Radio Features

While agroforestry as a method of farm and forest management and production has been around for quite some time, there is still much to learn about this practice, how it works, and how landowners use it. That is where research and extension opportunities, and a new USDA survey, could assist in gaining greater insight into agroforestry. Rod Bain looks at efforts to better understand agroforestry in this edition of “Agriculture USA”.

PARTICIPANTS: Rod Bain. Matt Smith of USDA’s National Agroforestry Center. Joe Parsons of the National Agricultural Statistics Service.

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack says he wants to see a change in the basic type of economic system in rural areas. Gary Crawford has more.


PARTICIPANTS: Gary Crawford. Former President Donald Trump and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack.

This year’s Agricultural Outlook Forum, which is organized by USDA’s Office of the Chief Economist, shines a spotlight on issues that haven't gotten a lot of a lot of attention in the past. Stephanie Ho has the story.

PARTICIPANTS: Stephanie Ho. USDA Chief Economist Seth Meyer. FSA Outreach Director Latrice Hill. FSA Administrator Zach Ducheneaux.

USDA recent announcement of Community Facilities funding for rural projects provides insight into how this program and its investments provide broad in scope benefits. Rod Bain reports.


PARTICIPANTS: Rod Bain. Deputy Secretary Jewel Bronaugh. Rural Development Under Secretary Xochitl Torres Small. Washington State Rural Development Director Helen Price Johnson. New Hampshire and Vermont Rural Development Director Sarah Waring.

Years of work on pig genetics helped to make the recent pig-to-human heart transplant possible. Gary Crawford has more.


PARTICIPANTS: Gary Crawford. Dr. Joan Lunney with USDA's Agricultural Research Service. Dr. Bartley Griffith of the University of Maryland Medical Center.

If you want success in starting your garden transplants from seeds this winter, here are a couple of secrets for success. Gary Crawford has more.


PARTICIPANTS: Gary Crawford. Ward Upham, Kansas State University Extension garden guru. Also fictional 1932 ballroom dancing champion team, Tall and Spindly.

When can producers apply for Conservation Reserve contracts? Gary Crawford has the answer in this report.


PARTICIPANTS: Gary Crawford. Former President Ronald Reagan. Zach Ducheneaux, Administrator of USDA's Farm Service Agency.

What is some of the latest details involving USDA Farm Service Agency disaster programs and information available to producers? Rod Bain reports.


PARTICIPANTS: Rod Bain and Farm Service Agency Administrator Zach Ducheneaux

Specific nations within Southeast Asia hold promise as growing markets for U.S. ag goods. Rod Bain reports.


PARTICIPANTS: Rod Bain and Foreign Agricultural Service Administrator Daniel Whitley.

A recent bomb cyclone is behind possible ag related weather damages, but not where one might think this would occur. Rod Bain reports.


PARTICIPANTS: Rod Bain and USDA meteorologist Brad Rippey.

USDA will take a more in-depth look at agroforestry practices via responses from a first ever National Agroforestry Survey. Rod Bain reports.

PARTICIPANTS: Rod Bain and Joe Parsons of the National Agricultural Statistics Service