""

Search This Blog

Showing posts with label USDA. Show all posts
Showing posts with label USDA. Show all posts

Saturday, January 5, 2019

Farmers the Gov will pay you to grow hemp

I want the USA government to pay farmers to Grow Hemp and here is how it can be done!

Farmers can split the cost of growing Hemp with the Govt when it's used for #Phytoremediation one example is the FSA Assistance: Cost-share of up to 50%...

information on the Conservation Reserve Program and how Hemps great phytoremediation abilities could play a role in lessening chemical run off from farm fields...Eligible Practices Cost Share Assistance CRP progr...

ELIGIBLE PRACTICES: FOR THIS SIGNUP THE LAND MUST BE ELIGIBLE AND SUITABLE FOR ANY OF THE FOLLOWING CONSERVATION PRACTICES:



Cost-Share Assistance: Cost-share of up to 50 percent of the re-reimbursable cost of installing the practice is provided by FSA.
Conservation Stewardship Program.  Your Stewardship Goals. Our Assistance

Conservation Reserve Program




Farm Filter Phytoremediation Strips

The US Dept Ag offered these Suggestions for the design, intended uses and definitions on Filter Strips
Phytoremediation is the key part of filter strips to filter and remove farm chemical runoff. Scotty, MOhemp 


  USDepartment of Agriculture on Filter Strips:
  • Primary Purposes: To remove sediment and other pollutants from runoff by filtration, deposition, infiltration, or plant uptake.
  • Design Elements: Strips are planted cross-slope or on the contour downhill from the source of sediment or pollutants. They must be sufficiently wide to achieve primary purposes.
  • Vegetation Requirements: Adapted to the soil and climate of the planting site. Tolerant of sediment deposition and pollutant-laden runoff. Moderate to aggressive development to occupy the site quickly.


Filter strips, also referred to as buffer strips, are small, edge-of-field tracts of vegetated land that are used to reduce the contamination of surface water.
A grass filter strip and forested riparian buffer used to protect a stream from agricultural non point source pollution. Wikipedia
They are primarily used in agriculture to control non-point source pollution, however, they may also be used to reduce sediment in storm water runoff from construction sites. 
There are several types of filter strips including:
  • vegetative filter strips, 
  • forested riparian buffers, and 
  • wind buffers. 
In agriculture, they [Filter Strips] are highly effective in reducing the concentration of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) in runoff into surface water and are also effective in reducing sediment erosion and removing pesticides.
  1. This helps to prevent eutrophication and associated fishkills and loss of biodiversity. 
  2. The use of filter strips is very common in developed countries and is required by law in some areas. 
  3. The implementation and maintenance of filter strips is inexpensive and their use has been shown to be cost effective.
Source: USDA Filter Strips Farm Water Runoff

MOhemp is seeking Landowners who are interested in utilizing a filter strip.

I want the USA government to pay farmers to Grow Hemp and here is how it can be done!

Farmers can split the cost of growing Hemp with the Govt when it's used for #Phytoremediation one example is the FSA Assistance: Cost-share of up to 50%...https://electrohemp.blogspot.com/2018/06/eligible-practices-cost-share.html?

Conservation Stewardship Program.  Your Stewardship Goals. Our Assistance


FARM Conservation Buffer Strips - PhytoScience

 Farmers let's grow Hemp Phytoremediation Buffer Strips and let the USDA split the financial costs!
Scotty MOhemp

USDA shared: Conservation buffers are small areas or strips of land in permanent vegetation, designed to intercept pollutants and manage other environmental concerns.


Buffers include: riparian buffers, filter strips, grassed waterways, shelterbelts, windbreaks, living snow fences, contour grass strips, cross-wind trap strips, shallow water areas for wildlife, field borders, alley cropping, herbaceous wind barriers, and vegetative barriers.

Strategically placed buffer strips in the agricultural landscape can effectively mitigate the movement of sediment, nutrients, and pesticides within farm fields and from farm fields. When coupled with appropriate upland treatments, including crop residue management, nutrient management, integrated pest management, winter cover crops, and similar management practices and technologies, buffer strips should allow farmers to achieve a measure of economic and environmental sustainability in their operations. Buffer strips can also enhance wildlife habitat and protect biodiversity.

Benefits of Buffers

Conservation buffers slow water runoff, trap sediment, and enhance infiltration within the buffer. Buffers also trap fertilizers, pesticides, pathogens, and heavy metals, and they help trap snow and cut down on blowing soil in areas with strong winds. In addition, they protect livestock and wildlife from harsh weather and buildings from wind damage. If properly installed and maintained, they have the capacity to:

  • remove up to 50 percent or more of nutrients and pesticides.
  • remove up to 60 percent or more of certain pathogens.
  • remove up to 75 percent or more of sediment.
Conservation buffers reduce noise and odor. They are a source of food, nesting cover, and shelter for many wildlife species. Buffers also provide connecting corridors that enable wildlife to move safely from one habitat area to another.

Conservation buffers help stabilize a stream and reduce its water temperature. Buffers also offer a setback distance for agricultural chemical use from water sources.

Like the trim on a house makes the house look better, well-planned conservation buffers improve the appearance of a farm or ranch. If used as part of a comprehensive conservation system, buffers will make good use of areas that often should not be cropped.

Key Messages
1. Conservation buffers work environmentally because they:

  • Control soil erosion by both wind and water.
  • Improve soil quality.
  • Improve water quality by removing sediment, fertilizers, pesticides, pathogens, and other potential contaminants from runoff.
  • Enhance fish and wildlife habitat.
  • Reduce flooding.
  • Conserve energy.
  • Protect buildings, roads, and livestock.
  • Conserve biodiversity.
2. Conservation buffers work economically because of financial incentives available through USDA conservation programs--
  • Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) 
  • Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP)
  • Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP)
  • general CRP, Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP)
  • Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP).

3. Conservation buffers may help you meet Federal, state, or local pollution control requirements.

4. Many state and local governments--and even some private organizations--offer additional financial incentives to install conservation buffers.

5. Conservation buffers are a visual demonstration of your commitment to land stewardship.
____
I want the USA government to pay farmers to Grow Hemp and here is how it can be done!

Farmers can split the cost of growing Hemp with the Govt when it's used for #Phytoremediation one example is the FSA Assistance: Cost-share of up to 50%...https://electrohemp.blogspot.com/2018/06/eligible-practices-cost-share.html?

Conservation Stewardship Program.  Your Stewardship Goals. Our Assistance

Wednesday, November 25, 2015

Lawmakers push USDA to fund hemp research | AgriPulse

 A bipartisan group of lawmakers is appealing to Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack to award research funding for industrial hemp research. 

WASHINGTON, Nov. 20, 2015
It appears that USDA has the authority to award competitive grants for the development of industrial hemp,” the lawmakers wrote. “Nevertheless, it seems the USDA has provided conflicting information regarding whether the agency is willing to exercise its authority to award existing federal grant dollars for the research of industrial hemp.”
The letter was signed by 37 House members and 12 senators, including Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., and Ron Wyden of Oregon, the top Democrat on the Senate Finance Committee. The House members included Tom Massie, a Kentucky Republican, and Jared Polis, a Colorado Democrat, who are co-sponsoring a bill to legalize industrial hemp nationwide.
The lawmakers said the 26 states with laws authorizing industrial hemp pilot studies or production have received conflicting information from the USDA as to whether their programs are eligible for federal grants under the 2014 farm bill and whether the funding is even worth pursuing. article continues at the following link Lawmakers push USDA to fund hemp research | AgriPulse










 Thank You for stopping by-Share and Comment below.

If additional information in needed or you have a question let me know.
Together we can make a difference and create a future that will benefit everyone.

Build a Green StLouis
Green Building Tips and Resources via: Scotty-
St Louis Renewable Energy
Green Blog



Sunday, July 26, 2015

4th Milestone Accomplished by MOhempEnergy

While attending a recent webinar on USDA Bio-refinery, Renewable Chemical, and Bio-based Product Manufacturing Assistance Program as it relates to the USDA 9003 loan guarantees and programs last week that was sponsored by
Westar Trade Resources 
Westar one of the presenters answered my question on whether a Mobile Refinery qualifies for the 9003 Loan Guaranty!

Yes my inventions do and will qualify for the USDA 9003 program.  The mobile processing scenario was the last question answered at 1:25:16  http://cdn2.hubspot.net/hubfs/14164/2015-07-23_15.02_USDA_9003_Program_-_Winning_Strategies_for_Success.mp4?t=1437687057932

This was the biggest milestone in acquiring funding as it guarantees the lending institution that funds MOhemp Energy startup venture will be protected financially.

The products that MOhemp Energy will be providing that meet the requirements are Industrial Hemp based products namely- Biodiesel, Biomass, and Lingin (used in supercapicitors see pdf) as well as energy conserving building products.

I'm excited to say the least and can't wait to get to work developing the inventions and assisting Missouri Farmers in generating a new source of income that has all the aforementioned positive energy benefits from a Natural and Sustainable Industrial Hemp Plant.

  • A supercapacitor (SC) (sometimes ultracapacitor, formerly electric double-layer capacitor (EDLC)) is a high-capacity electrochemical capacitor with capacitance values greater than 1,000 farads at 1.2 volt that bridge the gap between electrolytic capacitors and rechargeable batteries. They typically store 10 to 100 times more energy per unit volume or mass than electrolytic capacitors, can accept and deliver chargemuch faster than batteries, and tolerate many more charge and discharge cycles than rechargeable batteries. They are however 10 times larger than conventional batteries for a given charge.
  • Supercapacitors are used in applications requiring many rapid charge/discharge cycles rather than long term compact energy storage: within cars, buses, trains, cranes and elevators, where they are used for regenerative braking, short-term energy storage or burst-mode power delivery. Smaller units are used as memory backup for static random-access memory (SRAM).
  • Supercapacitors do not have a conventional solid dielectric. They use electrostaticdouble-layer capacitance or electrochemical pseudocapacitance or a combination of both instead:
  • Electrostatic double-layer capacitors use carbon electrodes or derivatives with much higher electrostatic double-layer capacitance than electrochemical pseudocapacitance, achieving separation of charge in a Helmholtz double layer at the interface between the surface of a conductive electrode and an electrolyte. The separation of charge is of the order of a few Ã¥ngströms (0.3–0.8 nm), much smaller than in a conventional capacitor.
  • Electrochemical pseudocapacitors use metal oxide or conducting polymerelectrodes with a high amount of electrochemical pseudocapacitance. Pseudocapacitance achieved by Faradaic electron charge-transfer with redox reactions, intercalation or electrosorption.
  • Hybrid capacitors, such as the lithium-ion capacitor, use electrodes with differing characteristics: one exhibiting mostly electrostatic capacitance and the other mostly electrochemical capacitance.
  • The electrolyte forms a conductive connection between the two electrodes which distinguishes them from electrolytic capacitors where the electrolyte is the second electrode (the cathode). Supercapacitors are polarized by design with asymmetric electrodes, or, for symmetric electrodes, by a potential applied during manufacture.





Friday, June 5, 2015

Biomass update in 2014 Farm Bill Highlights



Farm Safety Net

• Eliminates direct payments and continues crop insurance.

• Producers will choose between the Price Loss Coverage and Agricultural Risk Coverage. Establishes the Dairy Margin Protection program.

• Restores livestock disaster assistance for losses dating back to 2011, and establishes a permanent livestock disaster program.

Rural Development

• Continues USDA Rural Development programs. Provides $15 million to support rural business development and growth through the Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance Program.

• Provides $150 million for water and wastewater infrastructure.

• Reserves 10% of certain programs for regional, long-term investments to better promote economic development through regional planning and leveraging of resources. Trade and Foreign Agriculture

• Continues authorization for $200 million annually for international market development.

• Authorizes up to $80 million for LRP and makes the program permanent.

• Provides more flexibility for USAID to use cash assistance in administering the Food for Peace program.

• Increases flexibility for assistance in emergency situations. Research

• Endows $200 million for a foundation for agricultural research.

• Doubles the funding for SCRI to $80 million annually

Conservation

• Consolidates conservation programs for flexibility, accountability and adaptability at the local level.

• Links basic conservation practices to crop insurance premium subsidy for highly erodible lands and wetlands.

• Builds upon previous successful partnerships and encourages agricultural producers and partners to design conservation projects that focus on and address regional priorities.

Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency


2014 Farm Bill

• Reauthorizes and provides $880 million for energy programs established in the 2008 Farm Bill.

• Expands Biorefinery Assistance Program to include biobased product and renewable chemical manufacturing.

• Expands Biopreferred program to include forestry products.

Forestry

• Makes Stewardship Contracting Authority permanent, allowing FS to conduct restoration work and stimulate job growth.

• Makes the Good Neighbor Authority permanent and available nationwide.

Nutrition

• Maintains SNAP eligibility for millions of low-income families.

• Provides $200 million for job training and $100 million to increase fruit and vegetable purchases.

• Provides $250 million in additional funding for TEFAP.

• Authorizes $125 million for the Healthy Food Financing Initiative to make nutritious food more accessible.

Next Generation Farmers and Ranchers

• Provides $100 million for the Beginning Farmers and Ranchers Development Program.

• Increases access to capital and supports crop insurance and risk management tools, including reducing crop insurance premiums during the first 5 years of farming.

Local and Regional Food Systems

• Renames FMPP to “Farmers Market and Local Food Promotion Program” and provides $30 million annually.

• Continues to reserve funds in the Business & Industry Loan Program for locally- and regionally- focused businesses.

• Advances growth of local and regional food systems with $65 million for Value Added Product Market Development Grants.

Specialty Crops and Organics

• Provides $72.5 million annually for SCBG.

• Provides new resources for organic farmers, including funding the Organic Cost Share program at $11.5 million annually.

• Increases funding for pest and disease management and disaster prevention to $62.5 million per year, and $75 million in FY 2018 and beyond.

USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. March 2014

Tuesday, June 2, 2015

National Organic Program

Welcome to the National Organic Program 
What is organic?
Organic is a labeling term that indicates that the food or other agricultural product has been produced through approved methods that integrate cultural, biological, and mechanical practices that foster cycling of resources, promote ecological balance, and conserve biodiversity. Synthetic fertilizers, sewage sludge, irradiation, and genetic engineering may not be used.

USDA Organic Seal
What is organic? Consumer Information.


Our Mission
Ensuring the integrity of USDA organic products in the U.S. and throughout the world. About Us + Reports | USDA Organic Seal


Organic Standards
Regulations and guidance on certification, production, handling, and labeling of USDA organic products. Learn more.


National Organic Standards Board
Members of the organic community appointed to advise USDA on substances and other regulatory topics. Learn more.


Organic Certification & Accreditation
Third-party agents around the world certify operations to USDA organic standards. Learn more.



Compliance & Enforcement
Protecting integrity of USDA organic products through enforcement actions for non-compliance. Learn more.


News and Outreach
Notifying the public on policy changes and other USDA resources to support organic agriculture. Subscribe



The information below explains how organic farms and businesses may use the USDA organic seal on their products.

Can I use the USDA organic seal?
  • If your product has a valid organic certificate from an NOP accredited certifying agent or one authorized through an international trade partnership with the United States, you may use the USDA organic seal in the forms provided below. Your certifying agent will review and approve all labels prior to use to ensure compliance.


Overview: Organic Labeling | Information for International Trade Partners
    USDA Organic Seal
    USDA Organic Seal Color Image
  • If your product has not been certified organic by an authorized certifying agent, you may not use the USDA organic seal. Please review the information below. Please note that other color combinations are not permitted. The black and white seal may be on a white or transparent background.

USDA Organic Seal Black and White


How is the USDA organic seal protected?
  • Agricultural products using the USDA organic seal or the word ?organic? must meet all requirements in the USDA organic regulations. Violations may lead to compliance and enforcement actions, including fines up to $11,000 per violation. Additionally, an your organic certificate may be suspended or revoked. 


USDA Organic Seal Regulations
  • What about multi-ingredient products that contain less than 95% organic ingredients?
  • Products that contain less than 95% organic ingredients may not use the USDA organic seal.


Do I need to be certified?
  • Most farms and businesses that grow, handle, or process organic products must be certified. Overall, if you make a product and want to claim that it or its ingredients are organic, your final product probably also needs to be certified.

 
Who Needs to Be Certified? | Overview: Getting Certified & Seed Certification

Saturday, May 2, 2015

USDA Industrial Hemp in the United States

Conclusions
Current markets for bast fibers like industrial hemp include specialty textiles, paper, and composites. Hemp hurds, the inner woody portion of the plant stem, are used in various applications such as animal bedding, composites, and low-quality papers. As joint products, finding viable markets for both hemp bast fiber and hurds may increase the chances of a success- ful business venture. Hemp industry sources and some academic studies cite many potential uses for hemp fiber and hurds. However, for these applications to develop or expand, hemp will have to compete with current raw materials and manufacturing practices. The U.S. market for hemp fibers is, and will likely remain, a small, thin market. Changes in price or quantity could be more disruptive and have a greater adverse impact on market participants than would be the case in a larger market.

Since there is no commercial production of industrial fiber hemp in the United States, the “size” of the market can only be gauged from hemp fiber and product imports. The near-term, low-end size of the U.S. market for hemp as a textile fiber might be defined by considering the domestic production and acreage required to replace imports of hemp fiber, yarn, and fabric in 1999. Assuming a potential U.S. yield of 1,550 pounds of fiber per acre and using linen yarn and fabric conversion factors, the estimated import quantity of hemp fiber, yarn, and fabric in 1999 could have been produced on less than 2,000 acres of land. Given the average size of farms in the United States (near 500 acres), just a few farms could have supplied the hemp fiber equivalent of 1999 import levels.

As a specialty bast fiber, hemp’s closest competing textile fiber is linen. A longer term, high-end size of the potential U.S. market for hemp fiber could be defined as domestic production and acreage required to replace hemp and linen imports. The hemp fiber required to replace the equivalent level of hemp and linen fiber, yarn, and fabric imports in 1999 could have been produced on 250,000 acres—roughly 40 percent of 1999 tobacco acreage, 5 percent of U.S. oat acreage, or 0.4 percent of wheat acreage.

Despite the similarities between hemp and linen, there is no industry consensus as to how closely the markets for the two fibers are allied. But since hemp fiber imports were just 0.5 percent of linen imports during the first 9 months of 1999, the near-term market
potential for hemp in the United States for domestic textile production is closer to the low end of the 2,000- to 250,000-acre production-equivalent range. Moreover, the absence of a thriving textile flax (linen) production sector in this country (despite no legal bar- riers) suggests that hemp, flax’s close cousin in fiber uses and in production techniques, will be unable to sustain adequate profit margins for a large production sector to develop.

Thompson et al. (1998) estimate imports of hemp seed into North America at 1,300 tons. Given yields in Germany of about 1,000 pounds per acre, it would take 2,600 acres to satisfy the demand for hemp seed. As with fiber imports, it would take only a few aver- age-sized farms to meet this demand. Hemp seeds can be used directly as a food ingredient or crushed for oil and meal. Hemp seeds and flour are being used in nutrition bars, tortilla chips, pretzels, beer, salad dress- ings, cheese, and ice cream. The market potential for hemp seed as a food ingredient is unknown. However, it probably will remain a small market, like the mar- kets for sesame and poppy seeds. Some consumers may be willing to pay a higher price for hemp-seed- containing products because of the novelty, but other- wise hemp seed will have to compete on taste and functionality with more common food ingredients.

Hemp oil is being used as an ingredient in body-care products, such as lotions, moisturizers, and shampoos, and sold in health food stores as a nutritional supple- ment. The market for hemp oil is limited by a number of factors. First, mechanical crushing produces a lower oil yield than crushing combined with solvent extrac- tion. Nor does hemp oil undergo degumming and bleaching as do many other vegetable oils. Some con- sumers prefer an oil that has been processed without chemicals, but others may dislike hemp oil’s color or taste. Second, the oil is high in unsaturated fatty acids, which can easily oxidize, so it is not used for frying, must be kept in dark-colored bottles, and has a limited shelf life. Third, to be used as a salad oil, it will have to be tested by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and found “generally recognized as safe.” Last, as a drying oil, hemp would have to compete on function- ality and price with current raw materials, such as lin- seed and tung oils, in established industrial markets.

Several States have published reports or authorized agronomic and economic feasibility studies of hemp production. The four reports summarized here have
Industrial Hemp in the United States USDA • 25
focused on different aspects of supply and/or demand. Their estimates of hemp costs and returns reflect these various focuses, as well as different assumed produc- tion practices and costs. However, the widest range of estimates exhibited among the reports is for stalk and seed yields and prices—not surprising given the uncer- tainty about hemp production and current and potential hemp markets. Overall, hemp production was prof- itable only at the higher end of estimated yields and prices. It seems questionable that U.S. producers could remain profitable at the low end of the estimated net
returns, particularly given the thinness of current U.S. hemp markets.

The market for hemp products might easily be over- supplied, as in Canada where the 35,000 acres of hemp produced in 1999 was seemingly more than the market could handle. The Minneapolis Star Tribune quotes the general manager of Kenex Ltd., Canada’s biggest hemp processor, as saying “It’s given us one hell of a glut of grain and fiber. There’s been a major overestimation of the market that’s out there” (von Sternberg).

26 • USDA Industrial Hemp in the United States

Share This

Organization and Social Sites