Gould Hill Orchards has been a part of the small town of Hopkinton, N.H., since the 1700’s. It wasn’t until 2008 that the 80-acre farm faced possible extinction.
That is until Amy and Tim Bassett moved to the area.
After leasing the land for a couple of years the Bassett’s have now become the third family in more than 250 years to own and operate Gould Hill Orchards.
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California farmers have reduced a key component of smog by 1,349 tons by replacing old diesel tractors with cleaner-running farm equipment. Within the past two years, a program through the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service has helped replace 814 aging tractors with newer equipment. The result is a reduction in smog that is the equivalent to removing 408,000 cars from California highways. (The Mercury News) Read more.
USDA has issued final 2009-crop counter-cyclical payments to farmers enrolled in the direct and counter-cyclical program for upland cotton and peanuts. The final payment rate for upland cotton is 1.68 cents per pound while the final payment for peanuts is $25 per ton. “It is vital that we continue to support the hard work of the farmers who depend on these payments to help produce these crops,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. Learn more.
Final payments under the Dairy Economic Loss Assistance Payment program are underway, according to a USDA press release. The program helps offset financial losses experienced by dairy farmers due to declining milk prices. Of the $290 million budgeted for the program, $273 million was dispersed to producers under the first two phases. The remaining $17 million minus a reserve established by the Farm Service Agency will be distributed under Phase III. Learn more.
Nearly $550 million in disaster assistance will be issued to producers of rice, upland cotton, soybeans and sweet potatoes who suffered losses due to excessive moisture in 2009. Through the Crop Assistance Program, producers of eligible crops on farms in disaster counties who certify to a 5 percent or greater loss in 2009 will receive a payment based on a predetermined rate. Read more or view a list of disaster counties.
Pictured from left to right are Jean Johnson, Deb Dehmer, Laurel Light and Mary Spangler (photo by MN Star News).
Employees of the Elk River USDA Service Center in Minnesota dressed in pink — and even turned their hair pink — on Wed., Oct. 20 for Wear Pink Day for the USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA). Wear Pink Day was held nationally to raise awareness of breast cancer through FSA offices. (Minnesota Star News) Read more.
A dairy farm just outside Sturgeon Bay, Wis., is growing its operation in order to prepare it for the next generation. Cycle Farm is named for the changing business cycles and seasons that are evident in all farming operations. The Brey Family, who owns and operates the farm, are expanding their herd size and providing ownership opportunities to all family members to transition it over to a multiple family member business.
A renewable energy program that will help create a national biofuels industry has received final approval and will support the Obama administration’s efforts to create jobs, mitigate the effects of climate change and promote production of fuel from renewable sources. Announced today by Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack during a speech at the National Press Club in Washington, the Biomass Crop Assistance Program will ensure that a sufficiently large base of new, non-food, non-feed biomass crops is established in anticipation of future demand for renewable energy consumption. "By producing more biofuels in America, we will create jobs, combat global warming, replace our dependence on foreign oil and build a stronger foundation for the 21st century economy," said Vilsack. Read more.
USDA has approved the addition of 95,000 acres for conservation projects in Idaho, Kansas and Washington. The acreage will be added through Conservation Reserve Program State Acres for Wildlife Enhancement. “These additional SAFE acres will provide new opportunities for state and regional agencies, non-profit organizations, farm groups and other conservation partners to work with farmers and ranchers to restore wildlife habitats and conserve rare species before they have to be listed under the Endangered Species Act,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. Learn more.
