News

UGA establishes new blueberry research orchard at Durham Horticulture Farm

Native to North America, blueberries are the most-recently commercially domesticated fruit in the U.S. Just a little over a century ago researchers began studying this wild berry with an intent to develop improved varieties for commercial cultivation... more

Multi-state conservation project awarded nearly $8M for Western Lake Erie Basin

Recently, the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service announced that a multi-state conservation program – led by Indiana and including the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development as a key partner – received $7,780,799 to prot... more

USDA plans listening session on impacts of COVID-19 on new farmers

The USDA announced May 4 a virtual listening session for beginning farmers and ranchers to learn how COVID-19 impacted their farming operations and to get their feedback on USDA assistance. The listening session will take place on May 6, 2021, from 1... more

Florida governor signs Right to Farm bill with legislative support

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed SB 88, Farming Operations, on April 29 preserving Florida’s agricultural heritage and modernizing Florida’s Right to Farm Act which regulates agriculture throughout the state of Florida. The governor was joined... more

Pollinator Partnership leadership transition announced

Pollinator Partnership, the world’s largest non-profit dedicated exclusively to pollinator issues, announced that beginning May 3, Kelly Rourke assumed the role of executive director for the organization. “Having worked for Pollinator Partners... more

Inspection and audit rates remain unchanged, USDA says

USDA Specialty Crops Program fees for inspection and audit services will remain at current rates as of Oct. 1, 2021. A notice on the unchanged rates was published in the Federal Register on April 20, 2021. The Specialty Crops Program (SCP) laun... more

Latest California drought outlined in 4 charts

California is grappling with drought again, facing many of the same conditions and challenges that were features of the 2012–16 drought – including stressed ecosystems, depleted reservoirs, hard-hit farms and rural communities, threats to urban w... more