The 2008 Farm Bill has created an increase in new organic farming research. Unlike the 1980s when researchers would be ridiculed for studying organic farming, today it is widely acknowledged as more organic farmers look for ways to use natural resources as a part of integrated pest management. The bill has increased research funding from $3 million to $20 million annually and could possibly increase in future years. Read more.
A California judge has ordered the uprooting of genetically modified sugar beets, citing a risk for environmental harm. In a lawsuit filed by environmental groups, U.S. District Judge Jeffrey White ruled that the USDA’s decision in September to allow planting of sugar beets could contaminate other crops. USDA issued permits for planting of the beet seed plants — which have been genetically modified to resist the weed killer Round up — despite a ruling by the same judge earlier this year to hold future planting. The ruling allowed this year’s crop to be planted and harvested, but plants used to produce seed for sugar beets planted in 2012 are affected by the decision. (Associated Press) Read more.
The USDA Commodity Credit Corporation, which helps stabilize, support and protect farm income and prices, released interest rates for December. The borrowing rate-based charge is 0.250, which is unchanged from November, while the 1996 and subsequent crop year commodity and marketing assistance loans dispersed during December is 1.250, 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.
Producers of rice, upland cotton, soybeans and sweet potatoes have a little more than a week to apply for assistance for 2009 losses under the Crop Assistance Program. Nearly $550 million in disaster assistance is available for eligible losses due to excessive moisture or related conditions that occurred in 2009. Producers in counties that received a Secretarial disaster designation must apply by the Dec. 9 deadline in order to be eligible. Learn more.
Farmers and ranchers from Kewa Pueblo affected by three major storms this past summer received much needed information on Farm Service Agency programs from the staff of New Mexico’s FSA. A workshop was held on Nov. 16 to provide information and answer questions from producers who lost their crops and cattle as a result of these storms.
Juan Garcia, state executive director, explains the cycle of production agriculture to the students.
When Terri Trevino heard that the agriculture program in the Calvert Independent School District in Texas might be suspended due to the lack of an instructor, she immediately turned to the Farm Service Agency to fill the gap.
“I knew that it was important to keep the agriculture program active because of the town’s background and dependence on agriculture as a way of life,” said Trevino, farm loan manager for Bell, Falls, Milam and Williamson counties in Texas. “I also know how important the role of a teacher is in keeping kids interested in learning and staying in school.”
States in the Great Lakes region have seen a 10 percent increase in farmland values in the third quarter of 2010. Farmland values in Iowa increased 13 percent compared to the same quarter last year while Indian land values went up 11 percent and Michigan’s land jumped to 10 percent. Illinois saw an 8 percent increase while Wisconsin had the lowest increase of 3 percent. (Brownfield) Read more.
Farm Service Agency programs and the financial support they provide to farmers are important to Montana residents in rural areas, according to the Montana Farmers Union. The group will hold two meetings — Dec. 15 and 16 — in Browning and Plentywood next month to educate producers, especially Native Americans, about applying and qualifying for FSA payments. (Public News Service) Learn more.
More than 60 American farmers have traveled to Afghanistan to help train and convince their Afghan counterparts to grow corn, wheat, rice and other crops instead of poppy, which makes opium that finances the Taliban. But it’s a hard sell. Afghan farmers receive nearly $1,500 per acre of poppy while wheat is worth $500 per acre. U.S. farmers are teaching the Afghans water and soil conservation techniques and showing them how to get their crops to market in hopes of making them more money.
A biotechnology company in Canada has asked USDA to approve a genetically modified apple that won’t turn brown once sliced. The move would help lower the cost of producing fresh apple slices, generally used in kid’s lunchboxes, and increase the overall popularity of the fruit. USDA said it needed to resolve questions about the apple’s quality, cost of planting and whether people would buy it before proceeding. (Associated Press) Read more.
