Tobacco quota holders and producers not enrolled in the Tobacco Transition Program (TTPP) have until Nov.1 to sign up and receive a 2011 TTPP payment. The TTPP, also known as the tobacco buy-out program, was designed to help U.S. tobacco producers transition to the free market. Enrollment must be completed at the Farm Service Agency county office where the contract holder’s or producer’s farm records are maintained. Read more.
The Environmental Protection Agency is expected to raise the current ethanol blend cap from 10 to 15 by next month. If approved, the E15 blend will be available by next spring. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said he expects EPA to have a decision by mid-October, after the Department of Energy completes its testing of the higher blend on 2007 and newer vehicles. (Brownfield) Learn more.
Loan rates for the 2010 sugar crop will increase beginning Oct. 1. The USDA Commodity Credit Corporation raised rates to 18.5 cents per pound for raw cane sugar and 23.77 cents per pound for refined beet sugar. The national loan rates are adjustable regionally to reflect marketing cost differentials and are based on the same methodology as 2009 loan rates. Read more.
Farm Service Agency Administrator Jonathan Coppess, hosted an informal round table discussion with farmers during the Farm Science Review, held this week in London, Ohio. Having grown up in Darke County, Ohio, Coppess felt right at home talking to farmers from the surrounding area.
Coppess addressed about 20 producers, giving them an overview of FSA and how it operates. “FSA’s nearly 2,200 offices and roughly 14,000 employees make up the delivery system for farm programs like ACRE, SURE and various conservation and disaster programs,” said Coppess, who also acknowledged the number of students attending the Farm Science Review. “This is a good sign for the future of agriculture,” he said.
Dairy policy experts presented programs to assist the Dairy Industry Advisory Committee find solutions to price and income volatility in the industry. Pictured from l to r: Andrew Novakovic, DIAC chairman; Chuck Nicholson, Ph.D., California Polytechnic State University at San Luis Obispo; Mark Stephenson, Ph.D., University of Wisconsin; Scott Brown, Ph.D., Food and Agricultural Policy research Institute; Wayne Knoblauch, Ph.D., Cornell University.
“There is an issue. There is a problem,” said Charles Nicholson, Ph.D., agribusiness professor at California Polytechnic State University at San Luis Obispo. “There has been an extreme level of volatility and [if policies do not change] the length and depth of the increases and decreases will grow greater and deeper.”
North Dakota SED Aaron Krauter discusses farm programs with a group of representatives from Kazakhstan.
State Executive Director Aaron Krauter and program specialist Dale Ihry explained several FSA programs to the delegation, including direct payments, Average Crop Revenue Election (ACRE) and conservation programs. The programs, Krauter explained, are part of the U.S. public policy of supporting production agriculture to ensure a safe, nutritious and consistent supply of food to consumers. “We’ve never gone hungry in this country,” Krauter said.
Ted C. Smiarowski (left), pictured with Tom Smiarowski of MA FSA, received the Outstanding Customer Service Effort Award last week during the Western Massachusetts Federal Executives Award Ceremony.
Ted C. Smiarowski, county executive director of Farm Service Agency in Hampshire/Hampden counties in Massachusetts has been awarded the Outstanding Customer Service Effort Award during the Western Massachusetts Federal Executives Award Ceremony held last week. The award recognizes individuals who have demonstrated a strong commitment to improving customer service, customer satisfaction, leadership and overall customer relations. Smiarowski has been with FSA since 1978 and has served as county executive director since 1989.
Sunny skies and warm temperatures were on tap for the 48th annual Ohio State University Farm Science Review. The three day event — held Sept. 21-23 — garners more than 140,000 visitors that can see nearly 4,000 products presented by more than 600 commercial exhibitors. Attendees are able to learn about the latest in agricultural research, conservation, gardening, landscaping and a host of other innovative technologies.
The number of milk cows decreased for the first time this year, dropping 8,000 heads from July to August, according to USDA Livestock Analyst Sayle Shagam. But the drop has not affected output. Milk production is up almost three percent from a year ago and could top last year’s numbers by 3.5 pounds. (USDA Radio Newsline). Listen to more.
Montana grocery stores and supermarkets are amazing places.
The fresh produce, meat and dairy products on our shelves are astounding. The cereals and breads are so plentiful and various you wonder if anyone has ever taken the time to try them all. The soups, jams, and jellies stretch aisle after aisle.
Nowhere in the world is such a wide array of food available to everyday consumers like it is in America. It’s important to consider the farmers, ranchers and growers who work every day to produce this bounty of food, fiber and fuel we use every day. Read more.
