Category Archives: News

Producers have until Friday, June 1 to apply for assistance for the 2010 crop losses under the Supplemental Revenue Assistance Payments (SURE) program. SURE provides disaster assistance to eligible producers on farms that have incurred crop production or quality losses. … Continue reading →

More than 120,000 Thrift Savings Plan participants had their personal information compromised last month after a cyber attack on a TSP third party service provider computer. According to a Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board press release, the names, addresses and … Continue reading →

As President Lincoln said in his last annual address to Congress, the Department of Agriculture “is precisely the people’s Department, in which they feel more directly concerned that in any other.” Many don’t realize it, but USDA plays a unique … Continue reading →

The U.S. Department of Agriculture will accept 3.9 million acres offered under the 43rd Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) general sign-up. During the five-week sign-up period, the department received nearly 48,000 offers from landowners to become a part of the 25-year-old … Continue reading →

Only one week remains for producers to enroll in the 2012 Direct and Counter-Cyclical Payment (DCP) program. DCP provides payments to eligible producers on farms enrolled for the 2008-2012 crop years. Both direct payments and counter-cyclical payments are calculated using … Continue reading →

The Farm Service Agency is seeking comments on a proposal to improve its operating loan program to better meet the needs of small farmers. The new microloan program would simplify and streamline the application process and cut the paperwork in … Continue reading →

Only two weeks remain for producers to enroll in the 2012 Direct and Counter-Cyclical Payment (DCP) program. DCP provides payments to eligible producers on farms enrolled for the 2008-2012 crop years. Both direct payments and counter-cyclical payments are calculated using … Continue reading →

Federal employees are one step closer to contributing more money to their retirement. The House last week passed a measure that would require feds to pay an additional 5 percent of their salary toward retirement. The increase would be phased … Continue reading →

(From l to r) Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, Mika Brzezinski and Former Congressman Joe Scarborough (R-Fla.) hosts of MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” and masters of ceremony listen to Secretary Vilsack explain the history and importance of American agriculture. The U.S. Department … Continue reading →

The 2012 deadline to enroll in the Direct and Counter-Cyclical Payment (DCP) program is quickly approaching. DCP provides payments to eligible producers on farms enrolled for the 2008-2012 crop years. Both direct payments and counter-cyclical payments are calculated using base … Continue reading →