ATHENS, GA – During the last week of September, pecan growers will receive a survey from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS). Information generated from this survey will be used to forecast pecan production for 2022. “The pecan industry is an important part of U.S. agriculture, especially in southern states and it is crucial for us …
AFBF Applauds Climate-Smart Projects Announced by USDA
By Clint Thompson Count the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) as one organization applauding the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) for investing nearly $3 billion in selected projects under the Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities program. “Secretary (Tom) Vilsack announced $2.8 billion in funding to help develop 70 projects that will advance climate smart agriculture practices,” said AFBF president Zippy Duvall. …
Alabama Extension Part of Upcoming Food Safety Webinar
By Clint Thompson Alabama Extension will be part of U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) webinar on Thursday highlighting food safety. Kristin Woods, Alabama Regional Extension agent, who specializes in commercial horticulture and food safety, will join Michelle Danyluk, from the University of Florida, and Dawanna James-Holly from USDA National Agricultural Library (NAL), to discuss the implementation of the Food Safety …
Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance Lays Out Priorities
The Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance (SCFBA), a national coalition of more than 200 specialty crop organizations representing growers of fruits, vegetables, dried fruit, tree nuts, nursery plants and other products, has released its statement of principles for consideration of the 2023 farm bill. The SCFBA was established to advocate for broad-based farm bill policy initiatives to address the unique …
USDA to Mail Additional Pre-Filled Applications to Producers Impacted by ’20, ’21 Disasters
WASHINGTON– The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced another installment (phase) in assistance to commodity and specialty crop producers impacted by natural disaster events in 2020 and 2021. More than 18,000 producers will soon receive new or updated pre-filled disaster applications to offset eligible crop losses. Approximately $6.4 billion has already been distributed to 165,000 producers through USDA’s Farm Service Agency’s …
USDA Announces Details for Census of Agriculture
WASHINGTON, Aug. 29, 2022 – Southeast specialty crop farmers will soon have the opportunity to be represented in the nation’s only comprehensive and impartial agriculture data for every state, county and territory. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will mail the 2022 Census of Agriculture to agriculture producers across the region this fall. The 2022 Census of Agriculture will be mailed …
USDA Announces Specialty Crop Block Grant Program Funding Awarded to South Carolina
WASHINGTON —The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) awarded more than $591,000 in Fiscal Year 2022 Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP) funding to South Carolina. This USDA grant will help the South Carolina Department of Agriculture fund projects that enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops in the state and support growers through marketing, education, and research. …
Georgia Department of Agriculture Announces 2022 Specialty Crop Block Grant Program Recipients
The Georgia Department of Agriculture (GDA) is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2022 U.S. Department of Agriculture Agricultural Marketing Service (USDA/AMS) Specialty Crop Block Grant. The Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP) funds projects that “enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops.” Specialty crops are defined as fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, horticulture, turfgrass/sod, nursery, and greenhouse crops. “USDA …
USDA to Invest up to $300 million in New Organic Transition Initiative
WASHINGTON – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced details this week of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) $300 million investment, including with American Rescue Plan funds, in a new Organic Transition Initiative that will help build new and better markets and streams of income for farmers and producers. According to the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service, the number of non-certified …
Recognizing Leadership in a Critical Time
By Peter Chaires It is hard to believe that it has been eight years since Brian Scully returned to Florida as lab director for the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Horticultural Research Laboratory in Fort Pierce, Florida. Scully was certainly no stranger to Florida or its citrus industry at the time of his return. However, he accepted the USDA position at …