Attention North Carolina Farmers: Submit Soil Samples by Nov. 26 to Avoid Peak-Season Fees

Clint ThompsonNorth Carolina

RALEIGH – The North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services soil testing lab is about to hit its busy season. Growers and homeowners are encouraged to submit soil samples by Nov. 26 to avoid peak-season fees and to get results and recommendations sooner. Peak-season fees will be waived for the western counties impacted by Hurricane Helene. “Accurate lime and …

Specialty Crop Funding Will Help South Carolina Farmers

Clint ThompsonSouth Carolina

COLUMBIA – The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced in August $603,000 in funding awarded to South Carolina through the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program. Through this program, the South Carolina Department of Agriculture funds projects that strengthen South Carolina’s specialty crop industry through marketing, education and research. Specialty crops include fruits, vegetables, tree nuts and nursery crops. “Each year, we …

USDA to Issue More Than $235 Million to Farmers Hit by Natural Disasters, Including Hurricane Milton

Clint ThompsonFlorida

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is issuing payments this week to agricultural producers impacted by natural disasters, including $143 million in crop insurance indemnities for Florida producers impacted by Hurricane Milton and about $92 million for livestock producers, nationwide, who faced increased supplemental feed costs as a result of forage losses due to 2022 qualifying drought and …

Hurricane Helene Impact: Mental Health a Top Priority for Georgia Farmers

Clint ThompsonGeorgia

By Clint Thompson Hurricane Helene’s financial impact on Georgia farmers is staggering. The storm’s effect on the producers’ psyches is just as devastating. At a time when specialty crop growers are still assessing damages and calculating losses following the storm’s trek through Georgia on Sept. 26 and 27, producers are called to keep tabs on the mental well being of …

Georgia Ag Partners Launch Joint Hurricane Relief Fund for Farmers Impacted by Helene

Clint ThompsonGeorgia

The Georgia Department of Agriculture (GDA), in a partnership with the Georgia Foundation for Agriculture (GFA) and in support by the Georgia Farm Bureau (GFB), has launched the Weathered But Strong: Hurricane Relief Fund to aid farmers and ranchers facing devastating losses from Hurricane Helene. The fund aims to raise $1 million by December to provide direct financial aid to …

USDA Invests $1.7 Billion to Support Farmers, Deliver Nutrition Assistance

Clint ThompsonUSDA

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced this week an investment of $1.7 billion for purchase of locally and regionally produced foods and domestically produced foods for emergency food assistance. These investments, made possible by the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC), will help American producers by ensuring they have the certainty of access to local and regional markets as …

Ag Commissioner Simpson Launches Natural Disaster Recovery Loan Program for Farmers Impacted by Hurricane Helene

Clint ThompsonFlorida

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson has announced that Florida farmers and growers impacted by Hurricane Helene can now apply for interest-free loans through the Agriculture and Aquaculture Producers Natural Disaster Recovery Loan Program. Loans can be used by eligible producers to restore, repair, or replace essential physical property – including fences, equipment, greenhouses, and other buildings – …

Pricing Produce Directly to Consumers: Farmers Urged to Know Costs

Clint ThompsonFlorida

Instead of taking what the broker or retailer feels like paying, small- and medium-sized farmers who sell directly to consumers should track costs, determine what they want to earn and set their own produce prices, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) experts say. Growers should base their prices on their costs, said Kim Morgan, a UF/IFAS …

USDA Updates Farm Loan Programs for Farmers

Clint ThompsonUSDA

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced changes last week to the Farm Service Agency’s (FSA) Farm Loan Programs, effective Sept. 25, 2024 — changes that are intended to increase opportunities for farmers and ranchers to be financially viable. These improvements, part of the Enhancing Program Access and Delivery for Farm Loans rule, demonstrate USDA’s commitment to improving …