PA vineyards focused on soil health and cover crops
Source: Penn State By Chris Kick UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Pennsylvania is the fourth largest wine producer in the United States, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture. The industry supports nearly 11,000 jobs and directly contributes $1.77 billion to the state economy annually. In an effort to produce more and better grapes at a lower cost and with less environmental impact, vineyard growers have increasingly planted grass between rows of vines. These "ground
Virginia farmers can be paid to improve their pastures
Source: Virginia Farm Bureau BLACKSBURG, VA — Virginia farmers and landowners have a new opportunity this spring to be compensated for conservation practices that support soil health, pasture productivity and long-term farm resilience. Enrollment is open statewide for the Alliance to Advance Climate-Smart Agriculture , paying landowners either $100 or $300 per acre for implementation of approved farming practices. The Alliance is an initiative supported by the U.S. Departmen
Free training workshop on biochar available in PA and VA in April
This event is designed to be a one-stop shop for industry professionals interested in agricultural biochar application in Pennsylvania, Virginia, and the Mid-Atlantic states. Organizers say it will be a unique opportunity to: Gain practical insights from leading researchers, practitioners, biochar producers and agency partners Explore crop-specific case studies and on-farm applications Understand cost-share programs and policy incentives Build a community of practice to suppo
Is whole milk making a comeback while skim milk fades in popularity?
Data source – USDA news release By Jeff Ishee April 3, 2026 - Americans are drinking a lot less fluid milk than they used to. Back in 2009, the country sold about 55 billion pounds of milk. By 2024, that number had dropped to about 43 billion pounds — a decline of roughly 22 percent. There was, however, a small bump from 2023 to 2024, but the long‑term trend is still downward. Several things are driving this drop: - There are fewer young children in the population (the grou
USDA: Corn acreage expected to be down in 37 states
Source: USDA news release Washington, D.C. - Producers surveyed across the United States intend to plant 95.3 million acres of corn in 2026, down 3% from last year, according to the Prospective Plantings report released March 31 by USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS). Planted acreage intentions for corn are down in 37 of the 48 estimating states. Acreage decreases of 300,000 acres or more from last year are expected in Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska,
New drought forecast getting a lot of attention from farmers in the Eastern US
By Jeff Ishee, On the Farm Radio Federal climate forecasters at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) say parts of the southeastern United States could face persistent drought conditions this spring, raising concerns for agriculture, water supplies, and wildfire risk across the region. Recent outlooks from NOAA indicate that warmer‑than‑normal temperatures and below‑average rainfall are likely from April through June, particularly in Georgia, Mississippi,
Edible flowers have budding health and market potential
Source: VA Farm Bureau ETTRICK, VA — A recent Virginia State University workshop explored ongoing research into edible flowers’ untapped powers—from emerging culinary uses to whole health benefits. “Flowers are food for the soul and tummy,” emphasized Theresa Nartea, VSU professor and Virginia Cooperative Extension small farm marketing & agribusiness specialist, during a Feb. 27 workshop at VSU Randolph Farm . Young farmers from across Virginia learned about innovative resea
Georgia launches 2026 Farm Passport program
Source: GA Farm Bureau by Jay Stone Let the 2026 Farm Passport travels officially begin! Georgia Farm Bureau’s Certified Farm Markets (CFMs) program has launched the 2026 Farm Passport program, which has been enjoyed by thousands of patrons since its inception in 2019. The Passport program encourages people to discover Georgia, support local farmers, and experience fresh food. Image Credit GA Farm Bureau The 2026 Farm Passport program opened on March 21 and continues through
USDA launches national campaign to promote updated “Product of USA” label
Source: USDA News Release WASHINGTON, D.C. — On National Agriculture Day, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced a nationwide public awareness campaign to educate meat, poultry, and egg producers about the updated “Product of USA” voluntary labeling standard that took effect January 1, 2026. The rule reserves the label exclusively for products from animals “born, raised, harvested, and processed in the United States,” ending the long‑standing practice that allowed impo
New funding is focused on connecting farmers with local markets
Source: USDA news release Washington, DC – The U.S. Department of Agriculture recently announced it has awarded over $26.8 million to grant projects through the Local Agriculture Market Program (LAMP). The program helps local and regional food entities develop, coordinate, and expand producer-to-consumer marketing, local and regional food markets, and local food enterprises. LAMP includes the Farmers Market Promotion Program (FMPP), Local Food Promotion Program (LFPP), an
