The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that beginning in April it will provide approximately $123 million in additional financial assistance for qualifying farm loan program borrowers who are facing financial risk. This is a part of the $3.1 billion designated to help farm loan members that was provided through Section 22006 of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). This …
April Crop Insurance Deadline Approaches
The final date to apply for Florida citrus tree and fruit crop insurance coverage for the 2023 crop year is April 15. Current policyholders who wish to make changes to their existing coverage also have until the April 15 to do so. Federal crop insurance is critical to the farm safety net, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Risk …
USDA Provides Assistance for Citrus Growers After Hurricane Ian
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack recently visited a citrus grove in Polk County, Florida, to survey the impact of Hurricane Ian and meet affected growers. He highlighted efforts by the U.S Department of Agriculture (USDA) to help Florida producers recover from the devastating impact of hurricanes. USDA is working through nearly 2,500 requests for assistance following Hurricane Ian. It has aided …
USDA Invests $29 Million to Assist American-Made Fertilizer Production
ORLANDO, Fla. – U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack announced on Friday that the Department received $3 billion in applications from more than 350 independent businesses from 47 states and 2 territories for the first two rounds of a new grant program to add innovative domestic fertilizer production capacity. USDA also announced the first $29 million in grant offers …
February Crop Updates for Southeastern States
The U.S. Department of Agriculture National Agricultural Statistics Service released crop updates for February for states in the Southeast. ALABAMA: February temperatures ranged from 3.7 degrees Fahrenheit (F) to 9.9 degrees F warmer than normal depending on the location. Total rainfall for the month ranged from 1.3 inches in Dale County to 9.2 inches in Marshall County. Most of the …
Hurricane Insurance Adds Tropical Storm Option
After hearing directly from agricultural producers, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is expanding its Hurricane Insurance Protection-Wind Index (HIP-WI) Endorsement with a Tropical Storm Option. USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA) will offer this option for the 2023 crop year. “During the past few years, many farmers have felt the impacts of tropical activity, and it’s important that we offer …
USDA Predicts: Exports Decreasing, Imports Increasing in 2023
By Clint Thompson Fruit and vegetable producers in the Southeast will be disappointed to learn that the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) revised Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 trade forecast projects lower exports and a record imports, according to Seth Meyer, chief economist with the USDA. He provided the update during the USDA Agricultural Outlook Forum held last week. Exports are …
Citrus Growers Called to Vote on Marketing Order Amendments
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will conduct a referendum April 3–May 1 on proposed amendments to the federal marketing order regulating the handling of oranges, grapefruit, tangerines and pummelos grown in Florida. Notice of the referendum was published in the Federal Register on Jan. 18, 2023. The proposed amendments would include reducing the size and quorum requirements of the Citrus …
2022 Census of Agriculture Deadline Fast Approaching
WASHINGTON –The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) reminds specialty crop producers that the deadline to respond to the 2022 Census of Agriculture is Monday, Feb. 6. Producers can respond online at agcounts.usda.gov or by mail. NASS mailed the Census of Agriculture questionnaires last week to every known ag producer in the U.S. and Puerto Rico. The ag census …
USDA to Step Up Organic Rules Enforcement
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Organic Program (NOP) previewed the Strengthening Organic Enforcement (SOE) final rule. This update to the USDA organic regulations strengthens oversight and enforcement of the production, handling, and sale of organic products. This final rule implements 2018 Farm Bill mandates, responds to industry requests for updates to the USDA organic regulations, and addresses National …