This enhanced Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program will provide farmers in the region with a voluntary, incentive-driven opportunity to implement practices that make real progress towards improving water quality in southern Michigan and ultimately Lake Erie, explained Scott Piggott, manager of the Michigan Farm Bureau Agricultural Ecology Department. This change comes at a critical time as Congress is deciding whether to provide additional funding for conservation programs in the 2007...

Applications for farm labor housing assistance as well for housing preservation grant aid are due June 18, the release states. Applicants for farm labor housing aid may include requests for Section 521 Rental Assistance and operating assistance, the release states. USDA Rural Development's mission is to deliver programs in a way that will support increasing economic opportunity and improve the quality of life of rural residents, the release states. The funds also may be used to help owners...

Monday afternoon the USDA released their weekly crop progress reports showing soybean planting estimates at 3% complete. Traders say the strength in soybeans has little to do with the acreage battle and is more about vegoil demand worldwide. Traders say funds are buying veg oils with fund activity reported to be heavy in canola, palm oil and soybean oil. More importantly the corn planting progress was only 23% complete compared to 48% last year and an average of 42% complete at this time...

There are 33 farms within a five-mile radius of second farm found to be infected with the virus. USDA wildlife services sharpshooters were needed to destroy all of the hogs in the Loyal herd because some of them were semi-feral, said Gilson. But other species such as cattle, goats, sheep, horses, cats and dogs are susceptible to pseudorabies and die within 48 to 72 hours of contracting the disease. The USDA has allowed the state to retain its pseudorabies-free status for trade purposes,...

A USDA assessment will provide a more detailed accounting of the damage. Preliminary reports indicate that fruits, vegetables and alfalfa hay were particularly hard hit, Culvers office said. Since DesMoinesRegister.com does not control user submitted statements, we cannot promise that readers will not occasionally find offensive or inaccurate comments posted on our website. DesMoinesRegister.com is pleased to be able to offer its users the opportunity to make comments and hold...