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Rising Costs & Labor Shortages: Why Farmers Are Turning to Technology for Solutions
The agricultural industry is facing a wave of unprecedented challenges. Labor shortages, rising operational costs, and the increasing...
by Kylie Dow
Feb 122 min read
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Bird Flu Outbreak Strains U.S. Egg Production, Driving Prices Higher
The ongoing bird flu crisis continues to disrupt the U.S. agricultural landscape, with a major egg producer recently confirming an...
by Kylie Dow
Feb 72 min read
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Trump Administration Rescinds Freeze on USDA Grants and Loans Amid Backlash
The Trump administration issued a temporary suspension of federal grants, loans, and financial assistance on January 28, 2025. However,...
by Kylie Dow
Jan 302 min read
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Total Foreign Ownership of U.S. Farmland Rises, But Chinese Holdings Fall in 2023
In 2023, total foreign ownership of U.S. farmland increased by 1.58 million acres, driven largely by European investments in renewable...
by Sara VanderPoel
Jan 201 min read
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USDA Increases Funding for New Specialty Crop Program (MASC) by $650 Million
FSA is providing an additional $650M in funding for the new Marketing Assistance for Specialty Crops (MASC) program and extending the dea...
by Sara VanderPoel
Jan 82 min read
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New USDA Program Provides Financial Assistance for Marketing Specialty Crops (MASC)
The program can provide up to $125,000 in assistance to qualified specialty crop producers. Depending on program demand, benefits may...
by Sara VanderPoel
Dec 18, 20242 min read
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USDA Announces Change to Federal Milk Marketing Pricing Formulas
Once the rule is published in the Federal Register, the USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) will conduct producer referendums in...
by Sara VanderPoel
Nov 18, 20242 min read
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2023 California Irrigation and Water Management Data
The total amount of water used in 2023 was 22.6 million acre-feet, down 7.7% from 2018. The average acre-feet applied per acre was...
by Sara VanderPoel
Nov 13, 20242 min read
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Agriculture Made Up 6 Percent of Total U.S. Import Value in FY 2023
From fiscal years (FY) 2004 to 2023, the value of U.S. imports of agricultural products rose an average 3.7 percent annually, adjusting...
by Sara VanderPoel
Nov 11, 20241 min read
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USDA Breaks Ground on New Agricultural Research Technology Center in Davis, California
The two-story 59,000 square foot building will house four ARS research units: Crops Pathology and Genetics, Invasive Species and Pollina...
by Sara VanderPoel
Nov 6, 20242 min read
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USDA Launches $15 Million Program to Promote Organic Dairy Products in Schools and Youth Programs
Funded by the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC), the program will increase consumption of organic dairy products among children and...
by Sara VanderPoel
Oct 31, 20242 min read
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US Grain Exports Increased by 26% in 2023-2024 in All Forms - Valued at $48 Billion
The increase in exports were bolstered by a record 1,746,490,298 gallons of ethanol sold internationally and a single-market record 23.4...
by Sara VanderPoel
Oct 28, 20241 min read
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USDA to Purchase $25 Million in Citrus from Domestic Producers for Nutrition Assistance Programs
“These purchases will benefit citrus producers by removing surplus commodities from the market and at the same time help provide nutrit...
by Sara VanderPoel
Oct 21, 20241 min read
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USDA Makes $233M Indemnity Payments to Producers Impacted by Hurricane Helene
USDA is announcing the counties that have triggered for payment under the Hurricane Insurance Protection-Wind Index (HIP-WI) endorsement...
by Sara VanderPoel
Oct 17, 20242 min read
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USDA Announces Additional $250 Million in Automatic Assistance for Distressed Farm Loan Borrowers
Since August 2022, the USDA has provided approximately $2.4 billion in assistance to more than 43,900 distressed borrowers...
by Sara VanderPoel
Oct 11, 20244 min read
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USDA Invests More Than $11 Million to Support Resiliency in U.S. Dairy Industry
The initiatives support small and mid-sized dairy businesses in the development, production, marketing, and distribution of dairy products..
by Sara VanderPoel
Oct 7, 20242 min read
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U.S. Agriculture Imports Made Up 6% of Total U.S. Import Value in FY 2023
From fiscal years (FY) 2004 to 2023, the value of U.S. imports of agricultural products rose an average 3.7 percent annually, adjusting...
by Sara VanderPoel
Sep 25, 20241 min read
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USDA Report Shows August Milk Production in California Up 2% From Last Year
According to the August Pacific Region Milk Production Report sent out by the USDA | NASS, milk production during the month of August...
by Sara VanderPoel
Sep 23, 20241 min read
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USDA Invests $400 Million to Address Drought, Conserve Water through Production of Water-Saving Commodities
USDA will invest $400 million with at least 18 irrigation districts to help farmers continue commodity production while also conserving...
by Sara VanderPoel
Aug 29, 20242 min read
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USDA Grants CDFA With $23M in Funding to Strengthen U.S. Specialty Crops Industry
Through the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program, the CDFA will fund 44 projects. Among CDFA’s projects, is funding to the Center for...
by Sara VanderPoel
Aug 26, 20242 min read
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