Specialty Crop Block Grants in Georgia and USDA & NASA Team Up
From the Western Ag Network, I’m Bob Larson with your Agribusiness Update.
**USDA announced it’s awarding $86.6 million in grant funding to support the specialty crop industry through the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program that funds innovative projects designed to enhance specialty crop competitiveness.
USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service is investing in roughly 609 state projects across 56 states and territories.
Among these is $1.7 million in Georgia for two research projects, nine education and outreach projects, and two marketing projects.
For more, visit https://gfb.ag/USDASCBGP .
**The USDA and NASA are teaming up to improve agricultural data for farmers.
Ag Secretary Brooke Rollins and NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman established cooperation on satellite observations, geospatial analysis, and statistical methods.
The partnership will support USDA’s efforts to modernize its data systems, including improving estimates of crop acreage and yields.
Officials say combining NASA’s Earth observation technology with USDA’s ag expertise could also improve understanding of crop conditions and natural hazards.
**The number of cattle in U.S. feedlots edged lower from a year ago, while placements fell to a record September low, according to the latest USDA Cattle on Feed Report.
Cattle on feed totaled 11.37 million head on October first, down slightly from a year earlier but up from September.
September placements plunged 12 percent from last year to 1.78 million head, the lowest September since USDA began tracking in 1996.
