Ag News: $248-million Specialty Crop Block Grants
**Lack of water for agriculture may dampen prospects for California cotton farmers, even as cotton prices have soared.
Roger Isom, president and CEO of the California Cotton Ginners and Growers Association, says farmers should reap a “fantastic price” for this year’s crop.
Still the ongoing drought is depressing cotton production.
Total cotton-growing acreage in California has dropped by 38% since last year.
**The USDA announced more than $243 million in grants to support specialty crops.
The funding is available through two USDA programs, the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program and the Specialty Crop Research Initiative grants program.
USDA is investing $169.9 million through the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program to support farmers growing specialty crops, including fruits, vegetables, tree nuts and nursery crops.
Since 2006, USDA has invested more than $880 million through the program.
**Farmers National Company and its agents marketed and sold a record amount of land during the company's fiscal year ending September 30th.
Senior Vice President Randy Dickhut tells www.agrimarketing.com, their staff handled over three quarters of a billion dollars of real estate sales the past 12 months topping 2013’s previous record.
Sales activity picked up as the year went along in most all areas with average quality farmland and pastureland picking up interest.
Land sales for the fall and early winter look brisk too.
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