USDA launched an online, knowledge-based search engine that will deliver reliable, relevant information while reducing wait time and conserving taxpayer dollars.  Ask the Expert connects pre-existing systems from the Food Safety and Inspection Service and the Farm Service Agency, allowing consumers to visit one site to find information. The frequently asked questions section pulls information from all USDA agencies, providing answers to a wide range of resources that include loans and grants, civil rights, conservation, and rural and community development. Learn more.

An investigation into the complicated system of milk production and pricing could help the dairy industry, as well as the public understand how the system works and how it could be improved. Prices paid by consumers are not keeping pace with prices paid to those who milk to cows, causing some dairies to take on debt or go out of business. “There are five people who understand how dairy products are priced,” said David Ward, Wisconsin dairy cooperatives. “Four of them are dead and the fifth one is lying,” he joked. (Journal Star) Read more.

No funding will be given for agricultural education next year in Illinois. Last week the state legislature passed a budget that provided no funding for ag education, a move that affects more than 500,000 students and 29,000 teachers. Without the funding, nearly $3,000 will be taken from each agricultural education program in the state. (Brownfield) Learn more.

California farm workers may soon get paid for overtime after eight hours of work. A bill introduced by Sen. Dean Florez and now on its way to the governor’s desk, will require farm workers to receive time and a half in their paycheck after working an eight hour day like other Californians. Currently, farm workers receive overtime after working 10 hours. (Los Angeles Times) Read more.

Soybean planting set a new record high this year with farmers sowing seed in 78.9 million acres of land. According to the USDA Acreage report released this week, record-high planted acreage was reported in Kansas, Nebraska, New York and Pennsylvania, while Minnesota and Oklahoma tied their all-time record highs. Iowa leads all states in soybean acreage with 10.2 million. The overall increase across the U.S. is 1.4 million acres, or two percent, higher than last year. Learn more.

Researchers in northern India have found a connection between cell phone usage and the decline in honeybees in some parts of the world. The study found that cell phones, when fitted to a hive and powered up for two 15-minute periods each day caused the bees to stop producing honey and cut egg production by the queen in half. The U.S. has seen a 30 percent decline in bee population since 2006. Aside from providing honey, bees are estimated to pollinate 90 commercial crops worldwide. (CNN) Read more.

Disaster assistance is being issued to honeybee, livestock and farm-raised fish producers who suffered losses in 2008 due to disease, adverse weather or other conditions. The Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees and Farm-Raised Fish Program, or ELAP, provides more than $10 million in assistance and compensates for losses not covered through Supplemental Agricultural Disaster Assistance Payment programs. Payments issued under ELAP began June 30. Benefits related to 2009 losses are expected to be issued later this summer. Learn more.

The USDA Commodity Credit Corporation, which helps stabilize, support and protect farm income and prices, released interest rates for June. The borrowing rate-based charge is 0.375, unchanged from June, while the 1996 and subsequent crop year commodity and marketing assistance loans dispersed during July is 1.375, also 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.

Farm Service Agency Administrator Jonathan Coppess kicked off the first public meeting of the Modernize and Innovate the Delivery of Agricultural Systems (MIDAS) project this morning, giving a brief overview of the project that is expected to improve the delivery of programs and benefits to farmers and ranchers.

“This is an incredible undertaking and it is not an easy journey,” said Coppess. “It will take a lot of resources and efforts.”

View broadcast of the morning session

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