Organizers cancel New Haven Ag Day for drought
NEW HAVEN, Ind. — The New Haven Ag Appreciation Day scheduled for Sept. 26 has been canceled due to concerns over its timing because of the drought, according to Vince Buchanan, president of the New Haven Chamber of Commerce.
The event would have featured speakers and exhibits geared toward those in agriculture and related areas. Ag Day will return in 2013, Buchanan added.
More help announced for farmers suffering drought NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack has announced almost $12 million in additional drought aid. The grant will help livestock producers in 22 states apply conservation practices that reduce the impacts of drought and improve soil health and productivity.
Since early summer, USDA has announced a variety of assistance to producers impacted by the drought, including opening conservation acres to emergency haying and grazing, lowering the interest rate for emergency loans and working with crop insurance companies to provide flexibility to farmers.
Tennessee farmers have so far received a total of $1,762,300. The funding through the Natural Resources Conservation Service goes to states that were hit with exceptional or extreme drought conditions, including Tennessee.
USDA changing release time of reports in January WASHINGTON, D.C. — The USDA announced last week the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) and World Agricultural Outlook Board (WAOB) will begin issuing several major USDA statistical reports at noon EDT beginning in January 2013.
The current USDA release time of 8:30 a.m. EDT will remain in effect until Jan. 1. USDA statistical reports affected are World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates, Acreage, Crop Production, Grain Stocks, Prospective Plantings and Small Grains Summary. The time for livestock reports currently released at 3 p.m. will not change.
“USDA considered all comments and thanks everyone for their thoughtful suggestions,” said USDA Chief Economist Joseph W. Glauber. “The shift to a noon release allows for the greatest liquidity in the markets, provides the greatest access to the reports during working hours in the United States and continues equal access to data among all parties.”
MILC signup deadline is approaching quickly
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) reminds producers the deadline to sign up for the Milk Income Loss Contract (MILC) program is Sept. 30.
For more clarification on the MILC Program, contact your local FSA office.
EAB found in Middle Tennessee for first time NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Emerald ash borer (EAB), an invasive insect that destroys ash trees, has recently been found in Smith and Jefferson counties. Smith is the first county in Middle Tennessee where EAB has been found. Both cases have been confirmed by the USDA.
Jefferson and Smith counties will now be added to the Emerald Ash Borer quarantine. With the new discovery, citizens can expect expanded surveys and should report any symptomatic ash trees to TDA. For more information, visit www.protecttnforests.org |
