Entries by Tracy Mumma

Report Offers Analysis of Conservation Stewardship Program Enrollment

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The National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC) has published Stewarding Success: CSP Under the 2018 Farm Bill. This report delves into Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) enrollment from fiscal year 2019 to 2023, uncovering trends in program spending and practices that have significantly enhanced environmental outcomes at the farm, state, and national levels. “This report shows that […]

Minnesota Unveils Farm to Kids Strategic Plan

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The Minnesota Department of Agriculture unveiled the state’s first-ever Farm to Kids Strategic Plan. Developed collaboratively by Farm to School and Early Care partners across Minnesota, this plan is a five-year roadmap for advancing local procurement and agricultural education in K-12 schools and early care settings. Using insights collected from robust stakeholder engagement with producers, […]

Pawpaw Popularity Growing

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National Public Radio’s All Things Considered reported on efforts to increase the popularity of the pawpaw. It’s a fruit that can be grown in 40 states, yet it’s not often seen in stores, due to its short shelf life. Advocates see an opportunity to improve the crop through directed plant breeding, to make it a […]

Oregon State University Releases Mild Habanero Peppers

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Oregon State University has developed two new habanero pepper varieties that deliver the food’s signature flavor without the heat. Vegetable breeder Jim Myers spent 25 years developing ‘Notta Hotta’ and ‘Mild Thing.’ Oregon State University officials are ready to work with seed companies to license the peppers, and Myers anticipates that growers will be able […]

North Central IPM Center Grant Opportunities

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Applications are due November 22, 2024. The North Central Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Center is accepting applications for three grant opportunities: Critical Issues, Working Groups, and Community Initiatives. The Critical Issue grant opportunity is designed to provide one-time seed funding to help initiate work requiring immediate attention until other longer-term resources can be secured to […]

Biodiverse Plant Genotype Mixes Help Protect Crops from Insect Damage

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Researchers at the University of Zurich published the results of a comprehensive field study showing that crop damage from plant-eating insects can be reduced by utilizing biodiversity within a plant species. Scientists already recognized that when different genetic types of the same plant species are mixed and planted together, some combinations are more resistant to […]

Enrollment Deadline for Nebraska Soil Carbon Project Approaches

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The Nebraska Soil Carbon Project (NSCP) is a public-private partnership between the Central Platte NRD, Upper Big Blue NRD, Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), Cargill, McDonalds & Target, and The Nature Conservancy. The NSCP is a Regional Conservation Partnership Program. NSCP offers cost-share programs and technical assistance for adoption of soil health practices including cover […]

Global Centers Competition Invests in Bioeconomy Research

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The U.S. National Science Foundation and partner agencies in the U.S., Canada, Finland, Japan, the Republic of Korea (ROK), and the United Kingdom announced funding awards totaling nearly $82 million in their Global Centers competition. The 2024 Global Centers awards focus on advancing bioeconomy research to solve global challenges, whether by increasing crop resilience, converting plant […]

Organic Agriculture Highlights of National Ag Census Available

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USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service has released a two-page highlights publication, Organic Agriculture, with data from the 2022 Census of Agriculture. The publication shows significant growth in organic product sales compared to the 2017 Census of Agriculture, but it also reveals a drop in the number of organic producers over that time period and a […]

New England Regenerative Livestock Farming Grant

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Applications close November 29, 2024. American Farmland Trust is accepting applications for the Brighter Future Fund’s New England Regenerative Livestock Farming Grants. These grants provide up to $10,000 to livestock producers to address key barriers faced when adopting regenerative agriculture or soil health practices. New England livestock farmers in select counties in Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, […]