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As the agricultural landscape evolves to meet consumer demand, USDA Market News works to ensure that emerging sectors have the unbiased, reliable data they need to succeed in the marketplace.

USDA Market News – administered by USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) – provides data that serves as the information lifeline for America’s agricultural economy.  Everyone in the ag supply chain is accustomed to visiting Market News for items like current wholesale and retail prices for beef cuts, but here at AMS we offer so much more.

Many producers compete successfully in today’s marketplace by supplying specialty farm products.  With each emerging market there is a need for data, and AMS is answering the call.  Below are just two examples of some of our newer voluntary reports.

Last week, we published a new report adding transparency to the cage-free egg market.  In recent months, many large volume food buyers announced they will transition to sourcing eggs and egg products only from cage-free production systems.  This monthly report will provide critical data to the industry throughout the transition, and includes wholesale price information for cage-free eggs.  In addition, the report includes retail feature price information collected from weekly retail advertised specials from over 29,000 retail stores across the country.

This report also provides information on the estimated production of cage-free egg in the United States, based off of organic and cage-free flock size estimates collected by AMS, and estimated egg laying rates from USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS).  This new Monthly USDA Cage-Free Shell Egg Report will be released on the first Monday of each month.

We also recently introduced a new edition of the National Monthly Grass Fed Beef Report.  The report is now published in a PDF format which allows reporters to include more regional information, graphic representations, and retail comparisons to commodity beef.

One thing we wanted to showcase in the new report is a comparison between grass-fed beef that is primarily marketed directly to consumers or on a retail basis with commodity beef retail prices.  The commodity beef average prices comprises a 3-4 week average using the National Beef Feature Activity Report and compared to our monthly grass-fed price.

The two graphs that were added to the report showcase the relationships between grass-fed and commodity beef cuts on a 3-month basis in addition to regional price comparisons.  There is also a cost of production section based off of NASS’ grazing fees survey.

A small and very small producer section was added to the report, which incorporates the AMS Small and Very Small Certification program.  It provides a dressed carcass basis price range and the weighted average dressed carcass price.  In order to qualify to report in this section, producers must be certified through the AMS Grass Fed Small and Very Small (SVS) Producer Program.

Of course, the data needed to create new voluntary reports require one critical element – farmers, producers, and stakeholders to provide data.  Market News continually builds partnerships with stakeholders to ensure that the breadth and accuracy of our reports reflect the current market.

These reports are an example of how Market News works to ensure that everyone in the ag supply chain has the information they need when they need it.

Squeals of excitement and laughter competed with the sounds of power saws, drills and hammers at the Hungry Valley Child Care Center in Sparks, Nevada, as Reno-Sparks Indian Colony (RSIC) teens were handed power tools for the first time in their lives to assist with building a hoop house.

As part of their life skills learning, the teens helped members of the National Association of Resource Conservation & Development Councils (NARC&DC) who were attending their national conference in Reno, erect a 14’ x 26’ hoop house, with guidance from University of Nevada Cooperative Extension Federally Recognized Tribal Extension Program staff and assistance from USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).

More than 70 youth employment workers, community volunteers and education department staff were there to assist.

“The purpose of this demonstration project is to highlight the efficiency and effectiveness of hoop houses and to show community members and historically underserved landowners the ease of installation and impact such a structure has in a producer’s operations,” said Andrew Gordon, executive director of NARC&DC. “This project is also designed to help our members learn about: how to increase historically underserved community use of hoop houses from NRCS program participation through EQIP; recommended crops; agencies and organizations available to assist; and other essential information to accommodate a successful hoop house grower experience.”

“The demonstration project showed how hoop houses can improve food supply and extend growing seasons for producers,” said San San Tin, the Reno-Sparks Indian Colony education manager. “The young children at the Child Care and Head Start programs will have an opportunity to learn healthy eating habits by growing their own fruits and vegetables in their garden. By being involved in the process of planting, nurturing and seeing their fruits and vegetables grow, they will be more likely to try eating foods that are healthy.”

According to the USDA, most American Indian reservations, including Hungry Valley, are located in areas with limited access to food. Furthermore, the United States Department of Health & Human Services reports that Native American diets and food practices have changed more (for the worse) than any other ethnic group in the United States. For about the last 200 years, most aspects of the lifestyles of Great Basin Native Americans have changed, including cooking and eating patterns.

Today, although the current diet of Native Americans may vary by tribe, and by personal traits such as age (e.g., young versus old), Native families eat similarly to the rest of the American population. These eating habits have caused serious health problems, such as childhood obesity and diabetes. The Indian Health Service reports that American Indian and Alaska Native youth, ages 10-19, are nine times more likely as Non-Hispanic white youth to be diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.

At the Reno-Sparks Tribal Health Center, 44 percent or 224 of its 511 youth patients (0-17 years) have been diagnosed as medically overweight or obese.

For complex reasons, Native Americans have experienced high rates of poverty and unemployment, and families often struggle to put enough food, much less healthy food, on their table. One reason is that healthy and fresh foods tend to be more expensive and are often simply unavailable in low-income and rural communities.

“It is very important for Tribal members, young and old, to see that they can have an impact on what they eat,” USDA StrikeForce West Regional Coordinator Sharon Nance said. “In Nevada, the StrikeForce Initiative for Rural Growth and Opportunity—which addresses specific challenges associated with rural poverty—is targeted at Tribes. So after conference attendees learned about StrikeForce efforts as part of their conference, it was great for them to then assist NRCS in placing a hoop house with a local Tribe to enrich their community.”

To learn more about USDA StrikeForce or assistance available through EQIP, visit www.nrcs.usda.gov or your local Service Center.

Last month, many parts of Southern Louisiana were faced with disastrous flooding that submerged thousands of homes and businesses and also resulted in 13 reported deaths. The flood has been called the worst U.S. natural disaster since Hurricane Sandy in 2012.

Seeing homes where families have spent their entire lives destroyed along with gutted furniture piled on neighborhood sidewalks is truly heartbreaking.  While distressing, I do believe that through the strength of the community, Louisiana will continue to rebuild and move forward.  I am most proud to see residents working together each day after such a tragedy.  Some of the USDA Rural Development (RD) Louisiana staff members have volunteered their time with the American Red Cross at local shelters or have helped clean out their neighbors’ damaged homes.  Despite the devastation, these RD staff volunteers have approached this work in a positive and kind-hearted manner.

This disaster has impacted our rural communities significantly.  Through its many services, USDA RD can help flood-impacted residents, farmers, ranchers and businesses with immediate disaster assistance. The USDA RD Multi-Family Housing (MFH) team has identified vacant housing units that are available for qualified individuals impacted by the flooding.  Each week, our team receives updated MFH reports that list which properties have vacant units.  Anyone who was affected by the storm in declared disaster areas can be placed at the top of the waiting list for an RD Multi-Family Housing Direct property by receiving a Letter of Priority Entitlement (LOPE) or provide the property owner with a FEMA-registered documentation.

Since the August 2016 flood, our team has received many LOPE letter requests. Despite the negative impact that has taken a toll on Southern Louisiana, our community continues to strive for a better tomorrow.  With the help of RD’s housing programs and vacant MFH units, USDA RD remains committed to helping the future of rural communities.

To request a LOPE letter, please contact the RD Louisiana State Office which is located at 3727 Government Street, Alexandria, LA.  The local phone number is (318) 473-7920 and the toll-free number is (866) 481-9571.

Individuals who were impacted in declared disaster areas needing temporary payment relief on their existing RD Single-Family loans may also contact the Centralized Servicing Center at (800) 414-1226.  Please go to the Louisiana Flooding Resources page for more information on natural disaster assistance.

Because September is National Preparedness Month and after working with our partners on these disasters, it is a good time to think about emergency planning.  Don’t Wait. Communicate. Make an Emergency Communication Plan for you and your family because you just don’t know when disasters will impact your community.

It’s important to have a plan in place ahead of severe weather to protect your animals and livestock.  Pets, farm animals and livestock rely on their humans to protect them and keep them safe in all types of emergencies.  The steps we take or don’t take will directly impact their well-being.  Because September is National Preparedness Month, it is a good time to think about emergency planning.  Don’t Wait. Communicate. Make an Emergency Communication Plan for you, your family and your animals as you just don’t know when a disaster will strike your community.

According to Dr. T.J. Myers, Assistant Deputy Administrator for the USDA APHIS Surveillance, Preparedness and Response Services, “Having a plan in place to protect animals and livestock is the best defense against severe weather.  Re-evaluating that plan periodically can make a huge difference and save valuable time during an emergency.”

Think ahead and try to implement some of these precautionary measures:

• Build a strong shelter.  Make sure you have a sturdy shelter that can protect animals and livestock from the elements. It should be able to sustain high winds and heavy rain and keep them all dry. Consider building it on high ground to avoid flooding. A livestock shelter should provide enough space for each animal.  A general guideline is to provide enough space roughly four times its body size.  This will help keep each animal comfortable during very uncomfortable situations.

• Have adequate food and water.  Provide adequate supplies for animals and livestock.  This will be important if you aren’t able to reach them for a day or so.  They should have plenty of food and a steady supply of water to sustain them throughout a severe weather event. During extremely cold temperatures, water will freeze.  You will need to break up ice or replace the frozen water.

• Provide warm bedding.  During a blizzard or extremely frigid weather, warm bedding is essential for all livestock.  Heavy rains also can make the air cold and moist.  Make sure that there is adequate bedding for each animal whether it gets used or not.  Replace it when needed.

• Provide adequate cooling options.  Excessive heat can be hazardous to livestock and other animals.  Make sure shaded areas are available and provide an adequate amount of water.  Animals might drink more on extremely hot days.  Provide proper ventilation and install fans or open barn doors to keep air moving.  Some animals might need sprinklers to keep cool or to get their hooves wet to keep body temperatures normal.

• Assess farm safety.  Check the safety of your farm and consider the condition of your home, barns and sheds for sustainability of high winds as well as heavy rains or snow.  Take corrective action now and reassess periodically.  Check low-laying areas that could easily flood and take preventable measures to protect your pets, livestock and your entire property.

How best to protect your livestock and farm animals in extreme weather will depend on the size of your herds, what type of animals you have and how extreme the weather actually gets. Providing the basics – food, water and shelter will go a long way to keeping them safe.  More information is available in the Do YOU Have a Plan for Your Livestock Should Disaster Strike? USDA Preparedness Fact Sheet.

Additionally, APHIS maintains the National Animal Health Emergency Response Corps (NAHERC), a group of veterinary support personnel who respond to disease outbreaks and other disasters that affect livestock, poultry, companion animals and wildlife.  You can learn more about NAHERC at https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ourfocus/animalhealth/emergency-management/ct_naherc.

September 28th, 2016|Tags: corporate partners, eddie bauer, recreation|0 Comments

We all have a different connection to nature. For those who have a love of outdoor adventure and spend much of their time in nature, that connection is imperative to who they are. This is the case for Kent McBride. McBride is fully certified rock, alpine and ski guide, who can guide in any mountainous country in the world. He is based in the Tetons — where he has more than 150 summits of the Grand Teton — but has climbed or skied in France, Italy, Spain, Switzerland, Argentina, Chile, Bolivia, Canada, Mexico, China, Nepal, Tibet, Norway, Sweden, Morocco, New Zealand and has even made his way to Antarctica! In the following interview, learn more about McBride’s connection to nature and the environment in which he thrives.

Q: Do you think it was nature or nurture that set the seeds of the passion you have for outdoor adventure?

A: Nurture planted the seeds and nature helped them grow. Both of my parents grew up in the flat lands of Iowa, and after college they moved to Colorado to find mountainous adventures. I was extremely fortunate to have grown up west of Denver in the mountains at 8,000 feet, where we had many great family ski vacations and camping trips. I’m still amazed that my parents had the energy and patience to hike with three boys into the wilderness. We carried backpacks full of the essentials and even brought our two dogs with their own silly dog packs. I’m surprised we continued year after year because I remember more of the mosquitoes than the glory moments.

Q: What do you think is the most effective way to get people to care about preserving our natural world?

A: I think the most important and most effective way to get people to care about preserving our natural world is through education from observation. To start, I try to point out different items or occurrences within an ecosystem to find the things that resonate the most with each person. Then, it is easier to teach in more detail about the connections and dependency that we all have with the environment. Hopefully at that point, things become tangible and people understand the necessity of working to preserve and support our natural world.

Q: As a skiing and climbing guide, what impact do you hope your work will have on others?

A: The impact I hope my work will have on others consists of many positive things. Most importantly, I’d like them to feel safe. I give instructions, model movements or use a rope to help show that we can do a certain activity with a reasonable amount of risk. Then, I try to lead and coach them into new levels (places) that they haven’t been to before. With some success, clients become very focused in their movements in areas that they wouldn’t imagine themselves as climbers or skiers.

 

The post An Adventurer’s Connection to Nature: Q&A with Eddie Bauer Guide Kent McBride appeared first on American Forests.

The greater sage grouse is an iconic bird that lives in the American West’s sagebrush landscape. It’s also a species at the center of a nationwide debate focused on how best to manage its habitat to balance multiple uses and ensure the bird’s long-term survival.

And the dialogue has just been informed by new information from a genetics study that has validated the primary target locations of current conservation efforts.

Though sage grouse were once numerous, their populations have dwindled drastically from historic numbers. Their range is still impressively large, though. Sage grouse are spread across a staggering 258,000 square miles.

Since the remaining population inhabits such a vast landscape, partners working to conserve the sagebrush ecosystem focus efforts within Priority Areas for Conservation or PACs, which represent the habitat most critical for maintaining sage grouse populations. Understanding the population structure and genetic diversity within the species is also important for guiding ongoing conservation and restoration efforts.

A new study found that the genetic subpopulations of sage grouse are synonymous with the existing management boundary of the PACs. This is important because validating the biological relevance of the existing PACs helps land managers plan conservation projects to more effectively manage sage grouse.

Todd Cross, a wildlife biologist with the University of Montana and U.S. Forest Service Rocky Mountain Research Station, worked with partners from the U.S. Forest Service, the Bureau of Land Management, states, and the NRCS-led Sage Grouse Initiative.

“We were thrilled to discover that existing management boundaries agree with genetic population structure,” said Cross. “It was a privilege to work with great minds from many backgrounds. We were able to combine expertise in wildlife management, landscape ecology, and genetics through this fantastic science partnership.”

Results show five subpopulations that occupy significantly different elevations and are surrounded by different dominant subspecies of sagebrush.

“The state agencies we work alongside had great foresight in creating these priority areas for conservation, and we hope that our results can help inform their continued efforts in conservation planning and sage grouse management,” Cross added.

Did you know September is Whole Grains Month and National Rice Month? To help you fit whole grains into your menu this week, MyPlate is sharing five, easy-to-prepare recipes with brown rice as the star ingredient.

Almost all Americans are not eating enough whole grains. At least half of your grains should be whole grains. Whole grains provide more vitamins and minerals than refined grains because they are made from the entire grain seed. Eating more whole grains is easy to do! Try these recipes featuring brown rice five different ways to add more whole grains to your recipe repertoire:

• The One-Dish Dinner: Caribbean Casserole
  Looking for an exotic dish to change up your dinner routine? This recipe can be made in a flash and used as a side dish or as an entrée! Bonus: This tasty recipe was the fan favorite at a MyPlate staff gathering.

• The Savory Side Dish: Cheesy Broccoli & Rice Squares
  Made with low-fat cheese, these brown rice squares are pure comfort food and pack a nutritious punch with whole grains and broccoli.

• The Super Salad: Fiesta Rice Salad
  This light and refreshing rice dish is packed with veggies. Served chilled, it’s perfect for a picnic or potluck. Cut down on your prep time by cooking and refrigerating brown rice the night before!

• The Kid-Friendly Dinner: Black Bean Burgers
  A fast entrée that uses flavorful herbs and spices to create a great-tasting burger patty. Add your favorite burger toppings and enjoy!

• The Takeout-Inspired Meal: Chicken Fried Rice
  An easy, nutrient-packed entrée that is great for the whole family. It’s also a good way to use up leftover brown rice, veggies, and chicken. Bring on the chopsticks!

For more healthy recipes, check out www.WhatsCooking.fns.usda.gov, and find whole grains tips on ChooseMyPlate.gov. Check back with us in October when we feature our next star ingredient, pumpkin, five different ways!

Last month, USDA took time to reflect on the great strides we’ve made in achieving better Civil Rights results for those who work here and those we serve.  This month’s chapter, Rural America is Back in Business, examines how USDA has helped the rural economy rebound.  By embracing Civil Rights and opportunity for all, the case can be made that the two themes are closely related.

As I reflect on some of the ways USDA Rural Development (RD) has demonstrated equity and inclusion for our external and internal customers. One of the goals Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack addressed last month is USDA’s “New and Improved Outreach to Expand the Breadth of Our Service.” Perhaps one of RD’s biggest expansion efforts is the creation of specific outreach plans to reach the underserved and unserved populations, particularly through our StrikeForce for Rural Growth and Opportunity initiative.

In addition, the establishment of Community Economic Development (CED) was created to foster the communities living in persistent poverty and rural areas that have limited resources. Some of CED’s efforts include designating regional representatives across the country who outreach to specific sponsorships for minority organizations and socially-disadvantaged farmers and ranchers.

To improve access for individuals with Limited English Proficiency (LEP), RD implemented the Limited English Proficiency Strategy for Federally Conducted and Assisted Programs. The implementation strategy ensures recipients of federal financial assistance provide meaningful access to their LEP applicants and beneficiaries. RD provides oral and written translation free of charge to the general public.

Most recently, RD launched a new electronic application intake system, RD Apply, which allows individuals the ability to apply for the Agency’s programs online. The simplified intake system allows applicants control over when they apply, standardizes the methods of applications and provides a neutral, non-discriminatory interface through which applications may be filed. Currently, RD Apply is only available for Rural Utilities Service loan and grant programs. RD anticipates the availability of this tool for use for all program applications in the near future.

RD has made significant strides to promote diversity and equality among Agency employees. The RD Office of Civil Rights offered over 30 training sessions to over 2,000 employees which represents close to half of the entire RD workforce. RD hosted a listening session focused on veteran employment matters.  As a result of feedback received, RD created a Veteran Employment Advisory Council to support and advocate employment opportunities and retention for Veterans. Additionally, the Office of Civil Rights hosted the Agency’s First Annual Diversity Day for all USDA employees. RD Special Emphasis Program Managers exhibited and provided informational materials regarding the Agency’s seven Special Emphasis Programs and the Veterans Employment Advisory Council.

Our efforts demonstrate RD’s commitment to treating all customers fairly and equitably. By emphasizing the importance of civil rights, RD continues to culturally-transform the Agency for both internal and external customers. As we reflect on the Agency’s accomplishments, let us continue to make Civil Rights a priority to ensure RD is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender.

Secretary Vilsack is fond of saying, ‘…when rural communities do well, America does well..‘ I have a corollary:  When everyone has the opportunity to do better, we all do better.

The number of people participating in USDA’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) has been declining now for several years from a high of nearly 48 million people back in 2013 to a little more than 43 million in June. That is a drop of about 4.4 million people. This downward trend is encouraging but should come as no surprise. SNAP is designed to respond to the economy by expanding and contracting based on economic conditions. As the economy continues to grow and recover from the recession, recent data shows household incomes beginning to rise. I’m confident that we’ll see these numbers shrink even more.

The best way to keep the numbers of SNAP participants on a downward trend is to connect recipients with opportunities to develop skills for in-demand jobs in their communities. Many Americans have gained employment but still do not have an income high enough to transition off the program. SNAP Employment and Training (E&T) programs can help individuals find jobs that allow working families to make ends meet without public assistance.

Let’s be clear: SNAP already encourages work. Today, more than half of SNAP households with children have earnings. This includes 42 percent of single-parent households and nearly 70 percent of married-couple households. It should also be noted that SNAP requires able-bodied adults to register for work, allows a deduction for earned income so that households are financially better off if they secure employment, and provides employment and training services to help participants prepare for and get jobs. But many of these jobs do not pay enough or offer enough hours to enable a family to become self-sufficient.

Through the SNAP E&T program, offered in partnership with states across the country, USDA helps SNAP participants gain the skills employers are seeking; and sometimes, even build bridges with employers for actual employment. SNAP E&T is unlike other workforce programs in that it targets low-skilled workers, people who often have many legitimate barriers to finding and keeping stable employment.

More and more states are seeing the inherent promise in SNAP E&T. States are optimizing their federal funding to improve their E&T programs and are becoming increasingly engaged in working with partners, including community colleges and other programs. USDA is committed to supporting states in their efforts. We’ve established an Office of Employment & Training, hired workforce experts across the country, and made more resources available to states.

As hard-working Americans struggle to get back on their economic feet, some may still need SNAP benefits to make ends meet. It’s a fact that highlights the important role this program plays as the nation’s first line of defense against food insecurity and as the foundation of America’s nutrition safety net. Many people continue to rely on SNAP benefits to put food on the table including those working at low wage jobs. SNAP remains a program that helps working families and those looking for work put healthy food within reach as they work toward getting back on their feet.

(This guest blog describes how the Healthy Homes Partnership helped residents affected by recent flooding in Louisiana.  Healthy Homes Partnership is an interagency program funded by USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) and the U.S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Office of Lead Hazard Control and Healthy Homes and is housed at the University of Missouri – Extension. Because September is National Preparedness Month, it is a good time to think about emergency planning.  Don’t Wait. Communicate. Make an Emergency Communication Plan for you and your family as you just don’t know when a disaster will strike your community.)

By Michael Goldschmidt, national director of Healthy Homes Partnership, University of Missouri Extension

In mid-August, residents of Southern Louisiana were deluged by about two feet of rain.  According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the resulting flooding caused at least 13 deaths and damaged more than 100,000 homes. Several federal agencies and partners sprang into action to help, including Healthy Homes Partnership (HHP).

The Healthy Homes Partnership links the resources of NIFA and the state land-grant universities with HUD for a public outreach education program to help residents prepare their homes for – and cope with – floods and other disasters. In many cases, that education comes through social media.

In order to reach more families in Southern Louisiana, HHP boosted social media postings to direct online users so that they could access resources on flood recovery as well as mold.  Boosting is a process when social media posts reach a wider audience through appearances at the top of a user’s Facebook page. A similar process is used for Twitter feeds to families. Additionally, targeted posting includes links to information and guides, such as the Extension Disaster Education Network (EDEN) webpage, Rebuild: Healthy Homes guide, and the Healthy Homes Basics App. These resources provide quick answers and helpful instructions to families trying to recover from flood disasters, including protective clothing and how to conduct cleanup actions safely.

In one 24-hour period, the posts logged 509 clicks in which people went from the HHP Facebook page directly to the recovery guides. HHP will continue to boost posts for a few more weeks to ensure that more flooding survivors can access this information.  Dr. Claudette Reichel, director of Louisiana House at the Louisiana State University (LSU) Ag Center, has provided online resources as well as helped those residents who are not able to access online information or social media.  Since August 12^th, the LSU Extension posts that were boosted to target Louisiana residents have reached over 26,000 people in the state and region.

HHP continues to support research, education and extension programs that increase home health and safety, improve family health, and build stronger communities. Since 1999, the HHP has addressed multiple housing related problems that affect the health of children and families including asthma triggers, mold, lead, radon, carbon monoxide and others.

NIFA invests in and advances agricultural research, education and extension and seeks to make transformative discoveries that solve societal challenges.