USDA Announces Increase to Certain Incentive Payments for Continuous Conservation Reserve Program

 

WASHINGTON, Dec. 9, 2020 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture is increasing incentive payments for practices installed on land enrolled in the Continuous Conservation Reserve Program (CRP). USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) is upping the Practice Incentive Payment for installing practices, from 5 percent to 20 percent. Additionally, producers will receive a 10 percent incentive payment for water quality practices on land enrolled in CRP’s continuous signup. FSA administers CRP on behalf of the Commodity Credit Corporation.

“The Conservation Reserve Program provides agricultural producers and landowners with a tool to conserve natural resources on their land that is less suitable for farming,” said FSA Administrator Richard Fordyce. “We offer a number of CRP initiatives, including continuous CRP, which greatly benefits natural resources like water. Increasing the incentive payment gives farmers even more reason to participate in continuous CRP, one of our nation’s largest conservation endeavors.”

Under continuous CRP, producers can enroll environmentally sensitive land devoted to certain conservation practices with signup available at any time. FSA automatically accepts offers provided the land and producer meet certain eligibility requirements and the enrollment levels do not exceed the number of acres FSA is allowed to enroll in CRP, which was set by the 2018 Farm Bill.

Signed into law in 1985, CRP is one of the largest private-lands conservation programs in the United States. It was originally intended primarily to control soil erosion and potentially stabilize commodity prices by taking marginal lands out of production. The program has evolved over the years, providing many conservation and economic benefits. The program marks its 35-year anniversary this month. Program successes include:

• Preventing more than 9 billion tons of soil from eroding, which is enough soil to fill 600 million dump trucks;
• Reducing nitrogen and phosphorous runoff relative to annually tilled cropland by 95% and 85%, respectively;
• Sequestering an annual average of 49 million tons of greenhouse gases, equal to taking 9 million cars off the road;
• Creating more than 3 million acres of restored wetlands while protecting more than 175,000 stream miles with riparian forest and grass buffers, which is enough to go around the world seven times; and
• Benefiting bees and other pollinators and increasing populations of ducks, pheasants, turkey, bobwhite quail, prairie chickens, grasshopper sparrows and many other birds.

The successes of CRP contribute to USDA’s Agriculture Innovation Agenda and its goal of reducing the environmental footprint of U.S. agriculture by half by 2050. Earlier this year, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue announced the Department-wide initiative to align resources, programs, and research to position American agriculture to better meet future global demands.

For more information on CRP, visit fsa.usda.gov, or contact your  local FSA county office. 

All USDA Service Centers are open for business, including those that restrict in-person visits or require appointments. All Service Center visitors wishing to conduct business with FSA, Natural Resources Conservation Service or any other Service Center agency should call ahead and schedule an appointment. Service Centers that are open for appointments will pre-screen visitors based on health concerns or recent travel, and visitors must adhere to social distancing guidelines. Visitors are also required to wear a face covering during their appointment. Our program delivery staff will continue to work with our producers by phone, email, and using online tools. More information can be found at farmers.gov/coronavirus.

Reward climbs to $6,000 in case of missing goats

 

The missing Angora goats are worth more than $46,000.

307 Angora goats taken from Crockett County, Texas, ranch

 

Ozona, Texas — Information about the theft of hundreds of goats just got a lot more valuable.

 

Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association Special Ranger Marty Baker said rancher Ed Mayfield has added $5,000 of his own money to the $1,000 reward offered by the association. The reward will be paid to an individual or divided between individuals who provide information leading to the arrest or indictment of the responsible party. 

 

Baker said all information is kept confidential, and tips may be provided anonymously by calling 817-916-1775. Anyone with information may alternately contact Special Ranger Marty Baker at 512-468-5552 or Special Ranger Howard Brittain at 325-340-2268.

 

The Angora goats, worth more than $46,000, were taken from the Mayfield Ranch, located 30 miles south of Ozona in Crockett County, sometime between April 7 and September 23. Baker said it is unknown if all 307 head were stolen at once or over time. The missing goats are branded with a “Z” on the right ear and had ear tags inscribed with the word “Mayfield” and a phone number. Their left ears are cropped, and most of the goats have tipped horns.

 

“Any theft, but especially one of this magnitude, can just be devastating to a rancher,” Baker said. “If you know something about this crime, please come forward so we can help him recover those animals.”

  

 

###

 

Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association’s special rangers are an elite group of law enforcement officers who have extensive knowledge of the cattle industry. While they primarily investigate cattle theft and other agricultural crimes, they are well-trained in all facets of law enforcement. In all, the association has 30 special rangers stationed throughout Texas and Oklahoma who are commissioned through the Texas Department of Public Safety or Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation.

 

The special rangers also oversee more than 80 market inspectors who collect data, such as brands and other identifying marks on about 5 million cattle sold at 100 Texas livestock markets each year. That information is entered into the association’s recording and retrieval system, which is a vital tool for law enforcement when investigating theft cases.

 

 

USDA to Open Signup for the Conservation Reserve Program and CRP Grasslands in Early 2021

WASHINGTON, Nov. 12, 2020 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced the signup periods for the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) and the CRP Grasslands in 2021. Signup for general CRP will be open from Jan. 4, 2021, to Feb. 12, 2021, and signup for CRP Grasslands runs from March 15, 2021 to April 23, 2021. Both programs are competitive and provide annual rental payments for land devoted to conservation purposes.

“The Conservation Reserve Program and the many focused programs that come under it, like CRP Grasslands, are some of our most critical tools we have to help producers better manage their operations while conserving natural resources,” said Richard Fordyce, Administrator of USDA’s Farm Service Agency. “As one of our nation’s largest conservation endeavors, CRP has proved to protect our valuable resources, and next year’s signup gives our farmers and ranchers an opportunity to enroll for the first time or continue their participation for another term.”

Enrollment Options

CRP―General Signup

Through CRP, farmers and ranchers establish long-term, resource-conserving plant species, such as approved grasses or trees, to control soil erosion, improve water quality and enhance wildlife habitat on cropland. Farmers and ranchers who participate in CRP help provide numerous benefits to the nation’s environment and economy. CRP general signup is held annually. The competitive general signup includes increased opportunities for enrollment of wildlife habitat through the State Acres For Wildlife Enhancement (SAFE) initiative.

Grasslands Signup

CRP Grasslands helps landowners and operators protect grassland, including rangeland, pastureland, and certain other lands while maintaining the areas as grazing lands. Protecting grasslands contributes positively to the economy of many regions, provides biodiversity of plant and animal populations, and improves environmental quality. A separate CRP Grasslands signup is offered each year following general signup.

Signed into law in 1985, CRP is one of the largest private-lands conservation programs in the United States. It was originally intended to primarily control soil erosion and potentially stabilize commodity prices by taking marginal lands out of production. The program has evolved over the years, providing many conservation and economic benefits. The program marks its 35-year anniversary this December. Program successes include:

• Preventing more than 9 billion tons of soil from eroding, which is enough soil to fill 600 million dump trucks;
• Reducing nitrogen and phosphorous runoff relative to annually tilled cropland by 95 and 85 percent, respectively;
• Sequestering an annual average of 49 million tons of greenhouse gases, equal to taking 9 million cars off the road;
• Creating more than 3 million acres of restored wetlands while protecting more than 175,000 stream miles with riparian forest and grass buffers, which is enough to go around the world seven times; and
• Benefiting bees and other pollinators and increasing populations of ducks, pheasants, turkey, bobwhite quail, prairie chickens, grasshopper sparrows and many other birds.

The successes of CRP contribute to USDA’s Agriculture Innovation Agenda and its goal of reducing the environmental footprint of U.S. agriculture by half by 2050. Earlier this year, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue announced the department-wide initiative to align resources, programs and research to position American agriculture to better meet future global demands.

For more information on CRP, visit fsa.usda.gov or contact your local FSA county office.

                                                              #

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.

Welcome to the Agrihood Wins Two Book Awards

 

 

NEW YORK, Sept. 23, 2020 - The latest book by nationally recognized housing expert Anna DeSimone, Welcome to the Agrihood – Housing, Shopping, and Gardening for a Farm-to-Table Lifestyle, released in April, has garnered rave reviews and earned two book awards.

Welcome to the Agrihood takes readers on a virtual tour of agrihoods—residential communities centered around a working farm. With amenities such as charter schools, boating, golf, horseback riding, swimming, walking, hiking, and biking trails, it’s no wonder that agrihoods are winning awards across the nation for “best places to live.”

Serving as the nation’s first published directory, the author provides a directory of 90 communities throughout the U.S., with housing characteristics for owners, renters, over-55, and mixed-use communities in both urban and suburban locations. 

“Since agrihoods are a fairly new concept, homes are sustainably built with energy-efficient features—and in settings that support a healthy lifestyle for people of all ages,” says DeSimone.

But you don’t have to move to an agrihood to enjoy the farm-to-table lifestyle. Welcome to the Agrihood also shows readers how to grow their own organic food on their porches, balconies, or backyards with helpful tips, planting guides, illustrations, and valuable resources about sustainable, chemical-free, environmentally friendly growing methods. It also teaches the basics of organic certification, food safety, biodiversity, beekeeping, soil testing, composting, and local laws.

Shop from the Farmer You Know is a strong theme throughout the book, which includes a 50-state resource directory of more than 2,200 farms with full-service markets, food hubs, and farms offering CSA (community-supported agriculture) programs.

“There is knowledge for every gardener, homeowner, and newcomer to learn in any environment–from urban agriculture to backyard farming.” ~Washington Gardener

“You don’t have to live in the country to enjoy farm-to-table dining every day if you plan your eating habits accordingly. Anna DeSimone lights the way in her book, Welcome to the Agrihood, a practical guide for how to indulge in farm-to-table living.” ~ The Environmental Magazine

Author: Anna DeSimone is author of Housing Finance 2020, which received the Axiom Business Awards Silver Medal in Personal Finance, Retirement Planning, and Investing. A nationally recognized expert in housing finance, she has authored more than 40 books and hundreds of articles on the topic of fair and responsible home financing. She is retired founder of Bankers Advisory, an audit and consulting firm based in Boston, Massachusetts, acquired by Clifton Larson Allen LLP in 2014.

Welcome to the Agrihood – Housing, Shopping, and Gardening for a Farm-to-Table Lifestyle by Anna DeSimone; Housing 2020 Publishing; nonfiction; Home and Garden/ Sustainable Living/Gardening; Paperback $15.99 978-0-578-561-5; eBook $2.99 ASIN   B087GBQFYP; Availability: Amazon.com, BN.com, BookBaby.com, Apple iBooks, Google Books, Books-A-Million, IndieBound, AnnaDeSimone.net

 

 

How to Hold Over Show Animals the Low-Stress Way

By Shelia Grobosky

Public Relations Coordinator

BioZyme® Inc.

 

(SAINT JOSEPH, Mo., Sept. 23, 2020) Summer shows may be coming to a slow down, but in another 60 to 90 days fall shows will be ramping up. Just 45 to 60 more days winter majors start. Have you thought about holding over one of your animals that wasn’t quite dialed in this summer for one of those fall or winter shows? Perhaps you have; but there is a lot to consider: the animal’s body type, genetic makeup and their current weight should all be taken into account to make sure that animal can be carried over and fed properly with the least amount of stress involved.

According to Blaine Rodgers, Show Livestock Business Development for BioZyme® Inc., not every animal is built to carry to a later endpoint. Exhibitors and feeders need to evaluate their animals’ body types, condition and growth patterns before knowing if their animal is a candidate for a later show. 

“If you have a tall, big framed animal that is fast growing, chances are you are not going to have success holding it over. However, one that is boxy, moderate, good proportioned, gets fat pretty quick and has a lot of good muscle shape, you can hold those forever,” Rodgers said. “You surely can hold livestock for a long period of time if you understand nutritionally how to do it, but the biggest thing is to understand which ones are the kind you can do that with.”

Regardless if you’re talking lambs, steers or even pigs, the more moderately sized animals that don’t grow fast and put on fat easily are better to hold because you can feed them slower. Their growth curve and maturity pattern factor in to how long you can hold one. 

Use Supplements Correctly

Rodgers suggests that it is preferable to put animals on a base ration when they are young. Let them be livestock and grow, using their given genetic potential. Then, use the targeted supplements needed, usually fat and protein, toward the last one-third or one-quarter before their final show

“Supplements become very important in holding livestock because they contain a very potent nutritional value of whatever you’re trying to do,” Rodgers said. He explains.

The total volume of your animal’s diet can be reduced by adding a concentrated supplement; therefore, instead of feeding a full amount, it can be reduced by half by using smaller amounts of supplements to maintain fat and protein levels. 

“When you hold an animal, you want to increase the fat and protein levels so their muscle doesn’t deteriorate, and so they have enough energy to meet the requirement so they are not starving and burning all the fat off their body, and you do this with high concentrated supplements and a low volume of feed,” he said.

Buy Time 

One way to make sure your project animal reaches its desired endpoint, is to count the days you have until that show. Then, calculate the pounds you have to work with before that show, so you know how much time you need to buy. 

Rodgers suggests evaluating the last third of your feeding time before your endpoint. For example, if you have a pig that only has 30 pounds of wiggle room, and there are 30 days until the show, and you know that pigs typically gain two pounds per day, he’d be 30 pounds over your endpoint. You would need to hold your pig for a small portion of time to buy some time and push it at the end to make sure it is freshest when it needs to be.

He said one of the common mistakes feeders make is holding the animals too soon. Then it fills up early and takes off. When it is time to get dialed in for that later show, the animal just won’t be ready to eat again. 

Know your Weight and Evaluate

With any livestock project, it is important to get a regular, consistent weight on your animals. This means weighing them on the same scale, at the same time and at the same degree of fullness. For instance, you might decide to weigh every Sunday evening before chores or Saturday mornings after feeding. Whichever time you decide, stay consistent and weigh the same time each week. Weighing full one week and empty the next can really skew your records. 

Record your weights. Find a spiral notebook or a white board that hangs in the barn to record the dates and weights. A spiral notebook works as a good resource that you can record any feed changes or vaccinations in, too.

Another thing that Rodgers suggests is to have someone you trust in the industry come in periodically and evaluate your animals for changes. It is imperative to look for differences and see these changes – both positive and negative – like an increase or deterioration in muscle or condition. Sometimes it is hard to look at our stock that we see day after day, so it is important to have a neighbor or colleague that you trust to come into your barn for an honest evaluation.

“I have relationships with outside people that can come check on them. I rely on guys to come look at our stuff, because I see our livestock all the time, and it is harder to see the changes, but when you see them once every other week or so, you can really see the changes,” Rodgers said.

Final Advice

It is critical to keep the rumen working in the cattle, lambs and goats, so be sure to include hay in their daily diets. Another way to keep their digestive tract in check is by feeding a supplement with Amaferm®, such a product from the Sure Champ®or Vita Charge® lines. Amaferm is a precision prebiotic that impacts intake, digestion and absorption, for optimum health and performance.

Sure Champ is line a of livestock show supplements that proactively work to assist with the challenges created by the show environment. Vita Charge is a fast-acting, multi-specie livestock supplement for use during stressful times when livestock need protection or assistance in recovery. The Vita Charge product line offers versatility in many forms making application easy depending on what is best for your animal.

All animals should continue to exercise during their hold over time. This is especially important for sheep, which are predominately evaluated on muscle shape and handle.

Let the animal realize its genetic potential. 

“Don’t buy animals that are excessively large and try to hold them right out of the gate. Because at a young age you need to establish muscle shape and you need to establish bone and skeletal growth. Keep livestock on full feed. It’s toward finishing stage that you want to hold them,” Rodgers reminds.

Holding a livestock project over is a science and an art. Make sure you’re working with an animal that has the potential to last an additional 30 to 90 days. Use your supplements correctly, rely on a set of outside eyes to help you evaluate progress and buy as much time as you can. Don’t forget the Sure Champ with the Amaferm advantage to help your animals #preptowin every step of the way. To learn more, visit www.surechamp.com.

 

Warm-season grasses ready for autumn care

By the U of A System Division of Agriculture 

 

Fast Facts: 

• Native grasses can be grazed between mid-April until the end of August, but no grazing should occur after early September 

• Burning, grazing and bush-hogging key to maintaining pastures year-to-year 

 

 

LITTLE ROCK — By their very nature, native grasses are suited to survive year-to-year in their native environs. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t a few things the calendar-minded pasture manager can’t do to help maximize a land’s potential. 

Dirk Philipp, associate professor of animal science for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, said perennial warm-season native grasses, such as big bluestem, indiangrass, and eastern gamagrass are very good forages with a sufficient degree of nutritive value that can be grazed between mid-April until the end of August, but no grazing should occur after early September. 

“Native warm season grasses substantially reduce their growth during shortening days in the fall and go fully dormant with freezing temperatures,” Philipp said. “Since these grasses are very tall and generate substantial amounts for senesced material, managing the thatch can be challenging.” 

Philipp offered some pointers and recommendations to go about bringing native grasses through the winter and to ensure lush regrowth in spring, including burning, grazing management and bush-hogging. 

“Burning is by far the most efficient method of minimizing the amount of thatch prior to regrowth in spring,” he said. “These grasses are well adapted to burning and ecologically the best method of managing senesced material. Burning should occur sometime short before green-up, such as early to mid-March in the case of Arkansas.” 

 

Philipp recommended that pasture managers seek help and advice before burning though, as local regulations may apply. 

 

With regards to grazing management, Philipp said that senesced material — grasses that have deteriorated with age — can actually be grazed during the wintertime.  

 

“Cattle will graze of large parts of the dead leaf material if they are supplemented, or have access to other forages as well to maintain nutritional needs,” he said. 

 

Bush-hogging can be done before green-up, as well in February or early March the latest. Removing senesced material earlier may compromise temporary habitat for wildlife, so pasture managers should be careful not to rush this step.  

 

“Bush-hogging requires on-pasture traffic and diesel, so keep in mind this is less desirable than burning, simply from a sustainability standpoint,” Philipp said. “When bush-hogging is necessary, go slowly to chop up everything, to avoid covering regrowth.” 

 

Philipp also recommended removing all dead material from pastures in the fall and winter, to ensure lush regrowth during spring. By monitoring the grasses over the years and making incremental adjustments as necessary, it’s possible to maintain stand biomass and quality. Grazing, Philipp said, may need to be deferred more in some years than in others. 

 

“Last but not least, try to keep travel across native warm season grasses to a minimum,” he said. “Every so often, pickup travel can seriously damage the grass sod, any time of the year.” 

 

To learn more about extension programs in Arkansas, contact your local Cooperative Extension Service agent or visit www.uaex.edu. Follow us on Twitter at @UAEX_edu.  

 

 

USDA Assists Farmers, Ranchers, and Communities Affected by Western Wildfires

 

 

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced the availability of assistance for residents and agricultural producers affected by recent wildfires.   As of today, wildfires have burned nearly 6.9 million acres across 11 states. More than 31,000 personnel from the local, state and federal levels are working to contain 61 large fires. The USDA Forest Service has more than 7,800 personnel committed to firefighting efforts along with airtankers, helicopters, and other air and ground firefighting resources.   Food waivers and flexibilities   On August 27, 2020, USDA’s Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) approved California’s waiver request to allow for the purchase of hot foods with Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits in select counties. As many California residents are not able to store food or access cooking facilities, households in those counties can purchase hot foods with SNAP benefits through September 23, 2020.   On September 3, 2020, FNS also approved California’s request to issue automatic mass replacements of SNAP benefits to impacted households. This waiver allows households in certain counties and zip codes to receive replacement of 50% of their August SNAP benefits as a result of wildfires and power outages that began on August 17, 2020. For more information on either of these actions, contact the California Department of Social Services.   Helping producers weather financial impacts of disasters   When major disasters strike, USDA has an emergency loan program that provides eligible farmers low-interest loans to help them recover from production and physical losses. This program is triggered when a natural disaster is designated by the Secretary of Agriculture or a natural disaster or emergency is declared by the President under the Stafford Act. USDA also offers additional programs tailored to the needs of specific agricultural sectors to help producers weather the financial impacts of major disasters and rebuild their operations.   Livestock owners and contract growers who experience above normal livestock deaths due to specific weather events, as well as to disease or animal attacks, may qualify for assistance under USDA’s Livestock Indemnity Program.   Livestock producers who have suffered grazing losses due to a qualifying drought condition or fire on federally-managed land during the normal grazing period for a county may qualify for help through USDA’s Livestock Forage Disaster Program. Producers of non-insurable crops who suffer crop losses, lower yields or are prevented from planting agricultural commodities may be eligible for assistance under USDA's Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program.   Helping operations recover after disasters   USDA can also provide financial resources through its Environmental Quality Incentives Program to help with immediate needs and long-term support to help recover from natural disasters and conserve water resources. Assistance may also be available for emergency animal mortality disposal from natural disasters and other causes.   Farmers and ranchers needing to rehabilitate farmland damaged by natural disasters can apply for assistance through USDA’s Emergency Conservation Program. USDA also has assistance available for eligible private forest landowners who need to restore forestland damaged by natural disasters through the Emergency Forest Restoration Program. USDA's Emergency Watershed Protection Program can also help relieve imminent threats to life and property caused by fires and other natural disasters that impair a watershed. Orchardists and nursery tree growers may be eligible for assistance through USDA’s Tree Assistance Program to help replant or rehabilitate eligible trees, bushes and vines damaged by natural disasters.   Producers with coverage through the Risk Management Agency (RMA) administered federal crop insurance program should contact their crop insurance agent for issues in filing claims. Those who purchased crop insurance will be paid for covered losses. Producers should report crop damage within 72 hours of discovering damage and follow up in writing within 15 days. The Approved Insurance Providers (AIP), loss adjusters and agents are experienced and well trained in handling these types of events. As part of its commitment to delivering excellent customer service, RMA is working closely with AIPs that sell and service crop insurance policies to ensure enough loss adjusters will be available to process claims in the affected areas as quickly as possible. Visit the RMA website for more details.   Helping with the long-term recovery of rural communities   USDA Rural Development has more than 50 programs available to rural and tribal communities for the rebuild, repair or modernization of rural infrastructure including drinking and waste water systems, solid waste management, electric infrastructure, and essential community facilities such as public safety stations, health care centers and hospitals, and educational facilities. Visit the USDA Rural Development website for more information on specific programs.   Visit USDA's disaster resources website to learn more about USDA disaster preparedness and response. For more information on USDA disaster assistance programs, contact your local USDA Service Center.   #