Farm Radio

  U.S. Dairy Industry Publishes Biennial Sustainability Report   ROSEMONT, Ill . – T he checkoff-founded Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy released its biennial  2020 U.S. Dairy Sustainability Report  inclusive of progress made in 2019 and 2020 within environmental stewardship and broader social responsibility commitments to people, animals and communities.   The report provides a transparent accounting of the progress and impact that the dairy community has made against the U.S. Dairy Stewardship Commitment since its launch in 2018. Those dairy companies and processors that have voluntarily signed onto the Stewardship Commitment represent 75 percent of U.S. milk production* and are dedicated to nourishing a growing global population with responsibly produced dairy foods and beverages.   “The U.S. dairy industry has continued to prioritize social responsibility, helping people and communities thrive, while advancing sustainable practices and becoming an envi...

I n response to historic drought conditions, NRCS is offering $41.8 million through EQIP’s new Conservation Incentive Contracts to help agricultural producers in Arizona, California, Colorado and Oregon alleviate the immediate impacts of drought and other natural resource challenges on working lands. Signup for this targeted funding ends July 12, 2021.   The EQIP CIC offers the traditional NRCS conservation practices as well as conservation enhancement activities that are typically only available through the  Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) . The EQIP CIC will offer producers that opportunity to implement both conservation practices and enhancement activities during the 5-year contract period.  NRCS will set aside $11.8 million directly for practices including forest management plans, tree/shrub establishment, brush management, prescribed grazing, pasture and hay planting, wildlife habitat, livestock watering systems and...

  06-11-2021: Click her for interview with National Farmers Union  06-10-2021: Click here for interview with Colorado Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association 

  First Annual Cattlewomen’s College (Cheyenne Wells, Colo.) CSU Extension is excited to announce the first annual Cattlewomen’s College (CWC) that features Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) certification, learning how to “Share Your Story” social media session, meat selection tools, Meat Science Boot Camp, financial resources, and rangeland health and outlook in a one day in-person with a virtual option workshop. Presenters are from Colorado State University, University of Nebraska Extension, Lamar Community College, and Otero Junior College. CWC will be held Wednesday, May 19 at the Otero County Extension office in Rocky Ford beginning with registration at 8:45 a.m. “This workshop was inspired by Florida Extension educators when I attended the Joint Council of Extension Professionals (JCEP) Leadership Conference in 2020. These educators incorporated tools for producers in Florida and I realized this would be a timely opportunity for any person in our aspiring to be involved with...

  FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 2,  2021 Contact: Danielle Trotta, 970-372-9351,  Danielle.Trotta@state.co.us   Broomfield, Colo.   - The Department of Agriculture is offering six FREE virtual marketing webinars this spring to help educate ag and food business owners on state-of-the-art ways to connect with consumers through the latest public relations, marketing, branding and social media strategies. Colorado Proud has teamed up with ROOT Marketing & PR to offer the free webinars every other Thursday from 12:00 -1:00 p.m. beginning April 8. Each session will include time for live Q&A. The webinars will be recorded and available to Colorado Proud members any time. Read full descriptions of each webinar on the department of agriculture’s  website . “These webinars will connect business owners with industry leaders and provide valuable information to help them succeed,” said Danielle Trotta, Colorado Proud program manager. “The presenters are actively e...

 LIVESTOCK SLAUGHTER – FEBRUARY 2021 UNITED STATES HIGHLIGHTS  Commercial red meat production for the United States totaled 4.39 billion pounds in February, down 1 percent from the 4.45 billion pounds produced in February 2020. Beef production, at 2.11 billion pounds, was 1 percent below the previous year. Cattle slaughter totaled 2.52 million head, down 2 percent from February 2020. The average live weight was up 14 pounds from the previous year, at 1,390 pounds. Veal production totaled 4.7 million pounds, 8 percent below February a year ago. Calf slaughter totaled 33,000 head, down 17 percent from February 2020. The average live weight was up 23 pounds from last year, at 247 pounds. Pork production totaled 2.27 billion pounds, down 2 percent from the previous year. Hog slaughter totaled 10.4 million head, down 3 percent from February 2020. The average live weight was up 3 pounds from the previous year, at 291 pounds. Lamb and mutton production, at 10.8 million pounds, was up...

  Broomfield, Colo.   - The Colorado Department of Agriculture is excited to work with the Governor’s Office and legislative leaders from both parties to pass and implement the Colorado Recovery Plan.  The plan invests heavily in our rural and agricultural communities to ensure they build back quicker and stronger from the devastating impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Among the many important investments, the recovery plan calls for one-time funding that includes: $20-35 million in agriculture supply chain infrastructure grants $2-3 million in funding to expand market access through Colorado Proud $2-5 million in agricultural drought response and recovery $3-5 million in agricultural renewable energy and energy efficiency grants $7-10 million in support for the National Western Stock Show and State Fair $10-20 million in funding for State Water Plan projects The proposal also includes significant investments in rural broadband, small businesses, and education and childcar...

  Livestock Industry Advocates ‘Colorado Livestock Proud Day’ Proclamation by the Governor   GREELEY, CO - Colorado Livestock Association was joined by Colorado Dairy Farmers, Colorado Egg Producers, Colorado Pork Producers Council, Colorado Wool Growers Association and Rocky Mountain Farmers Union in a request for Governor Polis to declare March 22, 2021 Colorado Livestock Proud Day in the state of Colorado. The industry was notified today that the Governor officially signed the  proclamation . This official declaration by the Governor is a step forward in setting the record straight  concerning the misinformation perpetuated about the livestock industry’s impact on the environment, human nutrition, and animal welfare. The proclamation states: Colorado Livestock Proud Day WHEREAS, farmers and ranchers raise livestock to provide nutritious, affordable protein for families across the state, and throughout the nation, and animal proteins supply the body with essential ...

  Colorado Meat Products Matter, Says RMFU Colorado Governor Jared Polis recently issued a proclamation naming March 20 as “MeatOut Day,” a concept that fails to work for Colorado agriculture. Rocky Mountain Farmers Union is disappointed in this proclamation, as it does not celebrate the nutrient and protein dense selection of meats that family farmers and ranchers produce across the state.  “ Meat production dominates Colorado agriculture, the state’s second largest industry. It provides invaluable nutrition, sustains our rural economies and, when managed properly, improves the environment,” says Dr. Dale McCall, president of Rocky Mountain Farmers Union.  McCall says ranchers want what is best for their livestock for the simple reason that prioritizing animal welfare is good for business and is in keeping with what consumers are asking for from producers. Meats from cattle, lambs, hogs, and chickens are consumer favorites at home and in restaurants. “ We need to ce...

 USDA TO SURVEY FARMERS’ PLANTING INTENTIONS FOR 2021 LAKEWOOD, Colo. –  February 19, 2021 – As the 2021 crop production season begins, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) will contact producers nationwide to determine their plans for the upcoming growing season. “Each year, the agriculture industry eagerly awaits USDA’s Prospective Plantings report, which provides the first survey-based estimates of U.S. farmers’ planting intentions for the year,” said Bill Meyer, Director, Mountain Regional Field Office.  “The March Agricultural Survey provides the factual data that underpins these projections, making it one of the most important surveys we conduct each year.” NASS will mail the survey questionnaire this week, asking producers to provide information about the types of crops they intend to plant in 2021, how many acres they intend to plant, and the amounts of grain and oilseed they store on their farms. NASS encoura...

  NACD LEADERS TAKE OFFICE   Today, the National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) administered oaths of office to its incoming leadership members.   Michael Crowder  of West Richland, Wash., was sworn in as president of the association.  Crowder manages a ranch in Washington state and is a partner of his family’s third generation farming operation in Indiana, along with personal conservation easements and farm ground in Illinois. He serves on his local  Benton Conservation District  board and  was first elected to the NACD Officer team in 2017 as Second Vice President after previously serving as National Director for the Washington Association of Conservation Districts on the NACD Board of Directors. The NACD Board of Directors met Feb. 1-5 and voted on Feb. 3 to elect their leadership team.  Kim LaFleur  of Plympton, Mass., was elected as First Vice President, and  Ian Cunningham  of Pipestone, Minn., was elected a...

  Broomfield, Colo.   - The Colorado Department of Agriculture (CDA) is seeking applicants to serve on the state Hemp Center of Excellence (COE) steering committee. The purpose of the committee is to assist CDA and its contractor in the development of the organizational structure and a five-year strategic plan for the implementation of the COE.  Each steering committee member should be well connected with the hemp industry sector they represent and able to gather stakeholder input in an unbiased fashion. Members will be expected to attend at least 75 percent of committee meetings through June 30, 2021 and be committed to advancing the hemp industry in Colorado as a whole.   CDA is committed to seating an unbiased, diverse representative steering committee composed of visionary leaders intent on advancing Colorado’s Hemp industry, an industry compliant with federal and state guidelines. The application deadline application is February 15, 2021.  Learn more a...

  Broomfield, Colo.   - The Colorado Department of Agriculture (CDA) has awarded the contract for development of a strategic plan for a state Hemp Center of Excellence to MPG Consulting. The selection was based on the recommendation of an independent review committee, which included a member of the Colorado Agriculture Commission, a member of the Hemp Advisory Committee, and other leaders and experts in Colorado agriculture and purchasing. The strategic plan will be completed by July 2021. “We are very excited about moving forward with the development of the Center of Excellence and are confident that MPG Consulting will be a strong partner in helping us and our many stakeholders advance the hemp industry in Colorado,” said Commissioner of Agriculture Kate Greenberg. CDA is committed to elevating industrial hemp as an agricultural commodity, a priority since the launch of Colorado’s nationally-recognized Industrial Hemp Program in 2014. The collaborative development of the Hem...

  Farmer sentiment improved modestly in December as the  Ag Economy Barometer  rose to a reading of 174, up 7 points from November. December’s sentiment improvement still left the barometer 9 points lower than in October. Both of the barometer’s sub-indices, the  Index of Current Conditions  and the  Index of Future Expectations , were higher in December than in November although the current conditions improvement was three-times the size of the future expectations increase. The  Index of Current Conditions  climbed 15 points to 202 whereas the  Index of Future Expectations  increased by just 5 points to a reading of 161. The farm income boost provided by the ongoing rally in crop prices appears to be the driving force behind the improvement in the  Current Conditions Index  and the overall improvement in farmer sentiment. The  Ag Economy Barometer  is calculated each month from 400 U.S. agricultural producers’ respon...