Category Archives: News

The last sugar plantation in Hawaii could provide jet fuel for the Navy. In a series of public and private partnerships announced by USDA on Wednesday, federal officials said they will budget millions to study producing advanced biofuels from sugarcane … Continue reading →

Researchers at the University of Minnesota will begin a three-year study to solve the declining honey bee mystery. The study, announced Wednesday, will use scientists from across the country to analyze the effects of pesticides and environmental factors on the … Continue reading →

A series of public and private partnerships were announced by USDA on Wednesday that will help establish commercial production of biofuels and other renewable energy systems in Hawaii for use by the U.S. Navy. The partnerships were made in support … Continue reading →

USDA released its Open Government Plan yesterday in an effort to integrate transparency and participation into the agency’s daily operations. “We owe the American people an open and transparent government, but to make the government as effective as possible in … Continue reading →

The state of Kansas has made plans to include agriculture as part of its emergency preparedness plans, even on the county level. State officials, emergency managers and other leaders attended a workshop designed to build capacity to handle agricultural issues … Continue reading →

The first of several energy forums to look into ways of increasing biofuels production and meeting the Navy’s renewable energy needs, took place today in Honolulu. The forum is a result of the memorandum of understanding signed by USDA and … Continue reading →

The United States and Brazil have agreed upon a path toward a negotiated settlement over a long-running cotton dispute. The dispute, brought by Brazil against the United States, was arbitrated by the World Trade Organization, which found agricultural subsidies were … Continue reading →

Former agriculture secretary who served in the Nixon administration and succeeded in limiting subsidy payments to the nation’s largest farmers has died. Clifford Hardin died Sunday at his home in Lincoln, Neb. He was 94. As agriculture secretary, Hardin limited … Continue reading →

The Biomass Crop Assistance Program has boosted the biomass industry, benefitting energy facilities and communities, according to Farm Service Agency Administrator Jonathan Coppess. To date, the program has approved 4,605 agreements for the delivery of more than 4.18 million tons … Continue reading →

The Alaska Farmland Trust is creating an opportunity for local farmers to help preserve farmland for future generations, according to Arthur Keyes, chairperson of the Alaska Farm Service Agency State Committee. In a letter to the editor, Keyes defends the … Continue reading →