FSA asks farmers, ranchers to vote in county committee…

The 2017 Farm Service Agency county committee elections began on Nov. 6, when ballots were mailed to eligible voters. The deadline to return the ballots to local FSA offices is Dec. 4. County committee members are an important component of the operations of FSA and provide a link between the agricultural community and USDA.

Montana beef to China

Fred Wacker, owner/operator of the Cross Four Ranch at Miles City, MT is one of the cattle producers involved in the agreement to ship Montana-sourced beef to China. Fred Wacker, owner/operator of the Cross Four Ranch at Miles City, MT is one of the cattle producers involved in the agreement to ship Montana-sourced beef to China.

Ag Officials: Rainfall Slightly Down, But Good Year For Crops

Greene County has received less precipitation than normal this year, but when it has rained, it has been at the right times, officials say. According to a report by the University of Tennessee AgResearch & Education Center at Greeneville, the county has received 34.53 inches of rain or melted snowfall from Jan. 1 through Oct. 31. October saw slightly more rain than average for the month, accumulating 3.16 inches of rain compared to the average 2.08.

Exclusive: Carter Page testifies he told Sessions about Russia trip

Jared Kushner's team turned over documents to special counsel in Russia investigation - Jared Kushner has turned over documents in recent weeks to special counsel Robert Mueller as investigators have begun asking in witness interviews about Kushner's role in the firing of FBI Director James Comey, CNN has learned.

Report: White House Had No Idea Clovis Testified Before…

Jared Kushner's team turned over documents to special counsel in Russia investigation - Jared Kushner has turned over documents in recent weeks to special counsel Robert Mueller as investigators have begun asking in witness interviews about Kushner's role in the firing of FBI Director James Comey, CNN has learned.

Purdue thiamin work featured as agriculture research success story

Purdue University is among 11 U.S. research institutions recently highlighted for their successful research programs funded by the USDA's Agriculture and Food Research Initiative . The recognition was included in a report released by the Supporters of Agricultural Research Foundation .

Sam Clovis withdraws his nomination for UDSA’s top scientist post…

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's chief scientist nominee, Sam Clovis withdrew his name from consideration Wednesday amid revelations that he was among top officials on the Trump campaign who was aware of efforts by foreign policy adviser George Papadopoulos to broker a relationship between the campaign and Russian officials. Court documents unsealed Monday revealed that Papadopoulos pleaded guilty in early October to making false statement to FBI investigators about his contacts with foreigners claiming to have high-level Russian connections.

Ag Lender Survey: Farm Profitability Still Down But Improving

Eighty-two percent of agricultural lenders reported a decline in farm profitability in the last 12 months, according to a joint survey by the American Bankers Association and the Federal Agricultural Mortgage Corporation . Despite the continued decline, the survey of more than 580 agricultural lenders revealed that the agricultural loan approval rate is 84 percent.

The Latest: Prosecutors say Manafort financial reports vary

In a court filing, the office of special counsel Robert Mueller says the precise value of Manafort's assets is hard to quantify. They say in November 2016 and January 2017, he noted assets to be worth approximately $25 million, but he has provided significantly higher amounts at other times.

Ketchikan Ready Mix wins USDA contractor award

Ketchikan Ready Mix and Quarry was presented the award by Regional Forester Beth Pendleton at the Tongass National Forest Forest Supervisor's Office in Ketchikan on September 19. Pictured from left, Beth Pendleton, Harold Enright, Tammy Carroll, Loren Enright, Morgan Enright, and Contracting Officer Mari Meiners. Ketchikan Ready Mix and Quarry has been named the USDA HUBZone Contractor of the Year by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

The Latest: Senator calls to delay Trump nominee hearing

A leading Democrat on the Senate Agriculture Committee says a confirmation hearing for one of President Donald Trump's nominees should be delayed in light of new twists in special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation. Trump has nominated former campaign adviser Sam Clovis to serve as chief scientist at the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Maine Food Sovereignty Bends but Doesn’t Break After USDA Threats

This past June, Maine legislators passed a law, An Act to Recognize Local Control Regarding Food Systems , which allows cities and towns in the state to adopt laws permitting farmers and other food producers within their borders to engage in a host of direct-to-consumer food sales. The law, intended to bolster local food economies in the state, allows Maine municipalities to "regulate by ordinance local food systems," and requires the state, in turn, to "recognize such ordinances."

USDA Offers Help To California Producers Impacted By Fires

USDA OFFERS HELP TO CALIFORNIA PRODUCERS IMPACTED BY FIRES Oct. 23, 2017 Source: USDA news release The U.S. Department of Agriculture is targeting $4 million to help farmers, ranchers, and forest land owners in California recover from the recent wildfires. USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service will issue waivers for those interested in the Environmental Quality Incentives Program to enable recovery work to begin immediately.

New York advances drone industry with testing corridor

Envisioning a day when millions of drones will buzz around delivering packages, watching crops or inspecting pipelines, a coalition is creating an airspace corridor in upstate New York where traffic management systems will be developed and unmanned aircraft can undergo safety and performance testing. The unmanned aircraft traffic management corridor, jump-started by a $30 million state investment, will extend 50 miles west over mostly rural farmland from Griffiss International Airport, a former Air Force base in Rome that is already home to NASA-affiliated drone testing.