Latest news with #StateDepartmentofAgriculture
New Straits Times
12-08-2025
- Climate
- New Straits Times
Perak padi farmers can apply for aid without official disaster declaration
TAIPING: Perak padi farmers facing threats from drought, floods, or storms, no longer need to wait for an official disaster declaration, before applying for assistance under the Padi Crop Disaster Fund. State Department of Agriculture director Norsiyenti Othman advised farmers to go to the Integrated Agricultural Development Area Integration (IADA) Kerian office, or the nearest Department of Agriculture office, take photographs of the damaged fields and also file a police report, before submitting the documents to IADA or Agriculture Department officers for processing. "This process must be done within three months from the first day of the disaster. "If it exceeds three months, we won't be able to process it. "That is the procedure because we are giving out cash, and I have already instructed my officers to liaise with the IADA director to go on-site and assist," she said at a press conference, after opening the 2025 Larut Matang and Selama Department of Agriculture Agro Carnival 2025, and the pre-launch of the Perak Agricultural Herbal Centre, here, today. She said that, for crops aged 70 days old and below, farmers will receive RM860, while those over 70 days old get RM1,800, which will be paid directly into their accounts. Farmers in the Kerian area experienced drought problems, caused by the declining water level of Bukit Merah dam in Bagan Serai, attributed to prolonged dry weather since May. Meanwhile, she said that the Taiping Herbal Centre now houses about 220 species of herbal plants, brought from the former Simpang Pulai Herbal Garden, making it the only herbal centre of its kind in Perak. "So far, the state government has approved an allocation of about RM740,000 for road upgrading works at the centre. "Development work started in 2020 during the Movement Control Order (MCO), but was delayed due to the pandemic, and now this (Taiping) Herbal Centre is also suitable for students to learn about plants," he said. Also present were state Science, Environment and Green Technology Committee chairman and Aulong assemblyman, Teh Kok Lim, and the Larut, Matang and Selama district officer, Mohd Nasrul Menhat.
The Sun
12-08-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Perak paddy farmers get faster access to disaster aid without official declaration
TAIPING: Perak paddy farmers affected by drought, floods or storms can now seek financial aid without waiting for formal disaster declarations under the Paddy Crop Disaster Fund. State Department of Agriculture director Norsiyenti Othman urged farmers to document crop damage by photographing affected fields and filing police reports. Applicants must submit evidence to either the Integrated Agricultural Development Area (IADA) Kerian office or nearest Agriculture Department branch within three months of the disaster. 'For claims beyond three months, we cannot process them as these are cash payouts requiring strict verification,' Norsiyenti said during the 2025 Larut Matang and Selama Department of Agriculture Agro Carnival launch. Farmers with crops aged 70 days or younger qualify for RM860 compensation, while older crops receive RM1,800 deposited directly into their accounts. The Kerian region currently faces drought conditions due to falling water levels at Bukit Merah dam, exacerbated by dry weather since May. Separately, Norsiyenti revealed the Taiping Herbal Centre now hosts 220 herbal species relocated from Simpang Pulai, becoming Perak's sole dedicated herbal facility. The state government has allocated RM740,000 for road upgrades at the centre, initially delayed by pandemic-related Movement Control Order restrictions. 'This centre now serves as an educational hub for students studying plant varieties,' she added at the event attended by state committee chairman Teh Kok Lim and district officer Mohd Nasrul Menhat. – Bernama
Yahoo
02-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Senior farmers market voucher distributions cancelled
(WBRE/WYOU) — According to the Area Agency on Aging, the first two Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP) voucher distribution events have been cancelled. The announcement comes because the agency has not yet received the vouchers. It was previously revealed that federal funding for the vouchers has been cut. The first two Luzerne/Wyoming County distribution events have been cancelled, including the June 3 event at Misericordia University's MacDowell Hall and the June 5 Kingston Active Adult Center. Woman shot by police while allegedly attacking civilian In Lackawanna County alone, 38,000 farmers market vouchers were requested by the county's agency on aging, the agency in charge of distributing them. Due to the cuts to federal spending, they'll only be getting around 29,000. Under the State Department of Agriculture program, residents over 60 who fall within the program's income requirements are eligible to receive up to five $5 vouchers each to spend at local farmers' markets. For the full list of voucher distribution dates, visit the Luzerne County Area Agency on Aging. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
30-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Cuts in produce vouchers to affect low-income seniors
LACKAWANNA COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU)— Thousands of seniors statewide will soon be feeling the effects of federal budget cuts. This time the cuts take aim at a program that helps low-income seniors get fresh produce. Each summer, the senior farmers market nutrition program helps thousands of low-income seniors across the state. Lackawanna County rating drops one point above junk bond But cuts to the program are limiting the number of vouchers the program can give out. In Lackawanna County alone, 38,000 farmers market vouchers were requested by the county's agency on aging, the agency in charge of distributing them. But because of cuts to federal spending, they'll only be getting around 29,000. 'It really helps in your savings, but you want to help the farmer more-so than anything else,' said Denise Mehl, Scranton. Under the State Department of Agriculture program, residents over 60 who fall within the program's income requirements are eligible to receive up to five $5 vouchers each to spend at local farmers markets. Denise Mehl visits the Scranton farmers market regularly, and while not crucial to her budget, she says the vouchers help a lot. More than anything though, she worries about the farmers, about 1,000 farms participate in the program state-wide. 'If we didn't have them we wouldn't have anything,' voiced Mehl. According to the state department of agriculture, residents in Lackawanna County used these vouchers at a higher rate than any other county last year, over 90% of them were redeemed. 'It hurts people. It hurts the people that we serve here in Lackawanna County, those who need the help the most, and I just think that is really inhumane that they've done this,' expressed Bill Gaughan, county commissioner, Lackawanna County. State officials say the Trump administration has only released part of the funding congress approved, forcing agencies to slash their distribution by more than 25%. We reached out to GOP Congressman Rob Bresnahan for comment on the issue. He responded in-part: 'The recent decision to reduce benefits for the farmers market vouchers for seniors program was made at the state level. While I do not control those decisions, I am actively working at the federal level on a bipartisan bill to expand local food purchasing from our farmers to support those most in need. I look forward to announcing that legislation in the coming weeks.' Rep. Bresnahan Bresnahan says he and his team will be in contact with the Lackawanna County Agency on Aging to help ensure they receive the full funding and support they need for the program. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
17-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
WA losing invasive beetle battle in Tri-Cities. Fight to stop them moves to Columbia River
The Washington state Department of Agriculture is expanding eight-fold the area of private and public land in the Tri-Cities it wants to spray pesticide to fight highly destructive Japanese beetles. What was one square mile treated in Pasco last spring, will expand to eight square miles, including a slice of Columbia Park on the south side of the Columbia River in Kennewick this year. It will be the first time treatment has been done in Kennewick by the state to kill Japanese beetle larvae or grubs in the soil before they emerge as adults. In 2023, five Japanese beetles were found in Pasco, but the next year 408 were found in Pasco and one in a trap across the Columbia River in Kennewick near Hawthorne Elementary School. Statewide Japanese beetles caught in Department of Agriculture traps increased from 19,544 in 2023 to 26,700 last year. Most were in caught in the Lower Yakima Valley, with 24,700 found in Sunnyside, Grandview, Mabton and the far west side of Benton County. The Japanese beetles also have been found in Prosser, since the infestation started with three beetles in Grandview in 2020. Japanese beetles feed on more than 300 plants, and can devastate grape crops, strip roses and other garden plants of their leaves, and damage turf at homes, parks and golf courses. Adult Japanese beetles are up to a half inch long and have a metallic green head and thorax and iridescent copper wing covers. White C-shaped larvae with a tan head and visible legs may be seen during the spring. State Department of Agriculture officials said in November that trapping alone is not enough to eradicate Japanese beetles from the state. So far spring pesticide treatments have been voluntary and property owners must give consent each year to have their properties treated. But only about half of property owners in areas of concern gave permission to have their land treated last year. 'So far the level of community participation has only been enough to slow, but not stop or eradicate Japanese beetles from our state,' said Sven Spichiger, pest program manager for the Department of Agriculture, in a statement. 'If we aren't allowed to treat most of the properties in the infested areas, it is only a matter of time before it is too late to eradicate.' Then homeowners, gardeners and farmers will be left with the responsibility and expense of not only managing the pest, but the burden of following permanent quarantine regulations as well, he said. Parts of the Lower Yakima Valley already are under a Japanese beetle quarantine. Residents are not allowed to remove soil or sod or plants not free from soil, such as fruit trees and potted plants, from the quarantine area year round. The removal of plants and plant cuttings, roots, grass clippings, cut flowers, among other vegetation that could harbor Japanese beetles, is prohibited in the area May 15 to Oct. 15, the season when adult beetles live. Instead, they must be taken by landowners to special disposal areas. In states that have permanent infestations of the beetles, farmers and plant nurseries are subject to expensive and restrictive quarantines to move their products, as well as increased pesticide costs to manage the beetle, according to the Washington state Department of Agriculture. Residents must deal with the pest in their lawns and gardens as well, either increasing pesticide use or manually removing the beetles — some even using vacuums because of the sheer number of beetles, the agency said. Visitors and tourists must also deal with the beetles being a nuisance flying into them. The Department of Agriculture is asking permission from Tri-Cities landowners this year to treat land from North Road 64 east to around North First Avenue in Pasco. The southern edge of treatment for Pasco would be the Columbia River or East Ainsworth Avenue north to West Livingston Road, including part of Columbia Basin College north of Interstate 182. In Kennewick, the area to be treated would be in Columbia Park west of the blue bridge along the river for almost a mile and would also include a small amount of private land south of Highway 240. Treatment is done with the insecticide Acelepryn, which kills Japanese beetles and certain other pests in their grub or larval stage in the soil. It is not considered a health risk for people, pets, wildlife or insects, such as bees, that don't go through a larval state in the soil. About 17,600 property owners in Yakima, Benton and Franklin county treatment areas have been mailed letters with a consent form and a PIN number. If you are in a treatment area and need a form to permit spraying, they are available at the Pasco City Hall, plus additional city halls in the Lower Yakima Valley. To sign up online, go to and scroll down to the 'sign up now' box. I If you need help to sign up or to retrieve your PIN number, call 800-443-6684 or email pest@
