Bill Northey

Many farmers nationwide and across the Northwest, are excited about growing hemp. However, the USDA has several words of caution. "Just like every other crop has it's risks and rewards hemp is not without its production risks and difficulties either," said USDA Undersecretary Greg Ibach...

The USDA says producers who are currently participating in the federal crop insurance program are in line for some extra help.  Farmers who had a payable prevented planting indemnity related to flooding, excess moisture, or causes other than drought will automatically receive a “top-up” payment.   Produce...

House Ag Republicans and Democrats are not sure USDA is doing the best job it can implementing Farm Bill and disaster aid programs put in place by Congress.  FSA staffing is a key concern of lawmakers.  House Ag Chair Collin Peterson brought up the decades-old issue with Undersecretary Bill Northey at a recent hearing on progress implementing the Farm Bill and Disaster Aid.   “...

The USDA announced Thursday it is giving dairy producers an extra week to sign up for the Dairy Margin Coverage program.  USDA’s Bill Northey told lawmakers the deadline will extend to September 27th.  Northey made the comment during a House Agriculture Subcommittee on General Farm Commodities and Risk Management hearing.   The FS...

The USDA announced Thursday it is giving dairy producers an extra week to sign up for the Dairy Margin Coverage program.  USDA’s Bill Northey told lawmakers the deadline will extend to September 27th.  Northey made the comment during a House Agriculture Subcommittee on General Farm Commodities and Risk Management hearing.   The FSA la...

Nearly 17,000 dairy producers have signed up for the new Dairy Margin Coverage Program.  The USDA reported the data Monday with a reminder the sign-up period closes September 20th.  The program offers protection to dairy producers when the difference between the all-milk price and the average feed cost, known as the margin, falls below a certain dollar amount selected by the producer.  USDA un...

In Washington D.C. this week the second national drought forum has experts gathering who are looking at lessons learned since the first forum back during the 2012 drought.  So are farmers really any better able to handle drought now than seven years ago?  ...

The USDA says a new online tool can help farmers and ranchers find information on farm loans that may best fit their operations.  USDA has launched the new Farm Loan Discovery Tool, the Department’s self-service website for farmers.   U...

The FSA has started issuing payments to producers who purchased coverage through the Dairy Margin Coverage program.  Producers can enroll through September 20th of this year.  Enrollment opened last month, and the program coverage is retroactive to January 1st, 2019, with applicable payments following soon after enrollment.   ...

USDA Undersecretary Bill Northey said there are several changes under the new Dairy Margin Coverage Program that producers need to be mindful of, “this deceased the premium this added to that mount of margin that was available. the previous program had an eight dollar margin availability this program as a nine dollar fifty cent availability.” ...