2011 by tanya brown

The farm economy is quite strong and 2011 is expected to bring record numbers, according to USDA Chief Economist Joe Glauber. Speaking before a crowd of nearly 2,000 people during the Agricultural Outlook Forum in Alexandria, Va., Glauber said that … Continue reading →

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Agriculture is Leader in Economic Recovery

Posted on February 23, 2011 by tanya brown

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack gave a statement before the U.S. House of Representatives last week, indicating that agriculture is leading the U.S. economic recovery. Although the farm economy remains strong and debt levels have stabilized, Vilsack warned that prices are increasing, … Continue reading →

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