Articles Tagged with ''specialty crops''

Specialty crop farms spent more than three times more money on labor costs than other types of operations, according to data from USDA’s 2018 Agricultural Resources Management Survey.

Farm groups are looking to the Trump administration to quickly appeal a ruling blocking the use of dicamba herbicide and issue guidance on how the industry should address the issue.

Some specialty crop growers are concerned about labor shortages, increased COVID-19 costs, and future market demand.

Farmers can start enrolling next week for $16 billion in coronavirus relief payments, but the Agriculture Department has decided to prorate the aid to ensure there is enough money to go around, Agri-Pulse has learned.

House Democrats released a massive new coronavirus relief bill that would provide $16.5 billion in additional direct payments to farmers and authorize USDA to compensate producers who have to dispose of livestock and poultry that can’t be sold because of processing disruptions.

Almost overnight specialty crop producers changed the way they operated by staggering work times, increasing shuttle transports, and providing educational training to keep employees safe during the COVID-19 outbreak.

USDA’s $19 billion COVID-19 aid package for farmers may fall well short of compensating producers for the estimated damage of the pandemic, and the department has an ambitious and novel plan to distribute USDA-purchased commodities to needy people. 

Members of Congress are pushing USDA to move forward with aid for specialty crop producers.

Exposure to market risk in 2020 will be higher for dairy and specialty crop producers, according to a quarterly report set to be released this week.