Smoke plumes from the wildfires in Texas that have destroyed more than 1,400 homes and thousands of acres of land can be seen from the International Space Station. (Click to see larger image).
USDA is deploying personnel and resources to assist the efforts by federal, state and local authorities along the East Coast in response to the livestock and crop damage caused by Hurricane Irene. "We continue to closely coordinate with many partners to meet the immediate and plan for the long-term needs of those affected by Hurricane Irene," said Agriculture Secretary Vilsack. “Our thoughts and prayers go out to all who have suffered losses caused by this massive storm. USDA is ready to provide food, emergency assistance and other resources to the affected areas.” Learn more.
Certain bovine diseases could be part of a cows genetic makeup, according to a study by the USDA Agricultural Research Service. Researchers have discovered a location on a bovine chromosome that is associated with the incidence of pinkeye, foot rot and bovine respiratory disease. The results could provide an opportunity to produce cattle with increased disease tolerance, which could help reduce economic losses. Read more.
Employees from the Jefferson and Dane County Farm Service Agency in Wisconsin got dirty for a good cause. The female-only Dirty Girl Mud Run — held at Milford Hills Hunt Club in Johnson Creek — is a 5K run with 11 military-inspired obstacles. A portion of the proceeds support breast cancer research, awareness and education. Participants included: Sue Andersen, Melissa Gross, Sara Eggert, Judy Lund, Tracy Brandel, Deb Schut, Haley Mell, Kelly Palmer, Jennifer Dempsey and Chrissy Spilde.
Pictured (from l to r): Ralph Bellamy, Kathy Mackay, Janet Coleman, Shelly Evans, Jackie Norfleet, Lisa Parchman, Ron Eldridge and Scott Turpin.
USDA Farm Service Agency Service Center in Clarksville, Tenn., collected 669 pounds for the Feds Feed Families initiative this summer. The staff chose Manna Café Ministries to receive their donation. The food drive, spearheaded by Kathy Mackay and Jackie Norfleet, ran for three months. Manna Café Ministries provides 500 meals each week and 800 boxes of food to the needy in the Clarksville area. Along with a hot meal, a goody bag of non-perishable food items is provided to help individuals through the week.
The Garcia family’s farm and dream home was purchased with help from the Farm Service Agency. Pictured (l to r) Micaela, Alex, Cesar, Ivan, Hector and Edgar.
by Bonita Pfannenstiel, farm loan officer, Ness City, Kan.
Call it fate or good fortune. When Cesar Garcia started working with the Pawnee County Farm Service Agency staff in Kansas, he developed a relationship that would help achieve his dream of owning a farm.
“The Pawnee County staff has been a great help. I would say it is an opportunity of a life-time for me,” said Garcia, who has lived in the Garfield/Kinsley area since 1985. “My family and I are very thankful to [FSA] for giving us the opportunity to own our own farm.”
The USDA Commodity Credit Corporation, which helps stabilize, support and protect farm income and prices, released interest rates for August 2011. The borrowing rate-based charge is 0.125, which is unchanged from August 2011, while the 1996 and subsequent crop year commodity and marketing assistance loans dispersed during September is 1.125, unchanged from last month. Interest rates for Farm Storage Facility Loans and discount rates for the Tobacco Transition Payment Program also are available. Read more.
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack praised the resiliency of farmers and ranchers after the Farm Income report, released this week, showed U.S. farm income set to hit a record high.
“This year brought a host of challenges for America’s farmers, ranchers and producers: Hurricanes, floods, drought and other extreme weather have driven thousands of Americans from their homes, destroyed crops, and threatened our rural communities. But despite the setbacks, American agriculture is thriving, demonstrating again that the men and women who own and operate America’s farms and ranches are some of the most resilient in the world. Read Vilsack's entire statement.
A union representing federal employees has told The Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction to leave federal employees alone and target contractors as a way of cutting federal spending. Known as the supercommittee, the 12-member group was formed as part of the law that raised the nation’s debt ceiling and is tasked with reducing federal spending. In a letter to the Sen. Patty Murray, the American Federation for Government Employees said that federal employees have already contributed to reducing the nation’s debt and before cutting federal employees, agencies should be forced to get rid of contractors first. Read more (Federal Daily).
Emergency grazing for acres enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program has been extended for producers in El Paso and Elbert counties in Colorado. Eligible producers must obtain approval from FSA before haying eligible acres. The extension runs through Sept. 30, 2011. Learn more.
