Feature:Thankful for So Much from So Many It has been said many times over how difficult 2020 has been, with lessons learned
and numerous, lingering challenges yet to overcome for quite some time. It would
be easy, and maybe even acceptable, to be negative about the world we all share,
but I would rather shed a bright light (and a smile or two) on the year.
CFAP 2 Deadline is December 11th. Apply Now! U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) reminds farmers and ranchers that the deadline to apply for the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program 2 (CFAP 2) is Dec. 11, 2020. This program provides direct relief to producers who continue to face market disruptions and associated costs because of COVID-19.
CucCAP researchers identify new loci for resistance to powdery mildew in watermelon Powdery mildew has been spreading across the US on watermelon in recent years and can infest seedlings, adult plants and fruit and significantly reduce yield. Growers routinely spray pesticides to manage powdery mildew of watermelon. ARS scientists in Charleston SC developed one excellent source of resistance to this disease and characterized the mechanisms of resistance in the line called USVL531-MDR. The molecular marker can be used in breeding programs to incorporate this resistance into commercial cultivars.
USDA Introduces Enhanced Coverage Option Crop Insurance Product
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Risk Management Agency (RMA) today announced that a new Federal Crop Insurance product, the Enhanced Coverage Option (ECO), will be available for 31 spring-planted crops for the 2021 crop year and is expected to be available for additional crops starting in the 2022 crop year.
Alliance Unveils Unprecedented Climate Policy Recommendations
An alliance of groups representing farmers, forest owners, the food sector, state governments and environmental advocates called The Food and Agriculture Climate Alliance (FACA), formed in February 2020 by the American Farm Bureau Federation, Environmental Defense Fund, National Council of Farmer Cooperatives, and National Farmers Union, unveiled an unprecedented set of recommendations to guide the development of federal climate policy. The alliance has since expanded to include FMI – The Food Industry Association, National Alliance of Forest Owners, National Association of State Departments of Agriculture, and The Nature Conservancy. Together, the group developed more than 40 recommendations. https://agclimatealliance.com/files/2020/11/faca_press_release.pdf
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