Construction has started on a $5.2 million agriculture complex in Pittsylvania County, Va., that will serve as a central location for various agricultural businesses and events. The complex will include a 53,000 square-foot indoor arena for horse and cattle shows, a 500-seat conference center and office space for the Virginia Farm Bureau, USDA Farm Service Agency and the Virginia Cooperative Extension. (Danville News) Learn more.
A couple of decades ago, eating local foods was almost extinct in South Carolina. Today, the niche movement to buy locally grown foods has sprouted 23 local markets in Richland County alone, according to the South Carolina Department of Agriculture. For 24 years, Seeds of Hope — a mission outreach group — helped dozens of farmers stay in business after roadside vegetable stands gave way to large packing houses. The organization has recently felt the pressure of competition as the number of farmers markets continues to grow. (The State) Read more or learn more about the Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food initiative.
In the sage words of Kermit the Frog, “It’s not easy being green,” unless of course you are in St. Paul, Minn. on St. Patrick’s Day. While the city and state prepared for the annual St. Patrick’s Day parade, staff members at the Minnesota state office took a break to enjoy a little green of their own.
With the demand for biomass increasing, the U.S. Fuels Standard mandates that 100 million gallons of cellulosic fuel be used as transport fuel in 2010 and 16 billion gallons by 2022. Yet producers wanting to enter the biofuels market are hesitant due to the long-term commitment, novel agronomic practices and unique harvesting equipment. According to Jody Endres of the University of Illinois’ Energy Biosciences Institute, the USDA Biomass Crop Assistance Program can help reduce the risks associated with entering the biofuels industry. (AgWeb) Read more.
Kicking off National Agriculture Week, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack hosted a coffee break today at USDA headquarters in Washington, D.C., where he spoke to young people and challenged them to be catalysts in moving rural America and the agricultural industry into the future.
“Twenty-first century farming is involved in a multitude of things that are significant to our country’s future,” said Vilsack. “The challenge is to reverse some of the economic and population trends in rural communities, increase production through science and create relationships and alliances around the world to provide for countries that don’t have enough food to eat. This is your challenge.”
Record flooding is expected around the Farm Belt in the coming weeks with the potential for historic flooding in some parts of the country this spring. Snow accumulation and an early spring thaw will keep rivers in the Midwest above flood levels for weeks and leave farmers bracing for a delayed planting season. (The Wall Street Journal) Read more.
An amendment to the Farm Storage Facility Loan program now allows for producers to build cold storage facilities to keep their fresh fruits and vegetables. The announcement, made today by Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, is part of the “Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food” initiative that is aimed at strengthening the connection between farmers and consumers and expanding access to healthy food for Americans. The maximum loan amount is $500,000. Applications should be submitted to the Farm Service Agency county office. Learn more.
The only time non-farmers hear about agriculture is when there is an economic crisis or there is objection to agricultural practices. In this commentary, Minnesota Department of Agriculture Commissioner Gene Hugoson explains that National Agriculture Day — to be held March 20 — is a great time to politely correct the misperceptions about agriculture and give thanks to our farmers. (Echo Press) Read more or learn more about Ag Day events.
Members of the South Carolina agriculture industry recently met with Foreign Agricultural Service Administrator John D. Brewer and South Carolina Farm Service Agency State Executive Director Laurie C. Lawson, to come up with ideas on how to expand the export market for farm commodities in the state
“John and I believe we have a responsibility to South Carolina farmers to try and increase the exports in our state,” said Lawson. “This would create more jobs and enhance the economic well being of not only our farmers but the entire state.”
Surviving dairy farms in New Jersey — where there is a lack of state price support and some of the highest costs of doing business than any other farming region in the country — are struggling to stay afloat. Only 93 dairy farms remain in the state, a 39 percent decrease from three years ago, according to the New Jersey Department of Agriculture. Farmers have taken historic losses and some are going out of business since the base rate for milk last year fell below levels seen in 1980. Learn more or read how FSA is helping dairy farmers.
