USDA Invests in Rural Electric Infrastructure Improvements in 10 States
Investments will Benefit 213,295 Residents and Businesses
Contact:
Jay Fletcher (202) 690-0498
Weldon Freeman (202) 690-1384
WASHINGTON, Aug. 9, 2019 – U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Utilities Service Administrator Chad Rupe today announced that USDA is investing $181 million to upgrade rural electric systems in 10 states (PDF, 98 KB). The funding includes $7.7 million to finance smart grid technologies that improve system operations and monitor grid security.
“For more than eight decades, USDA has been a strong partner to rural communities in building and expanding electric infrastructure,” Rupe said. “Under the leadership of President Trump and Agriculture Secretary Perdue, USDA is committed to investing in essential infrastructure upgrades that improve the quality of life in rural communities and help grow the rural economy.”
USDA is providing financing for 12 projects in Arkansas, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Ohio, South Dakota, Texas and Wisconsin through the Electric Loan Program. The funding will help build and improve 1,354 miles of line to improve electric reliability and resilience in rural areas.
Among the loans announced today, Ohio’s Buckeye Rural Electric Cooperative is receiving $19.7 million to build and improve 96 miles of line. The upgrades will serve 600 new customers. Buckeye also will invest $327,000 in smart grid technologies to increase system efficiency and resilience. It serves more than 18,600 customers over 2,500 miles of line in nine counties in eastern Ohio.
The Licking Valley Rural Electric Cooperative in West Liberty, Ky., is also receiving a $19.7 million loan. It will build and upgrade 74 miles of line and install nearly $338,000 in smart grid technologies. These investments will serve 17,300 residential and business consumers over 2,072 miles of line in Breathitt, Elliot, Lee, Magoffin, Menifee, Morgan, Rowan and Wolfe counties.
USDA will make additional funding announcements in coming weeks. Congress appropriated $5.5 billion for USDA’s Electric Loan Program in fiscal year 2019.
In April 2017, President Donald J. Trump established the Interagency Task Force on Agriculture and Rural Prosperity to identify legislative, regulatory and policy changes that could promote agriculture and prosperity in rural communities. In January 2018, Secretary Perdue presented the Task Force’s findings to President Trump. These findings included 31 recommendations to align the federal government with state, local and tribal governments to take advantage of opportunities that exist in rural America. Increasing investments in rural infrastructure is a key recommendation of the task force.
To view the report in its entirety, please view the Report to the President of the United States from the Task Force on Agriculture and Rural Prosperity (PDF, 5.4 MB). In addition, to view the categories of the recommendations, please view the Rural Prosperity infographic (PDF, 190 KB).
USDA Rural Development provides loans and grants to help expand economic opportunities and create jobs in rural areas. This assistance supports infrastructure improvements; business development; housing; community facilities such as schools, public safety and health care; and high-speed internet access in rural areas. For more information, visit www.rd.usda.gov.
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USDA Clips
Friday, August 9, 2019
USDA Clips are intended for use by authorized government personnel only. Redistribution by any means to any unauthorized person violates copyright on the source material.
Top Stories
USDA Agencies Brace for Major Hit After Two-Thirds of Employees Refuse Sudden Relocation (Gizmodo, 8/8) Last year, Perdue revealed plans to host a new site for the Economic Research Service, a statistical agency aimed at anticipating industry trends, and the National Institution of Food And Agriculture, a science funding agency with a $1.7 billion budget from grants. But where exactly that would be remained a mystery until about two months ago. Employees had roughly 30 days to make a decision: lose their jobs, or accept reassignment to the Kansas City region. The USDA’s cost-benefit analysis predicts taxpayers will save $300 million over 15 years thanks to the move. But Congress has disputed the department’s authority to even order it in the first place. The move uses funds that, per a 2018 appropriations act, require Congressional approval, and an investigation by the USDA’s Office of the Inspector agreed in a report released earlier this week. The department’s general counsel disputes this requirement, calling it unconstitutional. In July, the USDA reported that two-thirds of the employees asked to relocate refused to do so. According to mock-ups of the termination notices reviewed by the Washington Post, September 27 will be their last day. Gizmodo reached out to the USDA, and the department did not immediately respond.
Farmers pack building to talk trade war impact with Sonny Perdue (AgriNews, 8/8) The group bearing the brunt of the impact for the Trump Administration's trade policies got a chance to voice its feelings on Wednesday, Aug. 7, about the ongoing trade war with China. The U.S. House Agriculture Committee held a listening session to gauge the impact of trade and agriculture policy in farm country and hundreds of farmers, ag industry leaders and others turned out for the session, packing the building at Farmfest. United States Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue, a key player in orchestrating President Donald Trump's trade policy moves, fielded questions and comments. And while he seemed to listen and respond with compassion, he struck back at times with defenses of the president's trade negotiations. “We’re already seeing the short-term pain (in farm country) and that’s why we have the market facilitation program that tries to backfill as much of that pain as possible," Perdue said. "It’s not designed, nor is it intended, nor is it expected to make people whole. And any farmer would rather have a good crop than the price of a government check.”
Farmers Confront Trump's Agriculture Secretary at Forum: 'We Are Not Starting to Do Great Again' (Newsweek, 8/8) American farmers confronted Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue on Wednesday, criticizing the administration's trade policy and voicing discontent with the impact of the ongoing trade war with China. During a forum in Minnesota, representatives from the Minnesota Farmers Union, the Minnesota Corn Growers Association and the American Soybean Association took aim the Trump administration's trade policy, Bloomberg reported. "We are not starting to do great again," said Brian Thalmann, the president of the Minnesota Corn Growers Association, referencing statements from President Donald Trump. "We are starting to go down very quickly." The complaints came after a dramatic escalation in the trade war between the world's two largest economies. Last week, Trump threatened to slap tariffs on $300 billion more Chinese imports. China, which in 2017 imported $19.5 billion in U.S. farm goods, said in response it would halt all imports of U.S. agricultural goods.
Grassley: While facing challenging times, farmers are sticking with Trump (Washington Ag Network, Glenn Vaagen, 8/8) GOP Senate ally Chuck Grassley defended the president’s tariffs against China offset some by billions in market facilitation payments. He said that assistance is much more than [the president’s] predecessors offered. The President has tweeted he’ll give farmers more trade aid next year if needed. Grassley said Trump keeping his word is a big help to producers.
International/National
America Has the Upper Hand in a Trade Deal With Britain (The Atlantic, Yasmeen Serhan, 08/09) If there is light at the end of the Brexit tunnel, Brexiteers say, it’s this: Britain, finally unshackled from the stringent restraints of the European Union, will soon be able to go out and strike its own trade deals, and realize its dream of becoming a “truly global Britain.” Although Brexit hasn’t happened yet, global Britain’s first test has begun. This week, British Trade Secretary Liz Truss traveled to Washington, D.C., to set out Britain’s goals for a free-trade deal with the United States… Still, the viability of a trade deal will largely depend on what concessions London is willing to make—and Washington is expecting many. Among the negotiating objectives set out by the U.S. trade representative in February is the insistence that Britain “remove expeditiously unwarranted barriers that block the export of U.S. food and agriculture products,” such as chlorine-washed chicken and hormone-treated beef. (Both products are banned in Britain for health and safety reasons; The U.S. argues that such concerns are overblown.)
China’s Food Prices Jump 9.1% in July as the Country Battles African Swine Fever (CNBC, Huileng Tan, 08/08) China’s July food prices jumped 9.1% from a year ago, data from the National Bureau of Statistics showed on Friday, as the country battles soaring pork prices amid the spread of African swine fever. In particular, pork prices rose 27% from a year ago in July while fresh fruit prices rose 39.1%, the data showed. The July figures follow an 8.3% year-on-year jump in June. Non-food items in July were 1.3% higher, government data showed. Chinese fruit supply has been hurt by severe weather that hurt crop production this year, sending prices of apples up sharply. China is the world’s largest producer and a major consumer of the staple fruit. The official inflation data came after China confirmed Tuesday it will be suspending imports of agricultural products from the U.S. in response to President Donald Trump’s new tariffs. U.S. exports of fruits to China have already been falling in the last year with fresh fruit exports falling to $123 million from July 2018 to June 2019 — down by about half from $239 million the previous year, data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) showed.
Immigration Raids To Have Long-Term Effects On Poultry Towns (Associated Press, Jeff Amy and Rogelio Solis, 8/9) Effects of the largest immigration raid in at least a decade are likely to ripple for years through six Mississippi small towns that host poultry plants. A store owner who caters to Latino poultry plant workers fears he will have to close. A school superintendent is trying to rebuild trust with the Spanish-speaking community. And the CEO of a local bank says the effects are likely to touch every business in her town. More than 100 civil rights activists, union organizers and clergy members in Mississippi denounced the raid, but the state's Republican Gov. Phil Bryant commended federal immigration authorities for the arrests, tweeting that anyone in the country illegally has to "bear the responsibility of that federal violation." Officials said 680 people were initially detained during Wednesday's operation. U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement sent more than 300 of those people home by dawn Thursday, with notices to appear before immigration judges, said ICE spokesman Bryan Cox.
Trade war escalation nudges U.S. closer to recession: Reuters poll (Reuters, Shrutee Sarkar, 8/8) The recent escalation in the U.S.-China trade war has brought forward the next U.S. recession, according to a majority of economists polled by Reuters who now expect the Federal Reserve to cut rates again in September and once more next year. Despite expectations for further easing, the Aug 6-8 poll gave a median 45% probability of the U.S. economy slipping into a recession in the next two years, up from 35% in the previous poll and the highest since that question was first asked in May 2018. A closely-watched bond market gauge of U.S. recession risk flashed its biggest warning since March 2007 on Monday, underscoring concerns the spillover from the battle between the world’s two biggest economies over trade will accelerate a global downturn. Last week, U.S. President Donald Trump said a 10% tariff on an additional $300 billion of Chinese goods will be added, starting Sept. 1 and Washington on Monday branded China a currency manipulator.
Trump administration reauthorizes use of "cyanide bombs" to kill wild animals (CBS News, Sophie Lewis, 8/8) The Environmental Protection Agency has recently reauthorized the use of controversial chemical traps to kill coyotes, dogs, foxes and other wild animals across the U.S. These "cyanide bombs" are meant to protect livestock although some environmental groups are calling for a nationwide ban and saying they are inhumane. According to a recent interim decision, EPA officials approved the use of M-44 devices, which trap wildlife with bait before releasing sodium cyanide into their mouths, killing them. The devices "inhumanely and indiscriminately killing thousands of animals every year," the Center for Biological Diversity said in a statement Wednesday. "They have also injured people." Wildlife Services, the division of the U.S. Department of Agriculture responsible for wildlife management, is authorized to use the devices, as are state agencies in South Dakota, Montana, Wyoming, New Mexico and Texas. Wildlife Services kills large numbers of wild animals every year on behalf of farmers and ranchers.
Food Safety and Inspection Service
How Many Hogs Can Be Slaughtered Per Hour? Pork Industry Wants More (The New York Times, Julie Creswell, 8/9) The federal government is poised this month to adopt a rule that would essentially turn the largest pork processing lines in the United States into the autobahn: no speed limit. Currently, plants are allowed to slaughter a maximum of 1,106 hogs per hour. As hogs move down the slaughter lines, federal inspectors stationed at each plant examine them and remove any parts potentially harmful to consumers. Proponents say speed limits are unnecessary anyway. They say that market hogs — about six months old and around 250 pounds — are generally healthy and that the elimination of maximum speeds would add flexibility to plant production schedules and staffing levels. The Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service said the revamped rule, which was proposed in February 2018, was based on current food safety science.
Options for poultry producer raids were many; here’s where the feds went (Food Safety News, Dan Flynn, 8/9) The fifth and ninth largest poultry producers and three smaller operators were targets this week of one of the most massive worksite immigration raids in Mississippi history. Mississippi has 63 meat and poultry plants, according to USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS). The state is No. 1 in catfish production and No. 5 in poultry production. The federal government only said the raids involved “seven agricultural processing plants across Mississippi Wednesday morning as part of an ongoing HSI worksite enforcement criminal investigation.” That left local media scrambling throughout the day to nail down all the locations involved. The raids were entirely aimed at poultry workers employed by the five companies.
U.S. Beef to European Markets (Tri-State Livestock News, Amanda Radke, 8/8) The Non-Hormone Treated Cattle (NHTC) Program has been in effect since 1999, when the European Union (EU) and the U.S. agreed to control measures to facilitate the trade of non-hormone treated beef, including veal. The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has designated AMS as the competent authority for providing verification that cattle meet the specified product requirements outlined in QAD 1013 Procedure. The specified product requirements must be met through an approved USDA Quality System Assessment (QSA) Program. In order for FSIS to provide export certification for product: All farms, ranches, and feedlots approved under these programs and that raise beef destined for shipment to the European Union (EU) as non-hormone treated cattle must be listed on the FSIS PartnerShare website.
USDA Handwashing, Lunch Packing Tips (Shelby County Today, USDA Press Release, 8/9) Summer is coming to an end and families across the country are trading in beach balls and roller blades for backpacks and notebooks. But back-to-school time is also followed by cold and flu season. Having the whole family follow some simple healthy behaviors can help them avoid all kinds of illnesses this time of year, including a topic we get lots of questions about: foodborne illness. Proper handwashing is the best thing you can do to stop the spread of germs and avoid getting your little ones sick. “USDA research in collaboration with RTI International and NC State University has found that consumers are failing to properly wash their hands 97 percent of the time.” said Dr. Mindy Brashears, Deputy Under Secretary Food Safety. “Washing hands is one of the most effective ways to prevent illness, including foodborne illness.”
Food and Nutrition Service
A Surprising Way to Improve Diabetes Control (Forbes, Peter Ubel, 8/8) About a quarter of elderly Americans have diabetes. As a result of that disease, many people face high out-of-pocket healthcare costs: paying for tests, medical appointments, and medications. Sadly, many people find themselves forced to decide whether to pay for their medicines or, instead, pay for their groceries. Food being pretty necessary for survival, the result is a high rate of non-adherence to diabetes medications for people who can’t afford to pay for their treatments. Would financial assistance for food expenses help improve medication adherence?That was the question that Jennifer Pooler and Mithuna Srinivasan set out to answer in a study they published in JAMA Internal Medicine… I will cut to the chase. All else equal, people who receive SNAP benefits were significantly more likely to take their medications… Approximately 17% of elderly adults who are not on SNAP report taking less than the prescribed amount of their diabetes medicines because of cost. That number drops to 12% for those receiving SNAP benefits. That’s a really important difference.
If we want to save the world, we have to eat less meat (The Hill, Eric Adams, 8/8) The world population is expected to grow to almost 10 billion people by 2050, which will result in a projected 70 percent increase in demand for animal food products. The United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) met in Geneva, Switzerland recently to discuss the future climate impact of the agriculture industry. It released their official report stating the dangers ahead for our planet unless there is a shift in how our world produces food. The bottom line? We have to eat less meat… There is no doubt that Congress must act quickly. With the Green New Deal under discussion, and a renewed attempt to reauthorize the Child Nutrition Act, which sets standards for important child feeding programs such as the National School Lunch Program, there is an opportunity in Washington to put a major dent in our climate emissions and improve the health of our nation at the same time.
Open Forum: Food stamp cuts could force more schoolchildren to go hungry (San Francisco Chronicle, Monica Mattes, 8/8) Casey, an adorable, bright-eyed 8-year-old, sat in her school cafeteria with a milk in one hand and a strawberry yogurt in the other. I sat with her and her friends as they enjoyed breakfast during a series of visits to local schools to teach kids about nutrition. Most of the students at Casey’s elementary school qualify for free meals based on family income. Looking back at that morning, I’m saddened by the prospect that the federal government could take food out of the hands of kids like Casey. That could be a consequence of the Trump administration’s proposed changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, also known as SNAP or food stamps. The Trump administration’s planned changes to SNAP could result in over half a million children losing their automatic eligibility for free meals through the program. Under a rule proposed by the administration last month, fewer families would qualify for food stamps, and fewer children would be directly certified for subsidized school meals as a result. The administration argues that its changes would save the government money, but this overlooks the long-term costs.
Forest Service
Bennet Cosponsors Bipartisan Legislation to Extend Secure Rural Schools Program (Pagosa Daily Post, 8/8) Colorado US Senator Michael Bennet announced yesterday that he’s a cosponsor of legislation to extend the U.S. Forest Service’s Secure Rural Schools and Self-Determination Program (SRS) through fiscal year 2020. The Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act, which was first introduced in 2000, supports public schools, public roads, forest health projects, emergency services, and other essential county services for more than 775 counties around the country. “The Secure Rural Schools program ensures rural communities across Colorado can make necessary investments in their schools, roads, and emergency services,” Bennet said.
The Forest Service’s Proposed NEPA Changes Could Have a Noticeable Impact on Mountain Bikers (Single Tracks Blog, 8/8)The US Forest Service has proposed a series of changes to its current National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) regulations. NEPA guides how the USFS and other agencies make decisions, and requires the agency to conduct Environmental Impact Statements or Environmental Analyses to measure the impact of proposed policies or actions on the immediate environment. In other words, the USFS has been required for decades to submit lengthy and time-consuming environmental analyses to review potential hazards to the immediate environment by things ranging from routine fire management to trail and road maintenance or timber harvesting.
Op-Ed: Don't let the government make public lands decisions without us (SNEWS, 8/8) Under a government that relies on checks and balances, the U.S. Forest Service has proposed cutting the public out of the decision-making process when it comes to our National Forests and public lands. The proposal would amend the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)—a law that you’ve probably never heard of, but one that every American has benefitted from in myriad ways because it's the foundation of our nation’s environmental law. NEPA gives the public a voice in federal actions and requires that government agencies conduct environmental assessments before proceeding with a project.
Forest Service proposes plan changes for young-growth logging on karst lands (KFSK, 8/9) The U.S. Forest Service is proposing its first significant change to the 2016 planning document that guides logging, road building and other uses of the Tongass National Forest. This change would relax logging restrictions on some parts of the forest that are supported by intricate and sometimes fragile limestone formations. This land with soft and soluble rock underneath is called karst. As the region’s abundant rainfall flows through this limestone, it dissolves the rock forming, fissures, caves and sink holes. Karst land is scattered about the region but the highest concentrations can be found on Prince of Wales Island. The federal agency rates this land on its vulnerability to logging, road building and other development.
Rural Development
Tensions mount over abandoned building in Cassopolis (WNDU, Lindsay Stone, 8/8) “We've been working on this deal over the course of three years," said David Allen, Vice President Regulatory and Gas Operations, Midwest Energy and Communications. "We've worked with the USDA over the course of three years to develop this deal. USDA Rural Development State Director Jason Allen publicly announced the deal that a lone facility was being made available to Woodlands to acquire 901 E. State Street."
USDA invests in rural water, wastewater infrastructure in 24 states (Albany Herald, staff, 8/8) U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Utilities Service Administrator Chad Rupe has announced that USDA is investing $135 million in 49 projects to improve rural water infrastructure in 24 states, including Georgia.
Collins announces around $9 million in USDA funding for water system improvements in Bergen (The Daily News Online, staff, 8/8) Congressman Chris Collins today announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is providing a $5.9 million loan and a $3,058,000 grant to the town of Bergen. This loan and grant will be used to install a water distribution system.
Natural Resources Conservation Service
Emergency projects above Basalt, Colo., eased Sunday’s flash flood damage (The Aspen Times, Scott Condon, 8/9) A large catch basin that Eagle County sculpted into the mountainside above Basalt in recent weeks prevented significantly more water, mud and debris from swamping part of the Hill District during Sunday’s flash flood. “It was definitely a success,” Roaring Fork Fire Rescue Chief Scott Thompson said of the project. The work was part of a $1.35 million Emergency Watershed Protection Program project, funded, in part, through a $1.23 million grant from the Natural Resources Conservation Service.
Dry conditions affect Iowa farmers after wet spring (Iowa Farmer Today, Aaron Viner, 8/8) Looking at the U.S. Drought Monitor, it would be hard to guess that excess rain caused problems for growers in eastern Iowa this spring. At least 12 counties along the eastern third of Iowa are currently classified as abnormally dry based on the August 1 map released by the National Drought Mitigation Center, and farmers are feeling the need for moisture. The drought monitor is also showing parts of central Iowa, such as Dallas County, affected by some abnormally dry conditions.
Reclamation announces funding opportunity grants to improve water reliability and energy efficiency (U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, Peter Soeth, 8/8) The Bureau of Reclamation has announced that it is making grant funding available as part of the WaterSMART Water and Energy Efficiency Grant Program. Through water and energy efficiency grants, Reclamation provides funding for projects that result in quantifiable and sustained water savings, increase the production of hydropower, and support broader water reliability benefits. Some of the projects may be eligible for funding from the Natural Resources Conservation Service’s Environmental Quality Incentives Program.
New Hampshire farm celebrates a new milestone (Carriagetowne News, 8/8) Much loved by the Stratham community, the more than 100-year-old year Barker’s Farm is now protected forever. Thanks to an outpouring of community support and a long list of local, state, and federal grants, the Southeast Land Trust of New Hampshire, and the Barker family recently completed conservation easements to keep the land open and available for farming forever. A matching grant of $535,000 was secured from the Natural Resources Conservation Service.
Farm Service Agency
‘USDA’s bank’ keeps trade aid flowing to farmers (Successful Farming, Chuck Abbott, 8/8) The Trump administration can pay billions of dollars in trade aid to farmers and ranchers this year, and in 2020, too, if it wishes, because Congress quietly and reliably replenishes the funding of the “USDA’s bank.” The broad charter of the Commodity Credit Corporation and its direct access to the Treasury mean that agriculture is the only sector of the U.S. economy to get a bailout during the Sino-U.S. trade war.
Missouri farmers to get first half of trade relief payments later this month (KTTN Radio, 8/8) The first half of trade bailout payments are set to go out to Missouri farmers later this month. Farm Service Agency Executive Director Brent Hampy tells Missouri.net affiliate KWIX the trade relief payments will be split over the next six months and will depend on whether the tariffs that prompted the aid are still in place.
Trade retaliation program unlikely to help Maine blueberries (Associated Press, Patrick Whittle, 8/8) A federal program designed to help farmers suffering from trade disruptions is unlikely to assist Maine’s wild blueberry growers who are struggling in the face of falling prices, loss of business in China, and competition with the Canadian crop. Maine Agriculture Commissioner Amanda Beal called on USDA to include the crop in its Market Facilitation Program. USDA told The Associated Press that program is intended for crops that aren’t easily used in school food programs or by food banks.
From flood to drought, this year has it all (Successful Farming, Bob Linneman, 8/7) The August USDA Supply and Demand report (out next Monday) is not often a major market-moving report. But what about this year has been usual? One factor that will be closely watched is how the USDA utilizes satellite imagery in a report for the first time. USDA is trying to update the methods used to formulate these reports. However, excessive moisture at the start of the year now followed by drought conditions for some areas makes the yield estimation process nearly impossible.
AccuWeather predicts lowest U.S. corn yield in 7 years (Advantage, 8/8) The latest AccuWeather 2019 crop production analysis predicts a significant decline from last year’s corn and soybean yield, as well as a noticeable variation from the July USDA estimates. AccuWeather analysts predict the 2019 corn yield will be 13.07 billion bushels, a decline of 9.3 percent from 2018 and 5.8 percent lower than the latest USDA figures. It would be the lowest yield since 2012, a year of significant drought.
10 Farm Bill meetings planned in August, September for Kansas (Kansas State University Research and Extension, 8/7) Kansas State University’s Department of Agricultural Economics will host 10 Farm Bill meetings around the state, starting in late August. The meetings will cover commodity programs, the Agriculture Risk Coverage/Price Loss Coverage programs, the Supplemental Coverage Option, and a new decision tool available for producers. USDA Farm Service Agency and Natural Resources Conservation Service representatives will provide a big-picture perspective, as well as a local view for each area.
National Agricultural Statistics Service
Average county cropland rental rates in Minnesota made available (Agri News, 08/08) A publication with current cropland rental rates in Minnesota was recently released. Average rents listed by county can be found in the “Cropland Rental Rates for Minnesota Counties” publication, which uses all the rates coming from farmers who participate in Adult Farm Management programs across the state. The land rental data is extracted from FINBIN, a database of farm record summaries of more than 2,000 Minnesota farms. The publication also includes the 2017 county rental data gathered by the USDA National Ag Statistical Service (NASS), in cooperation with the Minnesota Department of Agriculture. The data was collected via mail survey. The 2019 results will be available in September.
USDA to measure small grain production (Morning Ag Clips, 08/08) As the 2019 crop production season continues, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) will be contacting producers nationwide to determine the production and supply of small grains in the United States. “Each year, the agriculture industry eagerly awaits USDA’s Small Grains Summary, which provides the final estimates for small grains to include wheat, oats, barley and rye,” said Bill Meyer, Director, Mountain Regional field Office. “The small grains industry is an important part of agriculture and it is crucial for all involved with the agriculture sector to have accurate data about this key sector of the economy.” NASS will mail the survey questionnaire in August, asking producers to provide information on acreage, yield and production as well as quantities of grains stored on farm. The data collected from this survey will also help set estimates at the county level, to be published in December 2019.
Dairy farm closures in Maryland continue (The Bull Vine, 08/08) Seventeen dairy farms have shuttered in Maryland in 2019, state data show. Sixteen of those closures occurred in the first three months of the year, and one occurred in May. There were no closures from June to mid-July, according to the state’s Center for Milk and Dairy Product Safety. In January, there were fewer than 370 dairy farms statewide. The rate of closures puts the state on pace for a yearly total similar to the last two years. In 2018, 41 dairies closed, and in 2017, 33 closed. Most of those closures occurred within the first four months and last four months of the year. It’s too soon to tell whether the lack of closures in June and mid-July suggests the beginning of a firmer milk market for Maryland producers, said Dale Johnson, a farm management specialist at the University of Maryland Extension.
Land Values in North Dakota Continue to Climb (KFGO, 08/08) North Dakota's farm real estate value, a measurement of the value of all land and buildings on farms, increased from 2018, according to USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service. Farm real estate value for 2019 averaged $1,740 per acre, up $30 per acre from last year. Cropland value increased 3% from last year to $1,920 per acre. Pastureland, at $820 per acre, was $44 higher than the previous year. 2019 cropland cash rents also increased from last year. Irrigated cropland rent averaged $164 per acre, $1 above last year. Dryland cropland rent averaged $69 per acre, $5 higher than a year earlier. Pasture rented for cash averaged $17.50 per acre, $0.50 more than 2018.
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
40 Incubated Chick-Hatching Eggs Confiscated At Philadelphia Port, Feds Says (KYT CBS, 08/08) U.S. Customs and Border protection say dozens of incubated chick-hatching eggs were seized at a Philadelphia port. On July 24, agriculture specialists discovered the 40 chick-hatching eggs inside of air cargo that came from the Netherlands. The eggs were destined for Maine. When the specialists opened the package, they found the incubated eggs concealed underneath a layer of plastic wine glasses on top of a foam packing sheet. The United States Department of Agriculture and the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service prohibits live avian products from other countries. This is due to the risk of foreign animal diseases.
Feral hogs are a viral Twitter joke, but they're a major problem worldwide (Deseret News, 08/08) Feral hogs may be invading Twitter following a poorly timed comment, but the porcine population is actually a major concern. Twitter users began joking about wild pigs after a user responded to a tweet about assault weapons with a “legit question” about how he should kill a wildly specific range of animals within a specific amount of time in order to defend his children. Despite the jokes, feral hogs — or wild Russian boars — are actually a concern for various parts of the United States, including Texas and other Southern states. In fact, a report from CBS News in 2017 noted the invasive animals had become so prevalent and destructive in Texas that a bill was introduced that would allow hunters to take their shots from hot air balloons — a step up from shooting the animals from helicopters.
Homeland Security
China Issues Top Warning For Strong Typhoon Nearing Coast (Associated Press, Chiang Ying-ying, 8/9) China issued its top warning for coastal areas of Zhejiang province Friday ahead of a strong typhoon carrying heavy rain and winds and expected to send an intense storm surge up the mighty Yangzte River. Heavy rain was expected in Zhejiang, Shanghai and nearby provinces on Friday before Typhoon Lekima hits land on Saturday morning, then weakens as it moves north. Parts of northern Taiwan closed offices and suspended classes at schools on Friday as the storm passed northeast of the island. The same area was hit by a magnitude 6.0 earthquake Thursday that caused minor damage but no deaths or injuries. The red alert China issued is the most serious in its four-tired alert system, prompting authorities to prepare evacuations, suspend train and air travel and require vessels to return to port. In Zhejiang, ferry service had been cancelled and more than 200 tourists evacuated from popular Beiji island.
Over 2 Million Muslims In Mecca For Start Of Hajj Pilgrimage (Associated Press, Amr Nabil, 8/9) More than 2 million pilgrims have gathered in the holy city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia to perform initial rites of the hajj, an Islamic pilgrimage that takes the faithful along a path traversed by the Prophet Muhammad some 1,400 years ago. The hajj in Islam is meant to unify Muslims, with pilgrims shedding displays of wealth and materialism. Male pilgrims wearing simple terry cloth white garments and women in conservative dress and headscarves will be circle the cube-shaped Kaaba on Friday. The pilgrimage this year takes place amid a backdrop of political and sectarian tensions between Saudi Arabia and Iran and conflicts still flare in Yemen, Syria and Libya. Muslim minorities around the world also face increased threats, including in Indian-administered Kashmir, where a sweeping curfew is in effect.
NOAA now expects above-normal Atlantic hurricane season (UPI, Danielle Haynes, 8/8) The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration increased the odds for an above-normal Atlantic hurricane season Thursday in an update to the forecast it gave nearly three months ago. Now that El Nino has ended, conditions are more favorable for more frequent and stronger named storms as peak hurricane season begins, the organization said. "El Nino typically suppresses Atlantic hurricane activity but now that it's gone, we could see a busier season ahead," said Gerry Bell, lead seasonal hurricane forecaster at NOAA's Climate Prediction Center. "This evolution, combined with the more conducive conditions associated with the ongoing high-activity era for Atlantic hurricanes that began in 1995, increases the likelihood of above-normal activity this year." NOAA said there's now a 45 percent chance of an above-normal Atlantic hurricane season, up from 30 percent in the May outlook. The agency now expects between 10 and 17 named storms -- two more than the initial outlook -- with five to nine expected to become hurricanes. Of those, two to four are expected to be major hurricanes, Category 3 or higher.
Crop invaders: China's small farmers struggle to defeat armyworm (Reuters, Hallie Gu and Ryan Woo, 8/9) Yan Wenliu leans on the side of his cart as he prepares to leave his sugarcane field in Southwest China, bewildered by the formidable new pest that has ambushed his crops this year. “I don’t know what it is,” says Yan, a 36-year-old farmer from Menghai county in Yunnan province. “But it is bigger than other ones. I have never seen this worm before.” The creature Yan is unable to name is fall armyworm. Known locally as the “heart-devouring worm,” the destructive pest has spread more than 3,000 km (1,865 miles) north since migrating from neighboring Myanmar seven months ago, reaching 21 provinces and regions in China and posing a grave threat to grain output. In Yunnan alone, where the pest struck first in China, some 1.29 million mu (86,000 hectares) had been affected by mid-June, including corn, sugarcane, sorghum and ginger crops.
Armed off-duty firefighter halts armed suspect at Walmart store in Missouri, police say (Fox News, Talia Kaplan, 8/9) An armed man wearing body armor sent panicked shoppers fleeing from a Walmart store in Missouri on Thursday, but an armed off-duty firefighter was able to detain the suspect until police officers arrived to make an arrest, Springfield police said. The 20-year-old suspect was carrying loaded tactical weapons, according to reports. “His intent obviously was to cause chaos here, and he did that,” Springfield police Lt. Mike Lucas told The Springfield News-Leader. In a Facebook post, Springfield police wrote that officers were dispatched to the Walmart store around 4:10 p.m. Thursday on reports of “an armed white male.” The suspect was wearing body armor and military-style clothing, according to the News-Leader, which cited information from Lucas. He walked inside the Walmart carrying a “tactical rifle” and another gun, the newspaper reported, and carried more than 100 rounds of ammunition.
Foreign Agricultural Service
Analysts Question African Swine Fever Recovery (The Western Producer, Sean Pratt, 08/08) China says African swine fever is behind it and it is time to rebuild the nation’s hog herd. A senior official with China’s agriculture ministry told reporters at a recent news conference that the devastating disease is “under control” and the production and sale of hogs can return to normal, according to an article in the Dim Sums blog. The Chinese government will provide hog producers with temporary aid, subsidized loans and insurance, and land for breeding farms to get the sector back on track. Tyler Fulton, director of risk management with H@ms Marketing Services, said any victory statements out of China should be taken with a grain of salt. “I’m suspicious. I think it’s obvious that the disease is extremely difficult to control and to contain,” he said. Fulton said China has notoriously been under-reporting the extent of the damage that ASF has caused to its hog herd. The gold standard for that type of information is the United States Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service, which recently released a new report on the ASF outbreak. It estimates that China’s hog herd will contract 21 percent in 2019 and fall a further 10 percent in 2020. However, the impact on feed demand hasn’t been as dramatic as first anticipated due to increased feed use by the poultry and aquaculture sectors.
Argentina Expected to Harvest Record Wheat Crop (World Grain, Arvin Donley, 08/08) Wheat production in Argentina in 2019-20 is forecast at a record 20.8 million tonnes, according to an Aug. 7 Global Agricultural Information Network (GAIN) report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). The USDA said planted area for this marketing year has grown by 200,000 hectares to 6.4 million hectares. Planting is nearing 95% complete despite some areas struggling to complete planting due to wet conditions. “Sufficient ground moisture from winter has the crop in good condition,” the USDA said. “Due to 2018-19 strong returns, producers are expected to increase inputs and technology to drive higher productivity in 2019-20.” The USDA said it is expecting an average yield of 3.25 tonnes per hectare, which is higher than the average yield of the past 5 to 10 years. Given larger wheat production forecasts for 2019-20, exports may grow to a record 14.3 million tonnes (including flour that is calculated as wheat equivalent), the USDA said.
Building Non-Chinese Demand (DTN Progressive Farmer, Katie Dehlinger, 08/08) When North Carolina farmer Jacob Parker went on his first trade mission nine years ago, he thought it was probably going to be a waste of time. "But I soon realized after meeting a few customers how important it is. They want to see the face of an American farmer. They want to see the person who actually produces the soybean," he said on a press call with reporters from the sidelines of the 15th annual Southeast Asia U.S. Agriculture Cooperators Conference in Singapore. The event, which is co-hosted by the U.S. Soybean Export Council (USSEC), U.S. Grains Council (USGC) and USDA's Foreign Agricultural Service, brings U.S. farmers such as Parker and end-users together to help build and solidify trading relationships. It's a mission made even more critical by the ongoing trade war with China.
Kazakhstan’s Grain Production to Stay Flat (World Grain, Susan Reidy, 08/08) Kazakhstan’s grain production is expected to stay flat with the wheat planting area reaching a historical low as the nation continues its crop diversification strategy. The wheat planted area is estimated at 11.2 million hectares and production is estimated at 14 million tonnes for 2019-20, flat from the previous marketing year, according to a report from the Foreign Agricultural Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). “The stable production reflects good soil moisture improving yields, despite the fact that wheat planted area continues to decline, reducing harvested area,” the USDA said in the report. “This year’s drop in wheat area sown comes from the ongoing government policy encouraging crop diversification, particularly toward oilseeds.” Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Agriculture reported on June 11 that 14.3 million hectares of spring grain crops and 2.8 million hectares of oilseeds crops had been sown.
U.S. Confirms Light Soy, Wheat, Pork Sales to China Before Latest Tariff Threats (WKZO/Reuters, Karl Plume, 08/08) China bought small amounts of U.S. soybeans, wheat, sorghum and pork last week ahead of the latest escalation of trade tensions with Washington, according to U.S. government data issued on Thursday, in what may be the last American farm commodity sales to China for the foreseeable future. China's Ministry of Commerce said this week that purchases of U.S. agricultural products by Chinese companies have been "suspended." With Chinese buying on hold, U.S. exporters will instead focus on shipping orders made earlier this year when the two sides appeared headed for a deal, a list that includes more than 4 million tonnes of soybeans and nearly 103,500 tonnes of pork. Tensions escalated after Washington branded Beijing a currency manipulator and threatened to impose 10% tariffs on $300 billion in Chinese imports, starting on Sept. 1.
Agricultural Research Service
Cornell will offer hemp courses in Fall 2019 (The Ithaca Times, 8/8/19) ...This program will be rebuilt with an initial $500,000 investment by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Research Service (ARS) at the Plant Genetic Resources Unit (PGRU) located at Cornell AgriTech in Geneva..."
Organic field day set for Aug. 20 at Neely-Kinyon farm (Indiana Prairie Farmer, 8/8/19) ...Research from the USDA Agricultural Research Service in Ames has documented a 50% reduction in nitrate loading from organic versus conventional fields, which will be discussed at the field day...
Florida researchers launch project to boost production of farmed pompano and red drum (Intra Fish, 8/7/19) ...Scientists from Florida Atlantic University's Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute are partnering with future US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientists to help boost the nation's aquaculture industry…
USDA Radio Newsline
Friday, August 9th Stories:
