USDA’s Tom Vilsack announced that the application deadline for the dairy Margin Protection Program (MPP) will be extended until Dec. 19, 2014. “The 2014 Farm Bill created these safety net programs to provide safeguards against the uncertainty of weather and markets, but this safety net is not automatic. Producers must visit their local Farm Service Agency office to enroll before … Read More
Disaster Aid for Bees, Livestock and Fish
Nearly 2,500 applicants will receive disaster assistance from USDA through the Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees, and Farm-Raised Fish Program (ELAP) for losses suffered from Oct. 1, 2011, through Sept. 30, 2013. “As promised, we’re making sure that thousands of producers who suffered through two and a half difficult years without Farm Bill assistance, are getting some relief,” said Agriculture … Read More
FSA Programs Assist Producers
Administrator for USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA), Val Dolcini, explained what programs his agency has to assist livestock producers during National Association of Farm Broadcasting’s Trade Talk last week in Kansas City, MO. “The Dairy Margin Protection Program (DMPP) is going to cover the margin between the national price of milk and the cost of feed. And while milk prices … Read More
Secretary Vilsack Addresses Animal Ag Topics
Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack addressed a number of topics at the 2014 National Association of Farm Broadcasting convention, including the proposed second beef checkoff. The Secretary was asked why he is proposing the additional checkoff to be implemented by the end of next year. “This is about getting more money into the system,” Vilsack said. “If you can get … Read More
USDA Seeks Input on New Beef Checkoff
The USDA Agricultural Marketing Service is seeking input on the development of a new industry-funded promotion, research and information order for beef. The new order would be in addition to the existing beef checkoff program, providing American beef producers with more resources for the marketing of their products and research to help strengthen the country’s beef industry. “Beef industry representatives … Read More
Dairy Margin Protection Program Deadline Extended
Dairy producers will have a little more time to enroll in a program that bridges the possible financial gaps when milk prices drop below production costs. U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced the extension to Dec. 5, 2014 for farmers to sign up for the Dairy Margin Protection Program during his speech at the National Milk Producers Federation annual meeting. … Read More
Feds Told Don't Drown Land Owners in Regulatory Flood
Two groups that represent the interests of a large portion of rural land owners and users has a message for the federal government: Don’t drown land owners in a regulatory flood! The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association and the Public Lands Council filed comments calling for the immediate withdrawal of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Army Corps of Engineers’ … Read More
45 Cattlemens’ Associations Tell USDA: Don’t Hijack Checkoff
Fourt-five state cattlemens’ associations representing more than 170,000 cattle breeders, producers and feeders sent a letter to Agriculture Secretary Vilsack, urging him not to issue an Order for a supplemental beef checkoff under the 1996 General Commodity Promotion, Research and Information Act. Bob McCan, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association president and Victoria, Texas, cattleman says the strong turnout of signatories to … Read More
USDA Releases 203 Census on Aquaculture
The USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) released the 2013 Census of Aquaculture results. This report is the result of the third national census conducted by NASS to measure the U.S. aquaculture industry. The last Census of Aquaculture was conducted in 2005. “The 2013 Census of Aquaculture expands on the data collected about aquaculture during the 2012 Agriculture Census and … Read More
"2,000 Bull Project" Targets Cattle Traits
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) scientists are investigating methods to help beef cattle producers further improve genetic evaluations for routinely measured traits such as growth and calving ease. They are also targeting economically important traits like feed efficiency and disease resistance that are expensive or difficult to measure. In 2007, scientists started the “2,000 Bull Project” at the Agricultural Research … Read More