USDA
USDA announces expansion of organic assessment exemption
The USDA recently issued a final rule to expand the exemption for certified organic products from assessments collected by the USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS). The rule will be effective on Feb. 29. As directed... more »
USDA to host drought management workshop
Drought management experts from Israel and Australia will join U.S. scientists in California for a workshop in Modesto on Jan. 12 and 13. The two-day event, "Proven Solutions to Drought Stress: Water Management Strategies for Perennial Crops... more »
50 years later: Number of farms has dwindled, yields have increased
According to the U.S. Census of Agriculture, there were 131,653 U.S. farms growing vegetables (excluding “Irish” potatoes and sweet potatoes) on about 3.3 million acres in 1964. Forty-eight years later, there were 72,045 farms growing... more »
USDA awards funds for market development programs
USDA's Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) has awarded fiscal year 2016 funding to more than 60 U.S. agricultural organizations to help expand commercial export markets for U.S. goods. The Market Access Program (MAP) focuses on consumer promotion,... more »
LGMA issues statement on FDA’s final Produce Rule
At the California Leafy Greens Marketing Agreement, we are carefully combing through the final rule to make sure our own food safety requirements meet or exceed what’s in this new law; LGMA members are committed to ensuring that... more »
USDA provides 2016 guidance for conservation initiatives
USDA's Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) recently provided its state NRCS offices with instructions on how and when to administer various conservation initiatives for fiscal year (FY) 2016. The guidance, Instructions for Implementing National Program... more »
Seed breeding, crop development are pushing ahead
Funding, innovation and the subsequent education necessary to spread knowledge about emerging technologies are coming together as key elements in the long-range future of vegetable plant development and breeding. The future is being driven... more »
Syngenta plant biotech pioneer honored by USDA
Mary-Dell Chilton, a distinguished science fellow at Syngenta, was honored as an inductee into the USDA Hall of Heroes in Washington, D.C. with USDA secretary Tom Vilsack presiding. Established in September 2000, the USDA Hall... more »
Hardy new pea now developed
Commercial pea growers stand to benefit from the release of Hampton, a new edible dry pea variety that resists some of the legume crop’s most costly scourges, including pea enation mosaic virus (PEMV) and bean... more »
UF receives grant to spread the word on food safety standards
The University of Florida will help lead the charge in educating stakeholders on the sweeping changes being made to national food safety regulations with a $1.2 million grant from the USDA National Institute of Food and... more »
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Current Issue
Editor’s letter: Praising the lowly cucumber
Talking tech: New app innovations aid growers
From farm to can: Pacific Coast Producers
Cucumber powerhouse: Hartung Brothers
GLEXPO preview: Maximizing crop yield
Veg Connections: Volunteer potatoes
Farm Market & Agritourism: Choosing the right market channel
Ag Labor Review: More heavy lifting needed
Business: Improving the odds: Strategies to enact a successful succession plan
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