Several Florida counties have been designated primary natural disaster areas due to crop losses caused by Tropical Storm Ida. Farmers in Escambia and Rosa Counties qualify for emergency loans provided by the USDA Farm Service Agency along with Okaloosa County, which is contiguous. Operators in Baldwin and Escambia Counties in the adjacent state of Alabama also qualify. Read more.

Farmers in Greene County, Ark., are eligible for emergency loans from the USDA Farm Service Agency after the county was designated a natural disaster area due to abnormally cool summer temperatures and excessive rainfall. Dunklin County in Missouri also qualifies for natural disaster assistance because it is contiguous to Green County. Read the press release.

The National Agricultural Statistics Service released new satellite images of national agricultural land cover for the 2009 crop year. The images serve as a tool for monitoring crop rotation patterns, land use changes, water resources and carbon emissions. Images are available for all 48 contiguous states, except Florida, which is scheduled to be available this spring. Learn more or view the images.

USDA will allocate $234.5 million to 70 trade organizations to help promote American food and agricultural products overseas. The funding, which was announced today, will “provide our exporters with the resources they need to compete overseas during the 21st century,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. Read the press release.

A study conducted by the USDA Economic Research Service shows that fewer farmers rely on debt to operate their farms. In an interview with USDA Daily Radio News, Economic Researcher Michael Harris, stated that debt has grown, but not as fast as asset values, and fewer farms end the year with outstanding debt than in the past.

Listen to the interview

Weather conditions that were too wet, too dry or too cold took its toll on apple and cranberry crops in Wisconsin, according to USDA. Farmers grew nearly 44 million pounds of apples, down 31 percent from last year. Cranberries dipped 13 percent from last year to four million barrels. (Chicago Tribune) Read the story.

Crop insurers have proposed to take a $100 million-per-year cut in subsidies, which is much less than the $800 million introduced by USDA’s Risk Management Agency as part of a renegotiation of the 5-year standard reinsurance agreement. (AgWeek) Read more.