Category: Farm Management
Farmers advocate for urban ag, climate programs
The National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) and farmers from six states met with Congressional leaders and USDA officials to advocate for climate solutions and other issues in the 2023 Farm Bill.
New Jersey Ag Secretary Douglas Fisher retires
New Jersey Secretary of Agriculture Douglas Fisher is retiring after 14 years in the position, following a career as supermarket owner and operator and member of the New Jersey General Assembly.
FDA restructuring includes food safety regulatory arm
The Food and Drug Administration’s ongoing reorganization of its Human Food Program now includes a restructuring of the Office of Regulatory Affairs which could include a new name.
Organic standards experts fight fraud, advocate for industry
Respected organic industry advisors and specialists Gwendolyn Wyard and Kim Dietz have launched Strengthening Organic Systems LLC.
USDA names OTA as national partner in organic initiative
The USDA has chosen the Organic Trade Association (OTA) as a national partner for the Transition to Organic Partnership Program, part of an initiative to provide direct support and technical assistance to producers.
AgSharks competition opens to startups
Western Growers and S2G Ventures are accepting applications for the 2023 AgSharks Competition.
Bipartisan House Committee group focuses on labor, H-2A
The House Committee on Agriculture is taking a look at the H-2A temporary visa guest worker program and other issues to address the lack of labor in the fruit and vegetable industry.
Seven takeaways from benchmark survey of markets
Penn State Extension’s Farm Markets team works with a Farmers Market Promotion Program (FMPP) grant from the USDA-Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS).
GFVGA comments on FDA salmonella report, recommendations
A recent Food and Drug Administration (FDA) report on a summer 2022 outbreak of Salmonella Typhimurium outbreak linked to cantaloupe illustrates the agency’s disconnect with its food safety mission, according to the Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association.
Specialty crop groups outline Farm Bill requests
A group of speakers representing the specialty crop industry told a U.S. Senate subcommittee their Farm Bill 2023 request, including a workable crop insurance program, research funding, and focus on organics and trade.
Purdue ag barometer shows farmer sentiment sours as crop prices decline
Purdue University Extension Ag Economy Barometer
Supreme Court decision narrows definition of WOTUS
The U.S. Supreme Court has narrowed the definition of waters of the United States (WOTUS) and areas regulated under the Clean Water Act.
Former Amazon exec joins Local Bounti as CEO
Former Freshly CEO and Amazon executive Anna Fabrega is joining greenhouse-vertical farm grower Local Bounti as CEO.
House committee seeks answers on DOL H-2A delays
U.S. House and Senate Republicans are questioning the Department of Labor about what they say are “substantial delays” in processing agricultural employers’ requests for workers through the H-2A temporary visa program.
Ohio grower finds direct sales financially, personally satisfying
A grain grower is finding success with marketing fresh produce directly to consumers after deciding to stop selling wholesale to retailers.
Pest, disease damage expected, harvest impacts uncertain
The seemingly unending flow of water saturating their fields is burdening California growers with pests and diseases.
Survey shows … inflation, competition factor in farm market pricing
Farm costs, inflation and competitors’ strategies influence how farm markets across the U.S. price their commodities and food items.
California bill addresses fire costs to farms
Wildfires that raged across California over the past several years have devastated farms, spoiling crops and burning farm buildings. After the flames were extinguished, the threat of wildfires has continued to cost farmers in other ways.
Farm Market & Agritourism: Build a value ladder and they will climb
What is a value ladder? Here is a definition on www.mightynetworks.com: “A value ladder is a marketing term to describe a relationship between a brand and a customer in which, as a brand adds more and more value to a customer, the customer is willing to spend more. In some cases, this may be a growing relationship of trust that leads to one final high-ticket sale.”