Category Archives: News

USDA has awarded 54 grants totaling $55 million to enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops in the marketplace. Specialty crops are considered to be fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, horticulture and nursery crops. The grants will fund 827 projects … Continue reading →

Two new breeds of soybeans may produce oil that is more beneficial to the heart, according to scientists at the USDA Agricultural Research Service. The new genetic lines have an 80 percent concentration of oleic acid compared to 20 percent … Continue reading →

Farmers in 26 states may be eligible for a portion of the $630 million in disaster aid announced yesterday by the USDA to help producers re-establish purchasing power. The aid fulfills a campaign promise by the Obama administration to Arkansas … Continue reading →

Volunteers in Vermont spent Tuesday gleaning produce from area farms as part of the USDA People’s Garden initiative. City Market’s Eat Local Week in Burlington, Vt., gives farmers an opportunity to open up their fields for volunteers to pick up … Continue reading →

Scientists with the USDA Agricultural Research Service released the sequenced genome of the cacao tree, a feat that will help protect small farmers by speeding up development and creating trees that are resistant to drought and disease. The cacao tree … Continue reading →

USDA will accept 4.3 million acres offered by landowners to preserve and enhance environmentally sensitive lands under the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP). This was the 39th general sign-up of the CRP, which will protect millions of acres of topsoil from … Continue reading →

The National Farmers Union along with the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union is accusing Wal-Mart of unfairly cutting food costs at farmer’s expense. Previously, farmers and ranchers focused their attention to Tyson Foods Inc. and Smithfield Foods Inc. … Continue reading →

USDA lowered its corn production and yield estimates by 2 percent compared to last month’s figures. The lowered figures still keeps U.S. corn production on record-setting pace, producing 50 million bushels more than the previous record set in 2009. The … Continue reading →

USDA has awarded $1.9 million to Lincolnway Energy LLC, to stop it from burning fossil fuels in favor of renewable biomass for production of biofuel. The Iowa-based company produces between 55 to 60 million gallons of fuel-grade ethanol each year. … Continue reading →