Daily News Radio Reports Focused on Agriculture!

Source - Maryland Department of Agriculture ANNAPOLIS, MD (May 07, 2026) – On May 6, 2026, the Maryland Board of Public Works approved five new easements through the Maryland Agricultural Preservation Foundation, protecting 534 acres of prime farmland in Caroline, Charles, and Dorchester counties for future generations and agricultural endeavors. In Maryland, agricultural easements preserve productive farmland and woodland to ensure the continued production of food and fiber.

Source: EPA news release LENEXA, KAN. - U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Gulf of America Division announced up to $50 million in new grant funding to improve water quality, habitat, resilience, and environmental education by demonstrating innovative practices on America's working lands. The Farmer-to-Farmer grant program provides targeted support to farmer-led and farm-focused organizations operating within the Gulf of America watershed, encompassing EPA Regions 3

Source: Virginia Farm Bureau WINCHESTER, VA — With crop damage ranging from disruption to devastation, fruit growers across Virginia have felt the strain of an exceptionally frigid spring. Statewide growers navigated a roller coaster of erratic weather throughout the late winter and early spring, with spurts of summer heat accelerating the growth of frost-sensitive crops ahead of multiple freeze events. Vineyards across Virginia were damaged by extreme temperatures in late Ap

Farm Credit of the Virginias (FCV), a cooperative lending institution serving Virginia, West Virginia and western Maryland, will return $31 million this month to its members through their annual patronage program.* FCV’s cooperative framework allows the Association to return a portion of its profits back to members on an annual basis. During 2025, agricultural producers and rural homeowners faced economic uncertainty, market volatility, as well as high interest rates and inpu

by Jeff Ishee Andy Seibel April 26, 2026 - Many people may not be aware that, before there was ever an FFA organization, there was an FFV organization. It was 100 years ago this spring that a vote was taken to form the Future Farmers of Virginia. That organization eventually was the model for the Future Farmers of America, the National FFA, which consists of more than a million members. Andy Seibel, a long-time leader in Virginia FFA, shares the story of how the Future Farmer

Source - American Farm Bureau Federation by Autumn Lankford Higgins and Bernt Nelson Key Takeaways Farmland conversion is generally permanent, making site selection and land-use policy critical for long-term agricultural viability. Data centers create both economic opportunities and resource pressures, particularly around land, water and energy. Data centers represent multi-billion-dollar investments that can bring jobs, tax revenue and infrastructure improvements to rural co

by Jeff Ishee April 24, 2026 - Virginia fruit growers and wineries are reporting significant crop losses after a hard freeze on April 20–21. The extreme temperatures damaged tender buds and young fruit across the state’s orchards and vineyards. Temperatures plunged into the mid‑20s in many areas, striking at the most vulnerable point of early bloom. The week prior saw daytime highs well above the statewide average, causing many crops to advance in maturation. In some areas of

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

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

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