The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) encourages America’s farmers and ranchers to nominate candidates to lead, serve and represent their community on their local county committee. USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) will accept nominations for county committee members beginning Friday, June 15, 2018. Producers across the country are already serving on committees where they play […]

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) will be collecting information about colony loss in the honey industry. The Quarterly Colony Loss survey will be conducted over the period of June 2018 through July 2018. This survey collects information about colony inventory and loss from more than 400 producers with bee colonies […]

New PSA from Sec. Perdue (YouTube) regarding the last chance to complete the 2017 Census of Agriculture. Please visit the website for more agricultural information.

One-Year Extension Available to Holders of Many Expiring Contracts through Continuous Sign-up As part of a 33-year effort to protect sensitive lands and improve water quality and wildlife habitat on private lands, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will resume accepting applications for the voluntary Conservation Reserve Program (CRP). Eligible farmers, ranchers, and private landowners […]

The Maine Soil Health Dairy team has a new case study, Piper Farms Saves Big with a Center Pivot about this farm’s innovative irrigation technique which in turn has some soil health benefits.

The Dairy Improvement Fund (DIF) is a new revolving loan program to help Maine dairy farms and enterprises fund capital improvements to maintain and enhance the viability of their farms. The DIF program will assist farms that are engaged in the commercial production of cow milk or cow milk products. It was developed by the […]

There is still time to fill out your 2017 Census of Agriculture survey. USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) is making progress every day, but they need to hear from all producers. Help NASS spread the word that farmers and ranchers still have time to be counted in the 2017 Census of Agriculture.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) reminds dairy farmers of the June 1 deadline to enroll in the improved Margin Protection Program for Dairy (MPP-Dairy). Many producers will see payments in early June, depending on the coverage they elect. The program protects dairy producers by paying them based on the difference between the national all-milk […]

Nursery Growers Need to Make Insurance Decisions Soon USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA) reminds Maine nursery growers that the final date to apply for crop insurance coverage for the 2019 crop year is May 1. Current policyholders who wish to make changes to their existing coverage also have until the May 1 sales closing date […]

Bipartisan Budget Act Makes Substantial Program Changes U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue is encouraging dairy producers to consider enrolling in the new and improved Margin Protection Program for Dairy (MPP-Dairy), which will provide better protections for dairy producers from shifting milk and feed prices. With changes authorized under the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018, […]