Farm Radio

 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...

Broomfield, Colo.   - The Colorado Department of Agriculture (CDA), in partnership with the Colorado Farm & Food Systems Respond & Rebuild Fund, is pleased to announce the awarding of $1,658,000 in grants to Colorado farmers, ranchers, food hubs and processors. Recognizing the fundamental importance of agriculture to the state, Governor Polis dedicated grant dollars to CDA through federal CARES Act funding to support ag producers in adjusting to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the food supply chain—including those who experienced costs, losses, or needed to pivot their business model. The initial $1 million in grants was expanded to $1.658 million as more funding became available.  The fund delivered individual grants of up to $12,500 to 156 producers and up to $50,000 to 45 ag-related intermediaries statewide. Additionally, 15 local processors received funding to help them meet surging demand and to support farmers and ranchers in managing excess supply as a re...

Broomfield, Colo.   - Colorado Commissioner of Agriculture Kate Greenberg provided the following statement following the passage of the new federal omnibus spending bill: “The prioritization of agriculture, food security and rural communities in the new federal government stimulus package underscores how essential  agriculture is to Colorado and the nation,”  said Kate Greenberg, Colorado Commission of Agriculture.  “The new package directs $13 billion to agricultural producers and processors as well as essential relief for families facing food insecurity. It will also help expand local food markets, invest in regional processors, strengthen rural communities through broadband development, and support mental health services through state departments of agriculture--all issues the Colorado Department of Agriculture has focused on throughout the pandemic. While there is still more work to do, this effort will help provide much needed relief to Colorado’s agricultural e...