A growing trend to sell agricultural commodities directly to consumers has surged among farmers in the past ten years. According to USDA Economist Michelle Dapra, direct-to-consumer sales has jumped 120 percent, yet that increase only accounts for one percent of overall agricultural sales.
Milk production in the 23 major states during December 2009 totaled 14.6 billion pounds, down 0.8 percent from December 2008, according to the USDA National Agriculture Statistics Service. Although production per cow increased 29 pounds above December 2008 averages, the number of milk cows decreased by 206,000. Read the report.
A job forum hosted by USDA will give residents of Yolo and Solano counties a chance tell what programs and policies are needed in the rural areas. Dubbed “a town hall listening session,” the forum — which will be held Tuesday, Jan. 26 at the Veterans Memorial Center — is part of a series of country-wide discussions following the Forum on Jobs and Economic Growth held by President Obama on Dec. 3. (Sacramento Business Journal) Learn more.
More college students are flocking to agricultural schools looking to earn food science and technology degrees along with the promise of a good job after graduation. Agricultural schools in the United States have seen a 22 percent increase in enrollment since 2005. With new programs focused on food safety and bio-energy, students are being swept-up by large companies with starting salaries ranging from $50-65,000 a year. (The Columbus Dispatch) Read more.
USDA announced today that is will issue more than $950 million to quota holders and producers through the Tobacco Transition Payment Program this year. The program, also called “tobacco buyout,” helps participants transition to the free market and provides annual transitional payments for 10 years to eligible tobacco quota holders and producers. Read more.
The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service has stepped in to help farmers upgrade outdated irrigation systems. By using plastic pipelines and implementing projects to conserve water resources, USDA is helping farmers save water and money.
Today is the last day for dairy producers to apply for the Dairy Economic Loss Assistance Program. The DELAP program offers dairy farmers a one-time direct payment based on the amount of milk produced and commercially marketed by their farm between February and July of last year. USDA implemented the $290 million program to help dairy farmers pay down debt and provide for loss of income. Producers who have participated in other Farm Service Agency dairy programs need not apply. FSA will use existing production records to calculate and issue payments. Read more.
The USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service is re-contacting farmers who previously reported acreage not yet harvested and may release updated numbers for corn and soybeans crops. According to a press release, a significant amount of unharvested acreage of corn and soybeans were reported in several states when producers were surveyed in late November and early December. These unharvested areas and expected production were included in the Crop Production 2009 Summary released Tuesday, which showed a record-breaking year for both crops.
A Minnesota farmer pled guilty in a U.S. District Court yesterday to a scheme to defraud the government and illegally get money from two banks. Allen Eugene Starkson admitted to forging the endorsement of a Farm Service Agency representative and cashing a check made payable jointly to him and the agency. (Post-Bulletin) Read more.
USDA has designated 32 counties in Arkansas as natural disaster areas due to excessive rainfall and flooding. According to an agency press release, several contiguous counties as well as counties in the adjacent states of Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma and Tennessee also qualify for natural disaster assistance. Farmers have eight months to apply for loans to help cover part of their actual losses.
