USDA and the Department of Commerce will hold a day-long conference for small business owners who want to learn how to grow and support their businesses by partnering with these and other Federal agencies. The meeting, led by program and small business procurement officials, will focus on Small Business Contracting. Topics include acquisition needs and opportunities, procurement methods, subcontracting opportunities, business development resources, and more.

A workshop will be dedicated to contracting opportunities in rural America. Additionally, there will be an opportunity to meet one-on-one with USDA and DOC small business contracting specialists during a half-day “matchmaking” event.  The conference will be held Tuesday, June 28, 2011, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Sheraton Overland Park Hotel in Overland Park, Kansas.

There is no conference fee. Pre-registration is preferred with onsite registration available. For further information call 202-720-7117 or visit www.usda.gov/osdbu.

Planting of the U.S. soybean crop remains behind the five-year average. In fact, Ohio farmers have planted only 26 percent of the intended soybean acres. Farmers in other states such as Indiana and the Dakotas have only about half their soybeans planted. Despite the late season, Dr. Jim Beuerlein, professor emeritus in agronomy extension at The Ohio State University, says growers can still maximize yields and revenue by changing a few cultural practices.

Beuerlein says – the goal of normally planted soybeans is to develop a complete leaf canopy that collects as much sunlight as possible by the time flowering begins. To duplicate this condition in late-planted soybeans, the retired agronomist recommends farmers should use narrower row widths, such as 7.5 inches apart or no wider than 15 inches apart, which will help late-planted soybeans produce a better canopy. Beuerlein also recommends a 20 percent increase in seeding rates. This can help raise the height of the lower pods to minimize the number of pods lost at harvest.

Research has shown that when planting is delayed by three weeks, plant maturity is delayed by only seven to 10 days, so it may not be necessary to switch to a shorter-season variety. Also, applying a fungicide treatment to soybean seed prior to planting will help control seedling diseases and increase root structure and mass to support a faster-growing plant.

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has announced that USDA is allocating 50-million dollars for projects that prevent the introduction or spread of plant pests and diseases that threaten U.S. agriculture and the environment. Funding is offered to implement projects at universities, federal agencies, nongovernmental organizations, private companies and tribal organizations. These projects will advance the Farm Bill goals of early pest detection and the identification and mitigation of agricultural threats.

The projects were selected to: enhance plant pest/disease analysis and survey; target domestic inspection activities at vulnerable points in the safeguarding continuum; enhance and strengthen pest identification and technology; safeguard nursery production; enhance mitigation capabilities; and conduct outreach and education about these issues.

In making the announcement, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said, – the wide range and record number of project suggestions will provide strong protection to America’s agricultural and environmental resources, and many will help nursery and specialty crop growers to flourish as the economy continues to recover.

Thanks to DuPont business Pioneer Hi-Bred and Farms Technology, L.L.C., grain growers now have an enhanced electronic grain marketing program that will simplify and provide flexibility for the buying and selling of corn, soybeans, wheat and sorghum. The Dynamic Pricing PlatformSM grain desk helps sellers make, manage and monitor offers. Most importantly, the platform provides growers the flexibility to execute cash sales on their crops the entire 17½ hours commodity markets are in session.

Tonia Carpenter, Pioneer senior marketing manager, says – it’s challenging to watch for price movement that might impact grain marketing decisions. This marketing tool can provide growers with the opportunity to sell grain at any time and helps streamline the connection with their buyer, especially when markets are moving fast or after regular business hours. The DPP technology also can help buyers when it comes to hedging those cash commodity transactions.

The Department of Agriculture is accepting applications for grants to help rural businesses create jobs through cooperative development centers. In making the announcement, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack explained, – cooperative development centers are business and job incubators. They support President Obama’s goal to bring increased economic opportunities to rural communities by assisting new businesses as they create sustainable jobs.

Under the RCDG program, grants of up to 225-thousand dollars may be awarded to colleges, universities and non-profit groups to create and operate centers that help individuals or groups establish, expand or operate rural businesses, especially cooperatives. Grants may be used to conduct feasibility studies, create and implement business plans, and help businesses develop new markets for their products and services.

USDA may award up to 7.4-million dollars in grants. Funds may finance up to 75 percent of the cost of establishing and operating the cooperative centers. Recipients must match 25 percent of the total project cost. Applications are due July 22, 2011.

USDA is making 7-million dollars available to eligible farmers, ranchers and private non-industrial forest landowners in 11 states to implement conservation practices on agricultural and nonindustrial private forest lands through the Cooperative Conservation Partnership Initiative. The funds will help producers in Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Indiana, Maryland, Missouri, New York, Oregon, Virginia and Washington create natural resource benefits such as clean air, clean water, productive soils, and abundant wildlife on their operations.

Individual farmers, ranchers and private landowners located in approved project areas may now apply through their local NRCS office to find out whether they are eligible for financial and technical assistance. They can use that assistance to address conservation priorities; meet federal, state, and local regulatory requirements related to production; cooperate to install and maintain conservation practices; and develop and demonstrate innovative conservation practices and delivery methods.

Partner proposals were selected competitively based on previously identified criteria. Potential partners were not required to provide matching funding but increased their chance of selection by providing financial, technical, or other resources.

The Chairman of the House Ag Committee, Frank Lucas of Oklahoma, sees problems in moves being made that could have an impact on the 2012 Farm Bill. Chairman Lucas points out that Republican Jeff Flake and Democrat Rosa DeLauro offered amendments that were accepted by the full Ag Appropriations Committee that have huge farm policy considerations in the final year of the 2008 Farm law, as well as what lawmakers may be able to do as the 2012 Farm Bill is crafted.

An amendment offered by Congressman Flake would reduce Commodity Title Spending for Direct Farm Payments to cotton producers to cover the 147-million dollars owed Brazil that is part of the settlement of the WTO cotton case brought against the United States. At the same time, Congresswoman DeLauro latched onto that 147 million dollar figure to up the spending levels for the WIC nutrition program.

Lucas expects to work with the Rules Committee and Republican leadership about these measures and their place within the appropriations measure- and he hopes to change the mind of Congress on the floor when this package is considered by the House.