Governor requests drought disaster relief for New Hampshire farmers

In response to a drought-stricken season for New Hampshire farmers, Gov. Maggie Hassan requested Thursday that the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack issue a drought disaster declaration for three of the state's counties. The USDA Farm Service Agency's State Emergency Board voted Wednesday to seek the disaster declaration.

Schumer Calls on USDA to Start Assessing Impact Drought Will Have on Farmers

Schumer is looking to help farmers affected by this summer's drought and is calling on the USDA to start damage assessments now. Although farmers won't know the full extent of crop damage until the fall, he wants to get a head start so the government can quickly provide relief to farmers impacted by the drought.

UPDATE 1-Japan, S.Korea block certain U.S. wheat varieties over GMO concerns – USDA

A combine drives over stalks of soft red winter wheat during the harvest on a farm in Dixon, Illinois, July 16, 2013. Japan and South Korea have both taken steps to block certain imports of U.S. wheat after unapproved genetically-modified plants from Monsanto Co seeds were found growing in Washington state, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Department of Agriculture said on Monday.

USDA Invests More than $9 Million to Support Small Businesses in 12 States

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced the investment of more than $9 million in loans and grants to support job growth and economic development in 12 states. The funding is being provided through USDA's Rural Economic Development Loan and Grant program, through which USDA provides zero-interest loans and grants to utilities that lend funds to local businesses for projects to create and retain employment.

USDA Funds 81 Distance Learning and Telemedicine Projects in 32 States

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture will fund 81 Distance Learning and Telemedicine projects in 32 states. These projects will help connect rural communities with medical and educational experts in other parts of the country, increasing access to health care, substance misuse treatment and advanced educational opportunities.

PURE Bioscience Receives USDA No Objection Letter for Use of SDC-Based PURE Control …

PURE Bioscience Receives USDA No Objection Letter for Use of SDC-Based PURE ControlA Antimicrobial in Poultry Processing for Pre-OLR and Post Chill Applications PURE Bioscience, Inc. , creator of the patented silver dihydrogen citrate antimicrobial, today announced that it received a "No Objection Letter" from the USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service granting approval for SDC-based PURE Control to be used as a spray or dip applied to poultry carcasses, parts and organs in pre-OLR and post chill processing of fresh poultry. PURE Control will be listed in FSIS' Directive 7120.1, "Safe and Suitable Ingredients Used in the Production of Meat, Poultry and Egg Products" in the next scheduled revision.

Wish for Water: Grant provides help to those without water

Marilyn La Combe stood outside an outbuilding at the Evansville Fire Department, dropped a quarter into the slot and jiggled the handle until water came out of the short hose. She gets about three minutes worth of water for each quarter, but the pressure is lower in the afternoon than it is in the morning, she said.

USDA FoodKeeper App to feature new food safety tools – Spanish and Portuguese functionality

The U.S. Department of Agriculture today announced new updates to its popular FoodKeeper application, which will increase the app's food safety features while empowering more consumers help reduce food waste in the U.S. The app has been updated to include information in Spanish and Portuguese, making it easier for Spanish and Portuguese speakers to use its storage recommendations for 400+ items covered by the tool, including various types of baby food, dairy products and eggs, meat, poultry, produce, seafood, and more. The next planned update, coming in September, will allow the app to alert users of food recalls and include instructional videos on proper handling and storage of food.

FoodKeeper app to feature new food safety tools

The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced new updates to its popular FoodKeeper application, which will increase the app's food safety features while empowering more consumers help reduce food waste in the U.S. The app has been updated to include information in Spanish and Portuguese, making it easier for Spanish and Portuguese speakers to use its storage recommendations for 400 plus items covered by the tool, including various types of baby food, dairy products and eggs, meat, poultry, produce, seafood and more. The next planned update, coming in September, will allow the app to alert users of food recalls and include instructional videos on proper handling and storage of food.

Public Health Matters Blog – Global Health Security: How is the U.S. doing?

The Joint External Evaluation Team joins U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and U.S. Department of Agriculture colleagues in front of the Humphrey Building, Washington DC, May 2016 At first glance, this photo taken on a set of concrete steps in Washington, D.C., may look like an ordinary group shot-but it took an extraordinary series of events to make it happen. The photo shows colleagues from U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and U.S. Department of Agriculture standing alongside a team of 15 international experts from 13 different countries, known as the Joint External Evaluation Team .

Roach Ag Marketing Announces Its Annual Outlook And Strategy Conference Series

ROACH AG MARKETING ANNOUNCES ITS ANNUAL OUTLOOK AND STRATEGY CONFERENCE SERIES Jul. 6, 2016 Source: Roach Ag Marketing Ltd sent via AgPR --the news distribution service for agriculture Roach Ag Marketing Ltd is sponsoring 13 seminars on the 2016 market outlook and pricing strategies throughout the Midwest and Mid-South this month. Roach Ag Marketing has grown dramatically in recent years and company founder John Roach and company President Brian Roach are regular guests on Iowa Public TV's popular "Market to Market" farm show hosted by Mike Pearson.

Dairy producers can enroll to protect milk production margins – 7:00 am updated:

USDA Farm Service Agency in North Carolina has announced that dairy producers can enroll for 2017 coverage in the Margin Protection Program for Dairy starting July 1. The voluntary program, established by the 2014 Farm Bill, provides financial assistance to participating dairy producers when the margin - the difference between the price of milk and feed costs - falls below the coverage level selected by the producer. The Margin Protection Program gives participating dairy producers the flexibility to select coverage levels best suited for their operation.

USDA: Rice Ending Stocks Could Rise To The Highest Level In Three Decades

USDA: RICE ENDING STOCKS COULD RISE TO THE HIGHEST LEVEL IN THREE DECADES Jul. 5, 2016 Source: USDA news release U.S. ending stocks of rice for the 2016/17 marketing year are projected at 50.9 million hundredweight , up 19 percent from a year earlier and the highest since 1986/87. The substantial buildup in stocks is the result of a large increase in 2016/17 production that exceeds the gains expected in domestic use and exports.

Organic Insect Repellent Battles Zika Virus in U.S. and Brazil

"Shortly after the Zika virus was first detected in Brazil in 2015, we sent one thousand bottles of our repellent to a friend in Brazil who has shared it with doctors and dermatologists," she said, "and they experienced great results." As a mother-to-be faced with a mosquito invasion of her flooded New Jersey home, Jayme Bella knew she had to do something.