In an effort to protect public health and promote the use of medically important antibiotics in food-producing animals, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has issued three documents to help farmers judiciously use antibiotics to only address diseases and health problems in these animal. Based on an FDA press release, this voluntary initiative would not allow antibiotics to be used to enhance the growth or improve feed efficiency in an animal. Antibiotics would still be available to prevent, control or treat illnesses in food-producing animals under the supervision of a veterinarian. Read more.

An unseasonably warm spring is pushing crops above their normal development pace, but USDA Meteorologist Brad Rippey cautions that a possible cold front could leave crops vulnurable to a late freeze.

Flooding along the Missouri River last year is still having an impact on farmers as they work to clear out acres of debris and restore fields for spring planting. According to Eddie Hamill, state executive director, Missouri Farm Service Agency, farmers may give up between 10 and 25 percent of the flooded land this year. In Missouri alone, 207,000 acres of farmland was flooded, costing farmers nearly $10 million in lost crops. The river hit historic levels after melting snow and heavy rains inundated upstream reservoirs, causing the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers to release the reservoirs into the Missouri River. Read more (Associated Press).

Producers now have more time to sign up for the Conservation Reserve Program. A high demand of enrollment and re-enrollment applications has caused USDA to extend the deadline to April 13. "Due to strong interest in CRP, the decision was made to extend CRP sign-up 43 for an additional week. I encourage all eligible farmers and ranchers to take advantage of this opportunity to participate in CRP,” said FSA Administrator Bruce Nelson. The extension will give farmers and ranchers ample time to review their offers.CRP is a voluntary program available to agricultural producers to help them use environmentally sensitive land for conservation benefits. Producers enrolled in CRP plant long-term, resource-conserving covers to improve the quality of water, control soil erosion and develop wildlife habitat. In return, USDA provides participants with rental payments and cost-share assistance. Read more.

About $10 million in grants being made available to farmers markets, community supported agriculture and roadside stands. According to an April 6 Federal Register notice, the grants, which are administered by the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service, will assist in developing, promoting and expanding direct marketing of agricultural commodities from farmers to consumers. Applications must be submitted online at www.grants.gov no later than May 21, 2012. Learn more.

A grant by USDA is helping veterans learn about opportunities to start their own farm or ranch. Sponsored by the Center for Rural Affairs and funded by a grant by USDA, workshops are being held in Nebraska, Kansas, Colorado and Missouri to provide resources and advice to veterans on getting financing and finding land. Representatives from the Farm Service Agency have been on hand to explain the beginning farmer and rancher loan program. Learn more (Syracuse Journal-Democrat).

Producers now have more time to sign up for the Conservation Reserve Program. A high demand of enrollment and re-enrollment applications has caused USDA to extend the deadline to April 13, according to Juan Garcia, deputy administrator for Farm Programs. The extension will give farmers and ranchers ample time to review their offers.Listen to more