Federal

Agricultural producers can now change election and enroll in the Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage programs for the 2023 crop year, two key safety net programs offered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Producers have until March 15, 2023, to enroll in these two programs. Additionally, USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) has started issuing payments totaling ... Read More »

From the Capital Press Not quite a month after a national rail strike was averted, the possibility of a walkout has been resurrected. Railroads and 12 labor unions had reached tentative contracts, but now one union has voted against ratifying its agreement. Read the rest of the article here. Read More »

From agweb.com The future of voluntary carbon markets for agriculture is still coming into focus. As such, farmers continue to assess the landscape and weigh their opportunities. Are farmers signing up for carbon programs? Will my existing practices qualify? How much can farmers be paid? Read the answers here. Read More »

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) plans to invest $8 million to support and expand monitoring of carbon in soil on working agricultural lands as well as assess how climate-smart practices are affecting carbon sequestration. This is part of USDA’s efforts to build out a national soil carbon monitoring network, which was kicked off with soil carbon monitoring on Conservation ... Read More »

U.S. wheat growers have a long history of recognizing the value of export market development by supporting the successful public-private partnership with USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS). That is why U.S. Wheat Associates (USW) and the National Association of Wheat Growers (NAWG) welcome the introduction of the Cultivating Revitalization by Expanding American Agricultural Trade and Exports (CREAATE) Act of 2022 in the ... Read More »

From the Capital Press Broadband internet is on its way to rural communities, but some researchers are concerned the agricultural sector may get left behind in federal mapping efforts. Read the rest of the article here. Read More »

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) will gather information about production practices from producers across the Northwest Region as part of the 2022 Agricultural Resource Management Survey (ARMS). “ARMS is a vital survey that tracks how Idaho, Oregon and Washington farms use technology to manage production,” said NASS Northwest Regional Deputy Director Dennis Koong. “The ... Read More »

Recently, National Association of Wheat Growers president and Washington state wheat grower, Nicole Berg, testified in front of the Conservation and Forestry Subcommittee of the House Agriculture Committee, A 2022 Review of the Farm Bill: Stakeholder Perspectives on Title II Conservation Programs. Berg highlighted how the farm bill voluntary conservation programs are significant in terms of environmental benefits and assistance ... Read More »

From the Capital Press The nation’s agriculture industry breathed a sigh of relief after railroads and labor unions reached a tentative contract and averted a rail strike — just one day before the deadline. Read the rest of the article here. Read More »

From the National Association of Wheat Growers and U.S. Wheat Associates The National Association of Wheat Growers (NAWG) and U.S. Wheat Associates (USW) applaud the tentative agreement reached between the railroads and rail union representatives that averts a rail shutdown ahead of Friday’s deadline. The agreement provides rail employees a 24 percent wage increase during the five-year period between 2020 ... Read More »