Entries by Tracy Mumma

California Department of Pesticide Regulation’s Alliance Grants Program

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Proposals will be accepted through November 21, 2024. The California Department of Pesticide Regulation’s Alliance Grants Program provides funding to projects that promote or increase the implementation, expansion, and/or adoption of effective, proven, and affordable integrated pest management (IPM) systems or practices that reduce risks to public health and the environment in agricultural, urban, or […]

Transitional Production Plan Template to Help Livestock Producers Go Organic

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USDA National Organic Program (NOP) posted a new Livestock Transitional Production Plan (TPP) template online. The template was developed under the Organic Transition Initiative’s Transition to Organic Partnership Program. The template helps livestock producers transitioning to organic production learn how to document their organic practices in preparation for completing the Organic System Plan required for […]

USDA and FFAR Recommend Three Projects for Innovation Challenge Funding

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USDA and the Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research (FFAR) announced three projects recommended for funding through the “Nourishing Next Generation Agrifood Breakthroughs” (Innovation Challenge). Columbia University will receive $500,000 to fund its partnership with the University of Puerto Rico to support historically underserved producers in Puerto Rico in cultivating climate-resilient and heritage rice with […]

Good Nutrition Enhances Honey Bee Resilience

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Researchers at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign found that good nutrition enhances honey bee resilience against viral threats and exposure to pesticides. Their study, published in Science of the Total Environment, examined how the interplay of three factors— nutritional stress, viral infections and exposure to pesticides— together influence honey bee survival. Specifically, the team looked […]

Pennsylvania Agricultural Innovation Grant Program

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Applications are due by November 26, 2024. Pennsylvania’s new $10 million Agricultural Innovation Grant Program aims to fund cutting-edge solutions and technologies that will shape the future of agriculture. It’s the first dedicated fund for agricultural innovation in the nation. The program will be administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture to offer grants to […]

Survey Documents Landowner Feelings on Agrivoltaics in Colorado

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American Farmland Trust released a research report documenting how Colorado farmers, ranchers, and landowners feel about agrivoltaic solar energy development in the state. The goal of this work is to better understand perceptions around solar energy, identify barriers to participation, and inform recommendations for future agrivoltaics research, policy, and educational resources. The data revealed a […]

Report Highlights Benefits of Farm to School Investment

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A new report compiled by researchers from UC Agriculture and Natural Resources, UC Berkeley, Food Insight Group, Berkeley Food Institute, and USDA documented the benefits to farmers and the environment from California’s investment in farm to school programs. The report shows that 57% of the farmers participating in the state’s Farm to School Incubator Grant […]

New Manual Offers Guidance on Producing Olives for Oil

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University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources has published Olive Production Manual for Oil, a first-of-its-kind manual for U.S. growers. The 273-page manual is available for purchase. It is focused on equipping growers to produce olives for oil of consistent, high quality, which the authors say can provide U.S. olives a market niche in a […]

California Announces $52 Million for Farm to School Projects

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California Department of Food and Agriculture has announced $52.8 million in funding for 195 projects through the state’s Farm to School Incubator Grant program. In total, these projects will serve 199 school districts and educational entities, 52 farms, eight food hubs and five California Native American tribes. This grant round offered four distinctive funding tracks […]

Minnesota Beginning Farmer Equipment and Infrastructure Grant

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Applications are due by November 21, 2024. The Beginning Farmer Equipment and Infrastructure Grant program offers funding for beginning farmers in Minnesota to make investments in their farm’s equipment and infrastructure. The minimum request allowed is $1,000. Applicants may request mini-grants up to $5,000 or full grants up to $20,000. Applicants must be Minnesota residents […]