- State Department to Accelerate H-2A Approvals
The U.S. State Department will speed up approvals of H-2A farmworkers by waiving interviews for many applicants. An Agri-Pulse report says the move is applauded by many of the country’s major ag groups, who were worried that embassy cutbacks due to the coronavirus outbreak would leave farmers without the labor ... read more - Less than Half of US Dairy Farms Signed up for DMC
Less than half of U.S. dairy farmers chose to opt into the Dairy Margin Coverage Program that was authorized in the 2018 Farm Bill. At the beginning of this year, the forecast was for an improving dairy economy and the USDA prediction tool that showed either low or no DMC ... read more - Farm Machinery Giants Feeling the Pinch of Coronavirus Fallout
Tractors would likely be moving at a quicker rate this year as farmers across rural America need to replace some aging machines. However, Bloomberg says there is very little movement of farm machinery in the U.S., plus European production is being hampered by shortages across the industry supply chain. Trade ... read more - Farmers, Ranchers to Receive $23.5B in COVID-19 Support Package
multiexposure background of china coronavirus COVID-19 infected blood sample in sample tube with DNA strainFarmers, Ranchers to Receive $23.5B in COVID-19 Support Package COVID-19 is both a health and economic crisis for everyone in the country. The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act will provide roughly $23.5 ... read more - Window of Opportunity for Rural Broadband Policy
Window of Opportunity for Rural Broadband Policy McDonald’s parking lots are filling up, and not just for the dollar menu. Students and adults alike are taking advantage of their free Wi-Fi to telework or conduct e-learning. This is the only solution for many due to the lack of strong, reliable, ... read more - No Fuel Shortage in Indiana
No Fuel Shortage in Indiana A continuing series on how Hoosier Ag retailers are coping with the COVID-19 crisis: There is no shortage of fuel or any transportation disruptions according to Matt Smorch, CEO of CountryMark Co-op. “We have fuel, and we have adequate supplies for our co-ops and their ... read more - FSA Makes Changes to Farm Loan, Disaster, Conservation and Safety Net Programs
USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) county offices are open by phone appointment only until further notice, and FSA staff are available to continue helping agricultural producers with program signups, loan servicing and other important actions. Additionally, FSA is relaxing the loan-making process and adding flexibilities for servicing direct and guaranteed ... read more - USDA Announces More Than 3.4 Million Acres Selected for General Signup Conservation Reserve Program
More than 3.4 million acres have been accepted in the general Conservation Reserve Program. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue made the announcement Thursday. County offices will begin notifying producers with accepted offers no later than April 3. Through CRP, farmers and ranchers receive an annual rental payment for establishing long-term, resource-conserving plant ... read more - COVID-19 Relief Package Provides Help to Rural America
The CARES Act includes billions of dollars directed at helping rural communities and agriculture through the coronavirus pandemic. Andrew Walmsley, American Farm Bureau Federation Congressional Relations Director, says the $2 trillion bill is unprecedented. “One of the key provisions for a lot of folks is the recovery rebates where there ... read more - Rural King Stores Open and Serving Faamers
Rural King Stores Open and Serving Farmers The COVID-19 Pandemic is having an impact on Indiana’s farm supply chain. Rural King stores are one of the major suppliers to farmers and rural communities, and CEO Alex Melvin says the stores are open. “We are going to stay open. We are ... read more
