The first of several energy forums to look into ways of increasing biofuels production and meeting the Navy’s renewable energy needs, took place today in Honolulu. The forum is a result of the memorandum of understanding signed by USDA and the Department of the Navy to encourage the development of renewable energy. “As we continue to expand efforts to build a clean energy economy, create new jobs and reduce our dependence on foreign oil, we can use the Navy's fleet as a catalyst to increase demand for biofuels and spur economic opportunity in rural communities throughout the country," said Agriculture Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan. Review the press release.

The United States and Brazil have agreed upon a path toward a negotiated settlement over a long-running cotton dispute. The dispute, brought by Brazil against the United States, was arbitrated by the World Trade Organization, which found agricultural subsidies were inconsistent with WTO commitments. The arbitration awards in the dispute allowed Brazil to provide countermeasures against U.S. trade. The latest agreement will allow the United States to establish a fund to provide technical assistance and capacity building in Brazil, while the Government of Brazil has agreed not to impose any countermeasures on U.S. trade on April 7. Review the press release.

Former agriculture secretary who served in the Nixon administration and succeeded in limiting subsidy payments to the nation’s largest farmers has died. Clifford Hardin died Sunday at his home in Lincoln, Neb. He was 94. As agriculture secretary, Hardin limited federal subsidies to any one farm to $55,000 on each of three basic crops that included cotton, wheat and feed grains. He also proposed a “set-aside” plan that called for farmers to agree to leave a percentage of their land idle to qualify for federal payments and price support. (The New York Times). Read more.

The Biomass Crop Assistance Program has boosted the biomass industry, benefitting energy facilities and communities, according to Farm Service Agency Administrator Jonathan Coppess. To date, the program has approved 4,605 agreements for the delivery of more than 4.18 million tons of biomass and paid biomass owners $165,274,695 in matching payments. Read more.

The Alaska Farmland Trust is creating an opportunity for local farmers to help preserve farmland for future generations, according to Arthur Keyes, chairperson of the Alaska Farm Service Agency State Committee. In a letter to the editor, Keyes defends the program — which was written about in a previous article “In Farm We Trust” — after the borough’s assembly could not reach a decision on whether to continue matching federal grants to help preserve farmland. They also argued that the private sector should step in to help preserve farmland and not the federal government. Read the letter to the editor or “In Farms We Trust.”

Maryland farmers told Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack yesterday that environmental regulations along with federal estate taxes add to their growing list of challenges as their influence continues to shrink. Vilsack said he is pushing policies to aid owners of small farms, much like those in parts of southern Maryland, by promoting local consumption of local produce and expanding broadband in rural areas to help farmers better run their business. Read more.