Agriculture News
NRCS accepts applications for Farm and Ranch Lands Protection Program
The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is accepting applications for the Farm and Ranch Lands Protection Program (FRPP), a voluntary conservation program that helps farmers and ranchers keep their land in agriculture.
Eligible entities can apply at any time, but must submit applications on or before March 1, to receive consideration for initial funding in fiscal year 2010.
FRPP provides funds to help purchase development rights to keep productive farmland in agricultural uses. Working through existing programs, the NRCS joins State, tribal, or local governments and non-governmental organizations to acquire conservation easements.
Only eligible entities may submit applications of eligible farm and ranch land. Eligible entities are State, tribal or local governments and non-governmental organizations that have the authority to acquire, hold and manage easements and the funds to match the Federal contribution.
The FRPP can provide up to 50 percent of the appraised fair market value of the easement on the farm or ranch. At least 50 percent of the appraised fair market value of the easement must be provided by the eligible entity.
Land proposed for funding in FRPP must meet one of three eligibility categories:
• contain at least fifty percent prime and unique farmland soils and soils of statewide and local importance
• contain historic or archeological resources
• contain land that supports the farm and ranch land protection policies of state or local programs
FRPP has enrolled more than 620,000 acres on 3,100 farms and ranches since Congress first authorized the program in 1996. More information, including the application forms and ranking criteria, can be found at www.tx.nrcs.usda.gov/programs/frpp/index.html.
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More regulations
Recently the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) set its sights on possibly tightening its regulation of dust as part of the Clean Air Act.
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Set criteria when culling cows from herd
A railroad claims official once said that trains have done more harm to the genetic quality of America's cow herds than anything else. He said every cow that ever met her doom on a rural track was invariably the best, most productive cow in the plaintiff's herd. Often, the deceased cow was "nursing twins and close to calving again" just before her demise. It makes you wonder how much better our industry would be today if it hadn't been for this accidental culling over the last century and a half. I guess we're still making up for this lost genetic ground in our breeding and selection programs.
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Leon County to hold estate tax seminar
What is the Death Tax?
The death tax (a.k.a., the federal estate tax) is a tax applied to the transfer of a person's assets at death. It is defined by the Internal Revenue Service as “a tax on your right to transfer property at your death.”[1] -
Outstanding Tree Farm tour set for Sept. 11 in Cherokee County
Phillip and Norleine Power, in partnership with the Texas Forestry Association will host a Field Day and Forestry Tour at their Tree Farm located in Cherokee County, Texas, on Saturday, Sept. 11..
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Voluntary cattle program could enhance marketing
A new voluntary cattle health program can help ranchers market their breeding animals by reassuring buyers that bulls are free of cattle trichomoniasis, an infection that can be spread during breeding, and which can cause cows to abort and take a long time to become pregnant again.
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Grant seeks to make vegetables safer
COLLEGE STATION — A team of food safety researchers led by Texas A&M University's Dr. Elsa Murano has received a $1 million U.S. Department of Agriculture grant to find ways to protect fruits and vegetables.
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Federal money available for Longleaf Pine forest owners
TEMPLE — Longleaf pine forests once covered much of East Texas — and they could again thanks to a federal program offering money to landowners who grow the trees on their property.
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The value of a front loader
The most popular attachment for a farm tractor in our area, by far, is the front loader.
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Take precautions to avoid heat stress in cattle
As the mercury dashes over 100 degrees ranchers and others who deal with livestock should work to reduce stress on the animals as much as possible.
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New Mexico man accused of stealing 200 cattle
PHOENIX (AP) — A New Mexico man is accused of stealing 200 head of cattle from an Arizona ranch, packing them into trailers, then moving them out of state.
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