Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced that Fiscal Year (FY) 2009 funding is available again through three USDA programs to promote increased production of biofuel and bioenergy. The programs are authorized under the Food, Conservation and Energy Act of 2008 (The Farm Bill). Applications for remaining FY 2009 funding under the...

Seventy-six million cases of foodborne illness occur annually in the United States, resulting in375,000 hospitalizations and 5,000 deaths. Recent national outbreaks and recalls include the following: 2003 - green onions served at Chi Chi's restaurants 2004 - sliced tomatoes served at Sheet's stores 2006 - California bagged spinach 2006 -...

Need a grant or loan to get a jumpstart? Check out Building Sustainable Farms, Ranches and Communities, a guide to federal programs that provide financial and technical support for sustainable agriculture. Download the publication for free at http://www.sare.org/publications/ruralplaces.htm. Written for anyone fostering innovative enterprises in agriculture and forestry in the...

Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., announced a new initiative to cut 20 million metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions from the retailers global supply chain over the next five years. The worlds biggest retailer is partnering with the Environmental Defense Fund to work with Wal-Mart suppliers on identifying ways to reduce pollution...

The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced details of the final regulation regarding access to pasture for organic livestock operations. This rule amends the National Organic Program (NOP) regulations to clarify the use of pasture in raising organic ruminants. The final rule provides certainty to consumers that organic livestock production is...

Your Food Environment Atlas, a new ERS online tool, allows users to map and compare counties across the United States on the ability of their residents to access healthful food. The tool covers numerous indicators that include health, demographic, and food access characteristics (e.g., proximity and concentration of grocery stores)....

The U.S. Department of Agriculture issued a proposed rule for the new Biomass Crop Assistance Program (BCAP) that intends to spur the expansion of dedicated non-food crops for renewable energy and biofuel production. A public comment period will continue for 60 days after the rule is published in the Federal...

Creating a viable value-added agriculture business involves finding an idea or opportunity in the marketplace and then building a viable business to take advantage of the opportunity. This requires going through a process or series of steps. Although this is not a hard and fast process, there are steps that...

The Farm to School initiative is an effort to connect schools (K - 12) with regional or local farms in order to serve healthy meals using locally produced foods. Farm to School activities may vary from community to community depending upon demographics; however, the basic goals remain the same: To...

Florida agriculture will sustain at least a 30% loss due to freezing temperatures. Wholesale prices for tomatoes, orange juice and lettuce climbed nearly 40% on the East Coast, and higher prices could last for three or four weeks, stated Nelson Eusebio, executive director of the National Supermarket Association. About 70%...

The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced the release of Breaking Down Market Barriers for Small and Mid-sized Organic Growers, a report developed by the California Institute for Rural Studies, focusing on marketing challenges faced by organic fruit and vegetable farmers in California and their potential commercial buyers. The report cites...

A proposed ethanol pipeline would be an economic boost for the U.S., a new report demonstrates, creating almost 80,000 direct, indirect and induced jobs across the country. POET and Magellan Midstream Partners, L.P. have formed a joint venture to assess the feasibility of a 1,800-mile ethanol pipeline from ethanol production...

Agriculture Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan recently announced a new pilot project under the 'Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food' initiative for farmers to establish high tunnels - also known as hoop houses - to increase the availability of locally grown produce in a conservation-friendly way. Merrigan and other Obama administration...

The Organic Trade Association (OTA) has launched a new consumer web site, Organic. Its Worth It, located at www.organicitsworthit.org. The site, launched in beta format, offers a wide range of informational resources, including basic facts about organic, tips on using organic around the house, and organic recipe ideas. The site...

Organic foods now occupy prominent shelf space in the produce and dairy aisles of most mainstream U.S. food retailers. The marketing boom has pushed retail sales of organic foods up to $21.1 billion in 2008 from $3.6 billion in 1997. U.S. organic-industry growth is evident in an expanding number of...

The National Restaurant Association's annual survey of more than 1,800 professional chefs - members of the American Culinary Federation (ACF) - reveals that local sourcing of ingredients, sustainability and nutrition will be the hottest trends on restaurant menus in 2010. Locally grown produce, locally sourced meats and seafood, sustainability, mini-desserts...

The United States could net 4.5 million new jobs in the renewable energy and energy efficiency sectors by 2030 if it addresses climate change, according to a report prepared for the American Solar Energy Society. Aggressive deployment of renewable energy and efficiency could displace the emission of 1200 million tons...

Blog entry written by Michael Boland, professor at Kansas State University and director of the Arthur Capper Cooperative Center. The VAPG grants are due on November 30th. As in the past, questions continue to accelerate as we move towards the deadline! One of the big questions I am getting this...

Green Energy Live Inc. is developing sustainable biomass-to-energy conversion technology to meet a critical need for the nation's $154 billion livestock industry. According to a recent press release, Green Energy Live is utilizing proprietary gasification technology for the development of highly innovative, on-site manure-to-electricity conversion systems to enable America's 1.2...

A first-of-its-kind Ohio State University analysis is helping planners in Knox County strengthen the area's local food system. The project report, Planting the Seeds of Sustainable Economic Development: Knox County's Local Food System, is available to download at http://sri.osu.edu/pdf/Knox_County_Assessment_Summary-200908.pdf. The report provides a detailed assessment of Knox County's food and...

USDA's new 'Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food' initiative has a goal of educating farmers, ranchers and consumers on how to develop local and regional food systems to support small and mid-sized farms and reinvigorate rural communities. Americans are more interested in food and agriculture than they have been in...

Overview Richard Sochacki wasnt looking for a change of vocation when he stopped at an apple orchard and began making friends with the people who owned it. In ensuing conversations, Sochackis learned about apple production and four years ago, Richard and his wife decided to give a go at their...

Here are some important product characteristics that help sell locally grown foods: High quality and price are primary considerations for any food product. Distributors and their customers use them to determine value. Food needs to be safe, nutritious, and wholesome, and it has to look good too! Consumer interest in...

Blog entry written by Michael Boland, professor at Kansas State University and director of the Arthur Capper Cooperative Center. Earlier this year, I wrote about the Value Added Producer Grant (VAPG) program. The latest Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) can be found at http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/rbs/coops/vadg.htm. This popular program has been funded...

Occasionally, this blog will feature a value-added business in states throughout the nation that have received partial funding through a USDA Rural Development Value Added Producer Grant. This week we profile a vineyard in Maryland. For more information on the current solicitation for Value Added Producer Grants, please visit www.agmrc.org....