Farming

Protects Families and Assists Farmers

November 16, 2009 -- Washington, D.C. –Today the Senate took another step closer to passing legislation that will give the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) the resources it needs to ensure the safety of our nation’s food supply. The Senate Agriculture Committee released the chairman’s draft of the Food Safety Modernization Act, which includes Senator Jeff Merkley’s provisions to improve traceability of contaminated processed foods and protect the organic farming and sustainable agriculture industries.    » read more »

"Co-Sponsors the Growing Safe Food Act to Protect Families by Strengthening Food Safety Practices"

November 13, 2009 -- Washington, D.C. – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley announced today that he has co-sponsored legislation to increase food safety by assisting local farmers and processors with new food safety regulations. The Growing Safe Food Act will help educate and train farmers and food processors about the best safety practices to ensure that the nation’s food supply is safe for citizens.    » read more »

Report Released on Heels of Productive Discussion Between USDA, Tribal Leaders

WASHINGTON. Nov 4, 2009 - In celebration of American Indian Heritage Month the U.S. Department of Agriculture today reported that there are nearly 80,000 American Indian operators on 61,472 farms and ranches across the United States. This represents an 88-percent increase over the number of American Indian farmers USDA counted in 2002.

The report was released on the heels of a meeting held today with more than 100 tribal leaders and members and Senior USDA officials including Agriculture Secretary Vilsack and Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan in advance of the White House Tribal Nations Conference.    » read more »

October 16, 2009 -- WASHINGTON- Today, U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow, a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will provide $1,230,431 to be used by 25 specialty crop projects throughout the state of Michigan.

The program improves competitiveness of the specialty crops industry through grants that support marketing, research, agri-tourism, food access, and sustainability. This program allows states to accept applications and determine their own specialty crop priorities. USDA approved projects based on their support for local and rural agriculture interests, the opportunity to increase the competitiveness of small producers, or to promote or create direct marketing opportunities for specialty crop producers.    » read more »

WASHINGTON, October 15, 2009 - Agriculture Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan today announced the award of 55 grants totaling approximately $49 million for 745 projects to enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops, which are defined as fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, horticulture and nursery crops, including floriculture.

Upon reviewing states' plans for funding, USDA selected projects that support local and rural agriculture interests, increase the competitiveness of small producers, and promote or create direct marketing opportunities for specialty crop producers.    » read more »

Part of $49 Million in Grants Across the Nation

Glens Falls, NY, Oct 16 - Today, Congressman Scott Murphy applauded the announcement of more than $1 million in grants for New York State farms provided through the Department of Agricultures’ Specialty Crop Block Grant Program.

This week, Agriculture Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan announced 55 grants totaling approximately $49 million for 745 projects throughout the country to enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops, which are defined as fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, horticulture and nursery crops, including floriculture.    » read more »

Fruit, vegetable, and other specialty crop growers will benefit from nearly $3 million federal grant to build marketing opportunities, increase competiveness of small farmers, and promote the consumption of specialty crops

October 15, 2009 -- (Washington, D.C.) – Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) announced that Washington state will receive $2,920,854 in federal funding to promote and market specialty crops produced by local farmers throughout the state. Washington state is the leading producer of several specialty crops including sweet cherries, apples, Concord grapes, and red raspberries.    » read more »

October 14, 2009 -- WASHINGTON -- The United States has reached a settlement with ranchers in a longstanding dispute over livestock trespasses on public lands in Nye and Esmeralda Counties, Nev., the Justice Department and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) announced today.

As part of the settlement, Benjamin J. Colvin and Colvin Cattle Company acknowledged past unauthorized grazing on federal government lands and agreed to comply with federal grazing laws and regulations in the future.    » read more »

WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Bobby Bright recently voted for the Conference Report on the Agriculture Appropriations bill for Fiscal Year 2010. The bill funds vital programs at the Department of Agriculture, including provisions included in the Farm Bill, which was passed last year. Additionally, this legislation contains two projects sponsored by Representative Bright to aid agricultural research in Alabama.

The conference report passed by a 263-162 margin, and passed by a similar margin when it was first considered in June. This is the final step before the President signs the bill into law.    » read more »

WASHINGTON, September 30 – Senate and House negotiators have agreed to provide $350 million for hard-pressed dairy farmers, Senators Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) announced today. The funding was first included in a Sanders amendment to the Department of Agriculture appropriations bill.    » read more »

Says Minnesota's dairy farmers face dire conditions

September 15, 2009 -- Washington, D.C. – Speaking at an event outside the U.S. Capitol, Senator Amy Klobuchar highlighted the plight of dairy farmers in Minnesota and around the nation, saying that more must be done to alleviate the crisis. Klobuchar spoke about a farm she visited in Foley, Minnesota over the weekend, recounting a story about how tough the market has made it for the young farmer to make ends meet.    » read more »

Growers Will Benefit From More Seed Options in the Marketplace

DES MOINES, Iowa, and ATLANTA, Ind., June 17, 2009 – Pioneer Hi-Bred, a DuPont business, and Beck’s Hybrids today announced they have entered into research and distribution agreements to bring additional corn and soybean products to growers in the marketplace. Under these agreements, Pioneer and Beck’s will collaborate in research efforts and in the distribution of corn and soybean seed under the XL™ brand.    » read more »

June 2, 2009 -- Washington, D.C.-Innovations in food production and land use that are ready to be scaled-up today could reduce greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to roughly 25 percent of global fossil fuel emissions and present the best opportunity to remove greenhouse gases already in the atmosphere, according to a new report by the Worldwatch Institute and Ecoagriculture Partners.

As the price of carbon rises with new caps on emissions and expanding markets for carbon offsets, the contribution of land-based, or "terrestrial," carbon to climate change mitigation efforts could increase even further.    » read more »

May 29, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. – Change to Win executive director Chris Chafe issued the following statement regarding U.S. Labor Secretary Hilda Solis’ decision yesterday to suspend the midnight Bush Administration changes to weaken labor protections in the H-2A guestworker program.

“Change to Win applauds Labor Secretary Hilda Solis for her decision to suspend and reconsider anti-worker regulations that were issued by the Bush Administration as a gift to growers on its way out the door. We are extremely grateful to Secretary Solis for standing up for workers and insisting that these unlawful, anti-worker rules be reviewed and reconsidered.    » read more »

WASHINGTON, May 26, 2009 – USDA has expanded the Livestock Gross Margin insurance program for dairy cattle to producers in Kentucky, New Mexico, Tennessee and Washington, bringing the total number of states where this program is available to 33.

"Livestock Gross Margin provides convenience to producers who can sign up for the insurance 12 times per year and insure all their milk production they expect to market over a rolling 11-month insurance period," said Acting Administrator William J. Murphy. "This is a customized product and can be tailored to any size farm and is considered a bundled option insurance, similar to buying both a call option to limit higher feed costs and a put option to set a floor on milk prices."    » read more »