Faster farm program payments and less paperwork is just a couple of perks expected to come from the modernization of the Farm Service Agency technology infrastructure. USDA announced yesterday that a contract has been awarded to upgrade the agency’s business and information technology. “While it won’t fix everything it will certainly be a significant improvement in how we as an agency conduct our business and how we serve farmers and ranchers across the country through these numerous programs that tend to get more and more complicated as we go,” said FSA Administrator Jonathan Coppess. (USDA Radio Newsline).

Listen to more

The state of Connecticut has been awarded $207,000 by USDA for resource preservation and business development. The grants are part of the Rural Business Enterprise Grant program and a portion of the funding will be used to protect 695,000 acres of natural resources in the northeastern part of the state and allow a nonprofit organization to create a Web site to help farmers locate educations information, business assistance and marketing opportunities. (Hartford Business Journal) Read more.

USDA took the first step in modernizing its technology infrastructure, which will ultimately improve delivery of benefits and services to producers. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that SRA International of Fairfax, Va., has been contracted to modernize the Farm Service Agency’s business and information technology. “USDA is committed to improving service delivery and addressing outdated technology issues to meet the needs of our customers,” said Vilsack. Review the press release.

Americans concerned that the new health care law won’t lower medical costs or insurance premiums need to take a look at the agricultural industry, according to Detroit Free Press Columnist Brian Dickerson. More than a century ago, the government tamed food prices by sponsoring demonstration farms, which used private farmers to systematically test different strategies for boosting production. Similarly, half of the 2,074-page health bill described programs designed to test competing strategies for reducing costs and improving medical outcomes. (Detroit Free Press). Read more.

Completing the 2010 Census is important to farmers and ranchers, according to National Agriculture Statistics Service Administrator Cynthia Clark. The 10-question survey is vital to rural areas because funding for food, roads and farms are allocated by population. The census also determines the number of seats a state has in the House of Representatives and will determine if states lose or gain representation.  (USDA Radio News Line).

Listen to more

Housing developers, who are known for taking over farmland to build planned communities, are now placing farms back into its development plans. The latest trend being offered to residents of new subdivisions is a working farm, giving homeowners access to local food grown in their own community. Most of these projects, which are sprouting up across the country, start with a matchup between an old farm that needs saving and a developer with a vision. (The Washington Post) Read more or learn more about the Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food initiative.

An executive directive by San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom requires all city departments to conduct an audit of unused land that could be converted into gardens. So far, the public library has planted gardens in two of its branches along with the Department of Public Works, McLaren Lodge in Golden Gate Park and the San Francisco Police Academy. The directive also calls for food vendors that contract with the city and vending machines on city property to offer healthy food. (San Francisco Chronicle) Read more or learn more about the Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food initiative.

Pesticides may be to blame in a 4-year mystery of disappearing honeybees, according to a new study published in the Public Library of Science journal. Bees have been declining in the past decade, but in 2006, colony collapse disorder was blamed for large die-offs. The disorder causes bees to abandon their hives and fly off to die. Scientists are concerned because bees play a vital role in the food supply. Nearly one-third of the foods consumed are from plants that require pollination from honeybees. Federal officials and state regulators are ordering new research be conducted on pesticides used in fields and orchards. (AG Week) Read more.