Hey NY Times, USDA Conservation Programs Do Work

Posted on August 6, 2013 by tanya brown

An article published this week in The Pueblo Chieftain challenges an article that ran in the New York Times that discussed the necessity of conservation programs like the Environmental Quality Incentives Program to be a part of the next farm bill. The article, which supports USDA’s conservation efforts and touts them as an important tool for farmers and ranchers, states that without USDA programs, U.S. land would be facing conditions similar to those of the 1930’s Dust Bowl. Read the article.

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Number of Farmers Markets Surpass 8,100 Nationwide

Posted on August 5, 2013 by tanya brown

Farmers markets are booming. With 8,144 now registered with the USDA National Farmers Market Directory, these markets are becoming one of the fastest growing segments of agriculture. “Farmers markets are an important public face for agriculture,” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. “They provide benefits not only to the farmers looking for important income opportunities, but also help fill a growing consumer demand for fresh, healthy foods.” Vilsack made the announcement as a kick off to National Farmers Market Week, held Aug. 4-10. The department also unveiled its newly revamped farmers market directory that allows customers to easily navigate through data. Read more or visit the USDA National Farmers Market Directory.

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WTO Sides With U.S. Over Exports of Chicken to China

Posted on August 5, 2013 by tanya brown

The U.S. has won its case over China, proving that the country’s imposition of higher duties on chicken “broiler products” is unjustified under international trade rules. The World Trade Organization found that China violated numerous WTO obligations while conducting an investigation that China imposed anti-dumping duties and countervailing duties on chicken imports from the United States. Enforcement of the duties created an 80 percent drop in American broiler chicken exports to China. This is the second of three recent WTO disputes in which the United States has challenged flaws in China’s administration of antidumping and countervailing duty measures. The United States was successful in the first two disputes and is actively litigating the third. Learn more.

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Producing 200 Bushels of Corn With 12 Inches of Water

Posted on July 5, 2013 by tanya brown

A demonstration project in Texas is showing producers how to use less irrigation water and still produce the same amount of crops. After three years of drought and a depleted aquifer, the North Plains Groundwater Conservation District started the project to teach farmers to use methods like planting in dry ground verses prewatered ground, leaving larger spaces between plants and keeping old stalks on the field as new plants emerge to hold the earth’s moisture longer. The overall goal is to have farmers produce 200 bushels of corn per acre with only 12 inches of water. Read more (The New York Times).

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Study Shows Crop Yields Not on Pace to Meet Future Demand

Posted on July 5, 2013 by tanya brown

Crop yields are increasing at a rate that won’t meet demand by the year 2050, according to a study published in the PLOS One journal. The study compiled agricultural data for maize, rice, wheat and soybeans and determined that yields need to increase by 2.4 percent per year to double global production and meet the 2050 demand projected from a rising population, diet shifts and biofuels. Based on the research, yields for maize, rice, wheat and soybeans are increasing at 1.6, 1.0, 0.9 and 1.3 percent, respectively, which is not fast enough; however, opportunities are available to improve yields through more efficient use of arable lands, spreading best management practices and reducing food waste. Review the study.

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Chemical Could Make Plants Resistant to Drought

Posted on July 5, 2013 by tanya brown

A new chemical discovery by the University of California could help make plants resistant to drought. Researchers found that quinabactin, when sprayed on plants, mimics the hormone that makes the plant conserve water. The study, published in this month’s Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, The study showed soybeans sprayed with quinabactin and left unwatered for eight days remained in good health while the control plant wilted. Although more research is needed, scientists say the chemical could help make plants drought-resistant through traditional breeding or genetic modification. Read more (UT San Diego) or review the abstract.

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Wisconsin to Host Statewide County Committee Open House

Posted on July 5, 2013 by tanya brown

All Wisconsin Farm Service Agency county offices throughout the state will host an open house to share information on the FSA County Committee Election process. The open house — held Wed., July 10 from 1-3 p.m. — is an opportunity for producers and landowners to visit their county office and find out how serving on a county committee can make a difference. County committee members help deliver FSA farm programs at the local level and work to ensure the programs meet the needs of local producers. The nomination period for this year’s election runs from June 15 to Aug. 1. Learn more.

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Commodity Credit Corporation Releases Lending Rates for July

Posted on July 1, 2013 by tanya brown

The USDA Commodity Credit Corporation, which helps stabilize, support and protect farm income and prices, released interest rates for July 2013. The borrowing rate-based charge is 0.125, which is unchanged from June 2013, while the 1996 and subsequent crop year commodity and marketing assistance loans dispersed during July is 1.125, unchanged from last month. Interest rates for Farm Storage Facility Loans and discount rates for the Tobacco Transition Payment Program also are available. Read more.

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Survey Shows Colony Collapse Small Factor in Winter Bee Loss

Posted on June 27, 2013 by tanya brown

Honey bee losses continue to decrease, but it’s not all due to colony collapse, according to a survey funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Total bee losses for the 2012-2013 winter were 31.1 percent for all causes. That number is slightly higher from last year’s number that stood at 22 percent. Based on the survey, more colonies dwindled away instead of suffering from Colony Collapse Disorder that causes a sudden loss of a colony population. The survey noted that beekeepers who took honey bees to California to pollinate almonds reported a 50 percent or higher colony loss than those who did not. Learn more.

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USDA Selects 2013 Class of Garza Fellows

Posted on June 27, 2013 by tanya brown

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has selected 10 individuals to be a part of the 2013 E. Kika De La Garza Fellowship Program. The fellows represent staff, faculty and administrators at Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSI) from across the nation. HSIs are accredited and degree-granting institutions of higher education with a full-time Hispanic student enrollment of 25 percent or more. Through partnerships fostered by the fellowship program, USDA and HSIs are better prepared to address educational challenges faced by the Hispanic community The program allows fellows to experience first-hand the policymaking process by meeting with USDA personnel and connecting with federal agencies while also collaborating with leading scientists from USDA’s Agricultural Research Service and learning about agricultural research. Learn more.

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