Author: Site Owner

“The burn box lets us burn during the summer months, when normally there’s a ban. It’s a useful tool. It burns really clean.” — Cindy Collins

See more photos from the Hood River Air Quality Project on Flickr.

When Cindy Collins wakes up in Oregon and looks out at her 46-acre orchard—with Mt. Adams towering in the background—she feels like she’s at summer camp.

“Most of us living here in the valley can’t imagine a prettier place,” Cindy said. “I just really appreciate the peace and the beauty of the valley. It’s like I’m at summer camp 365 days a year.”

Like her neighbors, Cindy believes in preserving the beauty and vitality of the Hood River Valley. That’s why she’s teaming up with 20 fruit growers to adopt cleaner ways to operate their orchards.

Over the last two growing seasons, Cindy and other fruit growers in the valley are using an air curtain burner—commonly referred to as a burn box—to safely and cleanly burn their orchard pruning wood.

The burn box was purchased in 2014 with a Conservation Innovation Grant funded by USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service, in partnership with the Columbia Gorge Fruit Growers and Hood River County.

“Last year we burned all of the large pruning wood taken from the orchard,” said Cindy. “And then this year, I removed a block of mature cherry trees, so we burned all the wood there with the exception of the stumps, which are a little too big to go into the burner.”

The burn box produces almost no smoke and significantly reduces the amount of airborne particulates. In 2015 alone, Hood River fruit growers eliminated about 1.35 tons of particulate matter from entering the air by using burn boxes instead of open-pile burning.

“A fan recirculates the smoke, so the particulate matter burns, then re-burns,” said Carly Heron, NRCS district conservationist. “So everything is being cleanly burned, and there’s no smoke, no particulate matter, nothing being released to the air—just like a really clean EPA-burning wood stove.”

“The burn box lets us burn during summer months, when normally there’s a ban,” Cindy said. “It’s a useful tool. It burns really clean.”

As part of the NRCS grant, Cindy and her neighbors fill out a data sheet each time they use the burn box. NRCS and the Columbia Gorge Fruit Growers use the data to track usage and the resulting reduction in air pollution. The data will also help determine if a larger scale, county-wide project could be viable.

“It’s really amazing when you finish burning,” Cindy said. “We had trailer loads of wood coming up to be burned. And once you’re done, there’s maybe just three or four inches of ash left on the ground. There’s very little left.”

Cindy is no stranger to NRCS. She bought her neighbor’s property in 2012 and worked with NRCS to convert to more-efficient irrigation systems. NRCS paid for a significant portion of the cost to install the system.

“NRCS has been great,” Cindy said. “They’re always looking for ways to help us protect the environment here in the valley, and they bring in money to support these efforts.”

Last month, I had the privilege of witnessing the American dream come to life for a Rockingham, Virginia family who has just purchased and built their first home with the help of a USDA Rural Development (RD) direct low-interest loan. It was an honor to help Rural Housing Service Administrator Tony Hernandez, Virginia Rural Development employees and local officials welcome Alias and Ansam Khader and their three children to their newly constructed home, which we did via a key presentation ceremony on the family’s new front porch.

Prior to the ceremony, I had the opportunity to spend time with the Khaders as they graciously took me and others on a tour of the house. They shared with us stories of their journey to this special day and visions of their bright future. I quickly learned that the Khaders were a remarkable family, having overcome extraordinary circumstances.

Alias Khader told me that it has been six years since he and his family came to the United States from Iraq as refugees. Gripping the ceremonial key with pride that day, he said, “We will now look to the future.”

Thus far in Fiscal Year 2016, USDA Rural Development has worked with 12 homebuyers and 49 lenders in Rockingham County to invest more than $9.5 million in helping families find homes. In Fiscal Year 2015, USDA Rural Development provided more than 4,000 home loans and grants totaling more than $600 million for Virginia residents. Since 1949, USDA has helped nearly 4 million rural residents across the United States buy homes.

I believe that when a family achieves the dream of homeownership, it lays the groundwork for entire communities to move toward growth and development. Homeownership is essential to building a strong foundation in rural America because it helps people build household wealth, start new businesses, fund education through home equity, and climb ladders of economic opportunity.

That is why National Homeownership Month is such a significant time of year here. In June, we are able to reflect on the valuable role homeownership plays in rural communities and celebrate the stories of families across the nation who have achieved the American dream.

I’ve learned a lot about cacao lately. I learned that it’s pronounced ka-COW. I learned that it’s grown on trees in tropical climates and is the essential ingredient in chocolate, cocoa powder and cocoa butter. I learned that it’s not to be confused with coca, which is an illicit crop and the primary ingredient in cocaine.

I also learned that Colombia, despite having near-perfect growing conditions for the cacao tree, produces a small fraction of the world’s supply. So how might cacao help solidify peace in Colombia after a 52-year armed conflict and, at the same time, enhance the U.S.-Colombia relationship? I discovered how when I visited last month and learned more about USDA’s Cacao for Peace project.

Experts believe that the country’s ideal growing conditions and fine flavor varieties could turn Colombia into a cacao-producing powerhouse. Already, indigenous Arhauco farmers on Colombia’s Caribbean Coast produce high quality, fine flavor cacao from a rare variety known as the “jewel” of the Sierra Nevadas. Through a business venture with Cacao Hunters, a Colombian specialty chocolatier, the Arhaucos have sold their beans at a premium, resulting in the region’s first single-origin chocolate bar that has won prestigious awards in London and Paris.

I was fortunate to be in Bogota when the Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos signed a ceasefire agreement with the top leader of the FARC, the country’s largest guerrilla group. It was also during this visit that USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service formally launched the Cacao for Peace initiative. The project, which combines expertise and resources from a range of stakeholders, is intended to help Colombian communities realize the full economic potential of cacao production.

The project will start with an in-depth supply chain analysis. That may sound boring, but it’s incredibly important to ensure that women, laborers and vulnerable populations benefit from this burgeoning new agricultural sector rather than being exploited by it. Cacao for Peace will also engage in cooperative research and on-the-ground activities to help farmers improve bean quality and increase yields using climate-smart, sustainable practices.

If the project is successful, it will not only help Colombia’s 35,000 small-scale cacao farmers remain on their land and develop vibrant rural communities in post-conflict regions, but it will also provide the United States with a needed supply of sustainably grown cacao.

In addition to being close neighbors, the United States and Colombia are parties to a free trade agreement that helps facilitate cross-border collaboration. American confectioners could become an important source of demand for high-value cacao sustainably grown in nearby Colombia. In addition to benefitting American confectioners and Colombian producers, this would create additional demand for American agricultural products like dairy, nuts and fruits, since every dollar of cacao we import generates an estimated $1-2 of demand for those products by the U.S. confectionary industry.

Cacao production could be a key to maintaining stability in Colombia and deepening economic ties between our two nations. I’m proud that USDA’s Cacao for Peace could play an important role in helping to realize its full potential.

By Lindsay Seventko, Communications Intern

This summer, forget the pool membership and take a dip in nature’s swimming holes preserved within our National Forests. These locations are shaded by massive trees, fed by mountain springs and cut out of the hillside by rushing waterfalls. Pack your swim suit and get ready for a day of summer fun by one of these incredible swimming spots.

Juniper Springs, Ocala National Forest, Florida

Ocala National Forest boasts the southernmost forest in the continental U.S., with four wilderness areas that are home to extraordinary amounts of wildlife. At Juniper Springs, massive springs gush out of the earth, feeding crystal clear streams that catch in fresh pools. Navigating the area offers countless streams to wade in and pools to dive in, with crisp water perfect for snorkeling. Big, desert-like shrub, palms and oaks shade the pools. The area is uniquely open year-round for swimming, since the water temperature barely changes through the seasons.

Looking Glass Falls, Pisgah National Forest, North Carolina

Just off the Blue Ridge Parkway in Pisgah National Forest are the dramatic Looking Glass Falls that plunge 60 feet into a deep swimming hole. With steps leading down to the water and large flat rocks for picnicking, it’s easy to spend all day relaxing by the water, being showered by the falls or exploring the nearby trails through the forest.

Aztec Falls, San Bernardino National Forest, California

Off the Pacific Crest Trial in San Bernardino National Forest lies the adrenaline junkie’s ultimate swimming hole. Cliffs overlooking the water range from 5-60 feet offering plenty of opportunities to test your daring spirit and jump into the pool below. Always be sure to test the water for depth and debris before jumping. For the less adventurous, plenty of flat rocks and sand bars line the pool, offering the perfect place to sunbathe, picnic and relax.

Opal Pool, Willamette National Forest, Oregon

Opal Pool truly lives up to its name. Crystal water rushes down the stream to collect in a calm, gem-colored wading pool. Located down an old scenic road, the trail to the pool winds through breathtaking old-growth forest, crossing the mountain stream via a footbridge to look down on the crystal-clear pool, reflecting the green of the trees, blue of the sky and shine of the sunlight. Wade the clear waters and venture downstream to see the waterfalls tumbling out of it.

Devil’s Punchbowl, White River National Forest, Colorado

The Devil’s Punchbowl is one of Colorado’s best kept secrets, despite having a more well-known namesake. Framed by vertical granite cliffs, the swimming hole is fed by an ice-cold mountain river that plunges into the pool on one side and cascades out on the other. The crisp water is a refreshing wakeup after the steep hike up from the road. Be sure to check out the layout of submerged rocks before attempting any jumps from the edges!

This post is part of the Science Tuesday feature series on the USDA blog. Check back each week as we showcase stories and news from USDA’s rich science and research portfolio.

July is the height of summer grilling season, and throughout the month USDA is highlighting changes made to the U.S. food safety system over the course of this Administration. For an interactive look at USDA’s work to ensure your food is safe, visit the USDA Results project on Medium.com and read Chapter Seven: Safer Food and Greater Consumer Confidence

Have you ever wondered how to safely grill your burgers? How about determining the latest food safety recalls?  USDA provides a number of resources to ensure that you have access to the most up to date information on food safety.

Keeping the food on America’s tables safe to eat is a serious challenge and USDA is serious about helping families avoid dangerous bacteria and other contaminants that can lead to foodborne illness. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that one in six Americans are likely to become ill from foodborne illness each year, but most of these illnesses are thought to be preventable. That’s why USDA provides a number of tools consumers can use in order to prevent or reduce the risk of foodborne illness that would spoil the meal.

1. Ask Karen

Ask Karen provides expert knowledge on preventing foodborne illness by sharing food handling, storage, and safe preparation of meat, poultry, and egg products. Using a webpage link, you can search for such topics as—how long you can safely keep meat in the refrigerator, how long it takes to boil an egg or whether it’s better to use wooden or plastic cutting boards. The Ask Karen page is available 24/7 and includes the capability to chat live with a food safety advisor.

2. USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline

If you prefer to speak directly to a food safety specialist, USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline personnel can answer your food safety questions on weekdays year-round. This toll-free telephone service provides answers about the safe storage, handling, and preparation of meat, poultry, and egg products. The Hotline can be reached Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Eastern Time and provides information in English and Spanish. Outside of these days/hours, there are recorded food safety messages available 24 hours a day. You may also send email questions to MPHotline.fsis@usda.gov.

USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline toll free at 1-888-MPHotline (1-888-674-6854).

3. Email Updates

The USDA Food Safety Inspection Service provides an email subscription service that sends email updates targeted to selected topics you have chosen. You may add or delete your selected subscription items at any time.

These three, easy-to-use resources can help keep the food on your dinner table safe. If you would like more information, please visit www.foodsafety.gov.

No American should have to go hungry.  USDA’s 15 nutrition assistance programs make great strides in reaching those in need, but challenges and barriers persist to eradicating food insecurity in our nation.  That’s where leadership and partnerships come into play.

Earlier this month, FNS had the opportunity to participate in an interactive discussion on the obstacles faced on effectively communicating to specific populations at the 2016 Feeding America Annual Conference in Chicago.  The dialogue focused on reaching the most vulnerable Americans: those in Tribal communities, teens and our nation’s proud military veterans.  The hurdles to reach all three are unique, and strategies require nuance, understanding and a bold commitment to better connect individuals with nutrition assistance information.

Almost one in four American Indians are food insecure, with a poverty rate nearly double that of national levels.  Addressing this challenge goes well-beyond traditional barriers – many live in hard-to-reach rural communities and there are over 250 indigenous dialects in the U.S.  It requires a deep cultural understanding and respect.  It’s critical that nutrition-assistance partners learn about the Tribal Nations with which they interact and educate themselves on cultural traditions and customs.  Most importantly, partners should establish rapport and visit frequently: Most Tribes place great emphasis and value on face-to-face interactions, which go a long way in establishing trust.

Teens represent another hard-to-reach demographic.  With the ever-changing ways teens communicate, reaching them becomes a real challenge.  Numerous partners have enjoyed success through social media and pop culture channels and by drawing kids in with relevant activities available at meal sites, like those in summer meals programs.   Another challenge relates to stigma.  Unsurprisingly, young people don’t want to be perceived as poor or in need.  Involving them as volunteers and interns in programs helps engage teens and offers them an important source of pride.

Finally, the service of our nation’s veterans demands to be honored, but sadly, all too many return home and struggle in their transition.  Collectively, we need to better educate these proud Americans of the availability of nutrition programs they may be eligible for.  Many may not be aware of the assistance they, their families and fellow veterans have to accessing nutritious meals.  To address this information gap, USDA works closely with partners, such as Feeding America, to provide information about available resources and breakdown barriers related to pride and embarrassment.  A network of support that includes the Veterans Administration, Department of Defense, homeless organizations, and a variety of partners, is needed to make sure their needs are met.

There are many variables and challenges to reaching three diverse groups of Americans.  The conference gave USDA and our vital partners a chance to reflect on these barriers, develop solutions and foster the leadership needed to end hunger in America.

For more on Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations, visit http://www.fns.usda.gov/fdpir/food-distribution-program-indian-reservations-fdpir

To see how USDA Summer Meal Programs reach our nation’s youth, check out: http://www.fns.usda.gov/sfsp/raise-awareness

To help inform our military and veteran families about available nutrition assistance, see  http://www.fns.usda.gov/get-involved/military-and-veteran-families

Find out the latest in forest news in this week’s Forest Digest!

• After 300 Years of Collecting, Nearly 12,000 Amazon Tree Species Are Found — New York Times
  A new study reports that scientists have discovered 11,676 different tree species in the Amazon during research that has lasted more than 300 years, the first species being found in 1707 and the most recent in 2015.
• Gypsy Moths Are Destroying Forests as the Climate Dries — TakePart.com
  Increased drought, impeding the spread of an essential fungus to control gypsy moth populations, has created conditions for the outbreak of the pests in the Northeastern U.S., destroying habitat for birds and wildlife.
• What Did You Do in the Last 24 Hours? This Indian State Set Out to Plant 50 Million Trees — OneGreenPlanet.org
  On Monday, July 12, the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh set out to beat the Guinness World Records for planting the most trees in 24 hours, currently held by Pakistan for planting 847,275 in 2013.
• Tropical forests overexploited by unsustainable logging — Science Daily
  A recent study has revealed that the hardwoods found in old-growth tropical forests, once logged, do not regrow to the levels needed for continued commercial use and are at risk of disappearing.

 

Elanor Starmer is the Administrator of USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), which facilitates the strategic marketing of agricultural products in the U.S. and internationally. Prior to becoming AMS Administrator, Starmer was a Senior Advisor to Secretary Tom Vilsack and has been with the department since 2011. This interview focused on AMS’s National Organic Program.

“The USDA isn’t one or the other, it’s all of the above. We serve organic producers, non-organic producers and everyone else as well as we possibly can.” – Elanor Starmer

What steps has the USDA taken to incorporate American organic products in the international market?

We know that the international market for organics is enormous. Global sales of organic food reached $80 billion in 2014 and that is only expected to grow over the next five to ten years. So the question then for us at USDA is – what can we do to help our producers access that growing market? I would categorize our efforts in three ways: first, we’ve supported U.S. organic operations that want to scale up and access the tools to market their products internationally. Second, we’re looking at how to open new markets internationally for organics through equivalency arrangements. And the third thing we’re doing is focusing on ensuring that the organic seal is as strong and as transparent and as reputable as it can be because the value of organic is in that seal.

How have USDA equivalency agreements shaped the international market and how has streamlining organic trade made it easier for producers?

Here’s how it works – the United States and another country agree that their organic standards are equivalent. That means organic farmers and businesses can have access to international markets without having to obtain multiple certifications. Without the agreements, organic farmers and businesses may need to fill out two sets of paperwork, have multiple inspections and frankly that’s a lot of work; so that’s why these agreements are important to the producer.

In the course of the last seven years, we’ve established equivalency agreements with the E.U., Japan, Switzerland, Korea, and Canada. These markets are huge opportunities for our producers and in facilitating the process, we’re helping them to sell into those markets without having to jump through extra hoops.

Is the USDA in the process of implementing additional equivalency agreements in other countries?

Right now, we’re talking to Mexico about establishing an agreement. We’re not there yet but we are getting closer and things are looking really positive. This would be a very exciting opportunity because it is so close to the United States. We’re also looking at other countries that might have interest in establishing equivalency arrangements in the future.

Why the demand for organic?

Consumers are more interested than ever in understanding where their food is coming from, how it’s being grown and the different things being used in the course of growing that food or raising that animal. It’s a growing trend we’re seeing in the marketplace and it’s creating a lot of opportunities for everything from organic to grass-fed beef to locally grown.

Can you explain the Sound and Sensible project and how it benefits organic farmers and producers?

One thing that we’re seeing is that there is a huge consumer demand for organic products and there is not enough supply even to meet domestic demand here in the U.S. We’re also seeing a lot of companies interested in selling organic products that are having trouble finding farmers to supply them. And that to us is a signal that there is a real opportunity here for American farmers and we want to make sure they have the tools to take advantage of it.

The Sound and Sensible initiative is one effort AMS has made to help support farmers who are interested in getting into organic production. We provided funding to organizations that then did outreach to farmers to talk about things like what does it takes to become certified organic, what the process looks like, what are the tools you can access to help you understand how to farm organically. This has helped demystify the process and provides a better understanding of the needs of the farming community.

The project did farmer training sessions and created producer networks especially in communities that we haven’t always reached, like non-English speaking communities and Amish and Mennonite communities. All of the tools from these trainings, like tip sheets, videos, and curriculum, are available on our website – which is great, because now others can use them for free to host their own trainings.

All of that creates more of a supply and then taps into that growing organic demand. It’s exciting to see new farmers get into this and established farmers try out some organic production. And the USDA is here to provide assistance.

For more information on the USDA’s organic equivalency agreements or organic certification, visit https://www.ams.usda.gov.

America’s farmers and ranchers work hard to provide food for the world, contributing to the nation’s economy, as well as to the strength of our rural communities. To support our nation’s hardworking producers, we’ve developed programs designed to help them stay at the forefront of global production, to adapt to market changes and protect their operations even after bad years.

Although many farm programs have come and gone, one program has continued to grow and become even more critical to the farm safety net. Federal crop insurance has become the preeminent risk management tool for our nation’s agricultural producers, and has adapted to meet the diverse needs now more than ever. In fact, even Congress recognized the importance of the federal crop insurance program in the 2014 Farm Bill. As other programs were eliminated or reduced, new requirements and expansions were mandated for the program as a cost-efficient and proven way to keep agriculture strong.

New policies like the Supplemental Coverage Option (SCO) and APH Yield Exclusion (APH YE) were implemented by the Risk Management Agency as a result of the Farm Bill, providing new options for producers suffering from years of drought or other severe weather conditions. The Whole-Farm Revenue Protection policy (Whole-Farm), also outlined in the Farm Bill, was developed by USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA) in concert with producer groups, to provide an innovative and effective tool for smaller farms, diverse farms, and those growing specialty and organic crops. Whole-Farm was first offered in 2015, and by 2016 it was available in every county in the nation – a first for federal crop insurance.

Even as the crop insurance program expanded, RMA took steps to strengthen program integrity. It reduced its error rate for improper payments by more than half; and at 2.2 percent, it is well below the government-wide average of 4.39 percent. The agency also improved its compliance methodology to include additional layers of data analysis, to continue to have better oversight of program dollars.

These expansions and the efficient delivery of the program have helped keep the rural economy going, even after severe weather has ruined fields and lowered prices for crops. When crop prices are low, access to credit is critical for farmers to manage risk. Producers who purchase federal crop insurance have better access to credit and are often able to receive lower loan interest rates.

The program continues to grow for the 2016 crop year and into the future. More crops than ever will be eligible for organic price elections, offering organic producers the ability to insure their products closer to market value than the conventionally-grown equivalent. Expansion in the availability of SCO for certain crops will continue, just as more crops will be eligible under the APH YE program, meaning more producers hit with years of drought will be able to find some relief. Even the Whole-Farm Revenue Protection program has expanded. It provides coverage under one policy for all revenue from a farm, up to $8.5 million. This now can include greenhouse and nursery products up to $1 million and animals and animal products up to $1 million as well.

However farming and farm products change to meet the market need, crop insurance will continue to adapt and strengthen its programs to meet the needs of our producers.