WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) announced on Wednesday that $72.9 million has been awarded to 55 states and territories through the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP). The grant program provides funding to enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops and support specialty crop growers through marketing, education and research. “USDA is excited to announce …
USDA Announces $72.9 Million in Grant Funding Awarded to Support U.S. Specialty Crop Producers
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) announced on Wednesday that $72.9 million has been awarded to 55 states and territories through the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP). The grant program provides funding to enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops and support specialty crop growers through marketing, education and research. “USDA is excited to …
Survey Says: Growers to Use Cover Crops Even If Not Incentivized
Cash incentives have spurred some growers to implement cover crops as part of their farming operations. But a recent survey has shown, after those incentives from cash or crop insurance discounts go away, producers are prone to stick with the process. In a U.S. Department of Agriculture interview, Rob Myers, director of the MU Center for Regenerative Agriculture at the …
Hurricane Ian Assistance Deadline Extended
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has extended the deadline for applications from agricultural producers for the Emergency Conservation Program (ECP) to address damages from Hurricane Ian in Florida. The application deadline has been extended to Sept. 25, 2023. The 28 approved counties for ECP signup are Brevard, Broward, Charlotte, Clay, Collier, DeSoto, Flagler, Glades, Hardee, Hendry, Highlands, Hillsborough, Indian River, Lake, …
August Lending Rates for Producers
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced loan interest rates for August 2023, which were effective Aug. 1. USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) loans provide access to capital to help producers start or expand their farming operation, purchase equipment and storage structures or meet cash flow needs. Operating, Ownership and Emergency Loans The FSA offers farm ownership …
Crop Insurance Deadline Nears in Florida for Cabbage Growers
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Risk Management Agency (RMA) reminds Florida cabbage producers that the final date to apply for crop insurance coverage for the 2024 crop year is Tuesday, Aug. 15. Current policyholders who wish to adjust their existing coverage also have until the Aug. 15 sales closing date to do so. Federal crop insurance is critical to …
USDA Invests in Research, Extension and Education at 1890 Land-grant Universities
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced an investment of more than $33 million to support capacity-building efforts at 1890 Land-grant Universities. This investment, administered through USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), will support 82 research, Extension, and education projects across the nation’s 19 Historically Black Colleges and Universities designated as 1890 Land-grant Universities. These projects are part …
And the Survey Says: Vegetable Producers Sound Off on Pesticide, Fertilizer Use
The U.S. Department of Agriculture National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS)-Agricultural Chemical Use Survey collected date about pesticide and fertilizer use from vegetable producers in 2022. NASS administered the survey among growers in 17 states, and three vegetables were highlighted. These include snap beans, squash and sweet corn. Nitrogen was the most widely used nutrient for all the three featured crops, …
Final U.S. Citrus Forecast Has Several Changes
The final U.S. Department of Agriculture National Agricultural Statistics Service (USDA NASS) citrus forecast for the 2022–23 season, issued July 12, has several changes from the June forecast. FLORIDAFlorida’s all-orange forecast rose approximately 1% to 15.85 million boxes, up 100,000 boxes from June. The full increase is in the Valencia orange forecast, which rose to 9.7 million boxes. Florida’s all-grapefruit …
July 14 Deadline: USDA Reminds Producers to Apply for Pandemic, Natural Disaster Revenue Loss Programs
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) reminds specialty crop producers of the July 14 deadline to apply for both the Emergency Relief Program (ERP) Phase Two and the Pandemic Assistance Revenue Program (PARP). These revenue-based programs help offset revenue losses from 2020 and 2021 natural disasters or the COVID-19 pandemic. Eligibility    To be eligible for ERP …