What once was a barren plot of soggy grass in front of a Brooklyn, N.Y., high school has been turned into a 10,000-square-foot vegetable farm that yields more than 500 pounds of organic produce each week. The principal of the High School for Public Service, along with BK Farmyards, an urban farming collective, conceived the idea. But it was the nearly 150 students who planted more than 60 varieties of vegetables, including lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers and corn. The project was designed to teach about healthy eating and provide fresh vegetables to a neighborhood that has limited access. (NY Daily News) Read more.

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has appointed 11 new members to the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Advisory Committee. The committee gives advice to the secretary on programs for beginning farmers and ranchers and also works to enhance and expand federal-state partnerships to provide financing opportunities. “These new agricultural entrepreneurs are the cornerstone to a vibrant rural America and the future of all agriculture,” said Vilsack. “I will look to this committee to provide guidance to me as we prepare recommendations for the 2012 Farm Bill.” Learn more.

USDA will host three public meetings this month to discuss animal disease traceability. The agency is drafting regulations to implement a livestock tracking system that will help reduce disease outbreaks by allowing officials to trace the disease to a particular group of animals. A similar system, which was voluntary, was dropped by the agency in February, due to implementation costs. The new structure will consider low-cost options and only pertain to animals that cross interstate borders. Find information on upcoming public meetings.

U.S. farmers are set to produce the largest corn and soybean crop in history, according to the USDA Crop Production report released today. As of Aug. 1, corn yields are expected to average a record-high 165 bushels per acre, which is up 0.3 bushels from last year’s record-setting yield. Soybean yields are expected to equal last year’s record of 44 bushels per acre. Cotton production also is expected to jump 52 percent from last year to 18.5 million, 480-pound bales. Review the report.

A biochemist at USDA has found a way to use butter to produce biodiesel fuel. The research, presented by Michael J. Haas and printed in the June issue of the Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry, proved that butter alone could not be used as an alternative fuel, but mixed with biodiesel from other feedstocks could produce a blend that meets current quality standards for biodiesel. Review the findings. (Related article: New York Times).