USDA to Cut $152 Million from Direct Payment Programs

Posted on March 20, 2013 by tanya brown

About $152 million will be cut from several FSA programs, affecting nearly 350,000 farmers. According to Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, the cuts come from the direct-payment subsidy and affect producers participating in the Milk Income Loss Program (MILC), the Supplemental Revenue Assistance program (SURE) and the Noninsured Assistance Program (NAP). The cuts are part of the sequester that took effect at the beginning of the month. Read more (Reuters).

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Arkansas Extension Agent Awarded for Contributions to FSA

Posted on March 20, 2013 by tanya brown

Stephan Walker (center) is presented the John Gammon, Jr. Award by Jefferson County Executive Director Rod Woods (left), and Arkansas State Executive Director Linda Newkirk.

Stephan Walker has been awarded the John Gammon, Jr. Award for providing excellent service to the Arkansas USDA Farm Service Agency. A multi-county extension agent for the Small Farm Program at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, Walker has been instrumental in making FSA aware of minority issues and concerns as well as their accomplishments. The Arkansas FSA presented the award last month during a Black History Month observance. “He has helped to increase program effectiveness by increasing the agency’s awareness. Additionally, he has helped to bridge the gap between FSA and minority producers and he continues to work for this cause,” said Roderick Woods, manager of the USDA Farm Service Agency office in Pine Bluff, Ark. Read more (University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension).

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FSA Employees Take Mandatory Training to Better Serve Producers

Posted on March 19, 2013 by tanya brown

A training course is now available to Farm Service Agency employees to develop cross-agency knowledge that will increase efforts to reach veterans and beginning and socially disadvantaged farmers. The mandatory training includes information about programs available through all of the USDA agencies. “This training will help ensure that those of us serving the public are familiar with the full range of programs that are available to our customers,” said FSA Administrator Juan M. Garcia. “Our overall goal is to improve customer service across USDA.” The training is currently available through AgLearn — the USDA online learning system — and must be completed by Sept. 30.

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From Greenhouse to Store Shelves in a Matter of Minutes

Posted on March 18, 2013 by tanya brown

Chris Williams is the operator of a BrightFarms greenhouse in Yardley,Pa., that will provide fresh produce to a supermarket only a half a block away.

BrightFarms wants to disrupt the produce supply chain and eliminate the amount of miles vegetables have to travel before landing on supermarket shelves.

“The produce will be at least a week fresher, taste better and be more nutritious and safer,” said Paul Lightfoot, CEO of BrightFarms. “It also reduces environmental input, uses less land, less fuel and less greenhouse gases.”

The concept? Hydroponic gardens on supermarket rooftops or in greenhouses next door or a few blocks away from grocery stores.

“About 20 percent of produce is lost to spoilage during shipping. This will provide year-round local produce that is higher quality and more nutritious,” said Kate Siskel, marketing and media relations manager with BrightFarms. Continue reading →

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One Week Remains for Hispanic, Women Producers to File a Claim

Posted on March 18, 2013 by tanya brown

Only one week remains for Hispanic and women farmers and ranchers who allege discrimination by USDA in past decades to file a claim in order to receive a cash payment or loan forgiveness. The claims process is a voluntary alternative to litigation for each Hispanic or female farmer or rancher who can prove that USDA denied an application for loan or loan servicing assistance for discriminatory reasons for certain time periods between 1981 and 2000. Claimants may contact a call center representative at 1-888-508-4429 for a package or download the forms online. Learn more or download the online forms.

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Thank a Farmer and Rancher During National Ag Day

Posted on March 15, 2013 by tanya brown

With National Agriculture Day quickly approaching, the USDA Farm Service Agency would like to celebrate the farmers and ranchers who honor the land, put in long hours and weather economic and natural uncertainties to feed billions of people worldwide. Our producers are the reason agriculture has led the U.S. economic recovery and on March 19 we celebrate the abundance they provide to feed, fuel and clothe the American people. Find out more about National Ag Day.

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Thrift Shop Parody is ‘Ranching Awesome’

Posted on March 13, 2013 by tanya brown

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USDA Cutting Some Statistical Reports Due to Reduced Funding

Posted on March 13, 2013 by tanya brown

The USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service is suspending several statistical surveys and reports for the rest of the fiscal year due to reduced funding caused by sequestration. According to an agency press release, the decision to suspend the reports was not made lightly, but was necessary given the funding situation. Some of the suspended reports include catfish and trout reports, the July cattle report and milk production reports. View all surveys and reports suspended for the fiscal year.

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Largest Crop Insurance Fraud Ring Brought Down in N.C.

Posted on March 12, 2013 by tanya brown

Federal authorities dismantled a crop insurance scheme in North Carolina that brought down agents, claims adjusters, brokers and farmers who stole more than $100 million from government-backed insurance companies. The 41 defendants, who either pleaded guilty or accepted a plea agreement, collected millions for several years until 2005 when USDA auditors began using software to search for outliers in insurance claim data. One agent told tobacco farmers to take out large policies and then falsely claim large losses, despite having a productive season. The agent sold the tobacco to warehouse operators involved in the scheme, who wrote checks to false recipients to hide who was getting the money. Read more (The Associated Press).

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New TSP App Could Pose Security Threat

Posted on March 11, 2013 by tanya brown

A new app developed for the Apple iPhone and iPad to access individual Thrift Savings Plan accounts could be phishing for personal information. A warning issued by TSP said the new app was not developed by them and could pose a security risk. Officials do not recommend federal employees use this app — which  asks for account login information — to access their TSP accounts. Read the warning.

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