Author Archives: Keith Good

Last week, USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) indicated in a news release that, “The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced the availability of $3 million for grants through its new Office of Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production. The competitive grants will support the development of urban agriculture and innovative production projects through two categories,… Continue Reading

DTN Special Correspondent Elizabeth Williams reported recently that, “Although farm finances are tight for the fifth year in a row and the cash flow outlook is grim, farm tenants are generally honoring their leases this spring, real estate experts said, and land values appear to be holding steady. “When most cash rents were paid on… Continue Reading

A news release this week from USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA) stated that, “Approved Insurance Providers (AIPs) may allow organic producers to report acreage as certified organic, or transitioning to organic, for the 2020 crop year if they can show they have requested a written certification from a certifying agent by their policy’s acreage reporting… Continue Reading

A news release today from USDA stated that, “U.S. Secretary Perdue today applauded the decision made by the District Court of Western Missouri which ruled that the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has the primary jurisdiction over worker’s safety in meat processing plants across the country during the COVID-19 national emergency. “‘This ruling affirms… Continue Reading

Reuters writers Omar Younis and Dan Whitcomb reported yesterday that, “Hundreds of Asian giant hornets, an invasive, predatory insect dubbed the ‘murder hornet,’ have turned up in Washington state near the Canadian border, where they pose a threat to humans and the beekeeping industry, state agriculture officials said on Monday. “The stinging Vespa mandarinia can… Continue Reading

A news release Friday from the USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) stated that, “The [USDA] has started making payments through the Wildfire and Hurricane Indemnity Program – Plus (WHIP+) to agricultural producers who suffered eligible losses because of drought or excess moisture in 2018 and 2019. Signup for these causes of loss opened March 23,… Continue Reading

A news release this week from USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) stated that, “[FSA] will open signup this summer for CLEAR30, a new pilot program that offers farmers and landowners an opportunity to enroll in a 30-year Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) contract. This pilot is available to farmers and landowners with expiring water-quality practice CRP… Continue Reading