New Biofuels Research Grant to Spur Job Creation

Posted on October 16, 2012 by tanya brown

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack awarded a five-year, $10 million grant  to Pennsylvania State University to develop biomass supply chains for the production of liquid transportation and aviation biofuels. This is the sixth grant made through the USDA Agriculture and Food Research Initiative, placing an opportunity in every corner of the country to promote biofuels, according to Vilsack. The grant will help fund research to plant miscanthus, switchgrass or willow in strip mines and marginal flood plain lands. During a media conference, the Secretary told reporters that the new initiative is expected to bring 400,000 jobs directly and indirectly. Once the industry reaches the mandate to provide 36-billion gallon of biofuels per year in the nation’s fuel supply, Vilsack said nearly 1 million jobs would be created.

Posted in News | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Study Finds Way to Improve Quality of Potatoes in Long-Term Cold Storage

Posted on October 16, 2012 by tanya brown

Scientists have identified a way to improve the look and taste of potatoes that have been in long-term cold storage. By decreasing the activity of a key enzyme that changes potato sugars, the study showed that the look and flavor of potatoes when fried or roasted would remain intact. During long-term cold storage, the enzyme invertase changes the sucrose, glucose and fructose sugars, which create dark colors and flavor changes in the tubers. Long-term storage is necessary to maintain an adequate supply of potatoes throughout the year. Read more.

Posted in News | Tagged , | Comments Off on Study Finds Way to Improve Quality of Potatoes in Long-Term Cold Storage

Maximizing Soil Performance by Improving its Health

Posted on October 16, 2012 by tanya brown

Posted in Features | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Maximizing Soil Performance by Improving its Health

Crop Report: Soybeans Fair Better While Corn Yields Fall

Posted on October 16, 2012 by tanya brown

Late season rains helped soybeans rebound according to the October USDA Crop Progress Report released yesterday. Despite the historic drought the overall planted areas for soybeans increased to 77.2 billion acres, up 1.1 billion from last month. Harvested acres also saw an increase to 75.7 billion. Corn planted and harvested was slightly up, but yields lowered to 122 bushels per acre, reflecting a 2 percent reduction in total supply.  Listen to more or review the crop report.

Posted in News | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Crop Report: Soybeans Fair Better While Corn Yields Fall

USDA Farm Factoid

Posted on October 15, 2012 by tanya brown

In 2010 the top five leading processing vegetable states were California, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Washington and Oregon.

Posted in Features | Comments Off on USDA Farm Factoid

Veteran Symposium Brings Credit Options to Farmers

Posted on October 12, 2012 by tanya brown

Karis Gutter, deputy undersecretary for Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services

Althea Raiford retired from the Navy in 2010 and works in Maryland as a police officer. But every month she sends money home to Georgia to buy hogs, chickens and feed, some of which have been purchased at a discount through a network of veterans.

“We [veterans] are a family,” said Raiford, who was able to connect with other veteran farmers to receive 20 chickens for free and purchase two hogs for $30 each to jumpstart an operation that she and her brother started in Georgia four years ago. “We take care of our family and we take care of it the best way we know how.”

Raiford was one of nearly 40 veterans who traveled to Kearneysville, W.Va., on Oct. 10 to attend a symposium co-sponsored by the U.S. Department of Agriculture that provides veterans who have an interest in agriculture with financial and business planning information.

“The veteran population has a tremendous opportunity,” said Deputy Undersecretary for Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services Karis Gutter, who gave an overview of USDA agencies and programs. “When you look at the fabric of veterans, especially ones that have served abroad or have been in key leadership positions, they have thequalities and skills needed to successfully manage an agricultural operation.” Continue reading →

Posted in Features | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

Finger-Licking Loan Specialist Smokes BBQ Competition

Posted on October 12, 2012 by tanya brown

Michael Boyd and the Porkspankers have competed and won multiple BBQ championship titles for pork ribs, shoulder, beef, chili and wings.

By Latawnya Dia, FSA Public Affairs Specialist

Michael Boyd is more than an FSA loan specialist in Tennessee. He is also a barbeque specialist in what many consider to be the barbeque capital of the world — Memphis, Tenn.

Boyd is the head cook and team captain of the Porkspankers championship BBQ team and has been involved in barbequing his whole life.

“My family has been big into barbequing since I remember. You can’t live in Memphis and not have some part in barbequing  Either you’re doing it or tasting it. Either way it’s a big part of what we do in these parts of the country,” said Boyd. Continue reading →

Posted in Features | Comments Off on Finger-Licking Loan Specialist Smokes BBQ Competition

Just Desserts: Producers Feed Cows Candy to Reduce Feed Costs

Posted on October 11, 2012 by tanya brown

With the high prices of feed, farmers have resorted to feeding their cows candy. Chocolate bars, gummie worms and hard candy have made the bovine menu and while a ton of traditional corn feed costs producers about $315, the price of a ton of ice-cream sprinkles only costs $160. It may seem strange, but according to one livestock nutritionist, the practice has been going on for decades. Read more (CNN.com).

Posted in News | 1 Comment

USDA Fulfills Goal of 1 Million Conservation Acres

Posted on October 9, 2012 by tanya brown

USDA has allocated 400,000 state acres to support conservation and restoration of wildlife and their habitats as part of the Conservation Reserve Program. The announcement, made by Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack during a visit to Iowa, fulfills USDA’s commitment made last spring to set aside 1 million acres of marginal and environmentally sensitive land for special initiatives to restore grasslands, wetlands and wildlife habitats. Acres are now allocated in 97 state acres for wildlife enhancement projects located in 36 states. Learn more.

Posted in News | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on USDA Fulfills Goal of 1 Million Conservation Acres

Sale of Organic Crops, Livestock Hits $3.5 Billion

Posted on October 5, 2012 by tanya brown

More than $3.5 billion in organic commodities were sold in the United States in 2011, according to a survey by the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service. Based on the 2011 Certified Organic Production Survey, corn led organic field crops in sales, accounting for more than $101.5 million. Organically raised livestock accounted for $1.31 billion in sales. Leading livestock commodities last year was organic milk, which accounted for $765 million in sales. View the survey.

Posted in News | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Sale of Organic Crops, Livestock Hits $3.5 Billion