Demand U.S. Government Reinstate USDA Website

Oct 01, 2013

Farms.com Launches Petition

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s website is down amid the federal government shutdown. The department has a notice on its main page saying “Due to the lapse in federal government funding, this website is not available.” It seems strange that the USDA site is down, because the majority of other government websites appear to be available.

While all non-essential services are closed, the USDA site provides some essential information, including market data and more. Several people have taken to Twitter to express their frustration, including a number of students who say that they are unable to do their homework because the site is down. Here are a few examples of Tweets:

Click here to sign the petition. Include your name and state in the thread. At the end of each day, Farms.com will compile all the names in a PDF. document and forward it to the Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack’s office.

Video: Dr. Emerson Nafziger: Nitrogen Fertilizer Rates for Corn

The Crop Science Podcast Show, Dr. Emerson Nafziger from the University of Illinois breaks down decades of nitrogen research. From the evolution of N rate guidelines to how soil health and hybrid genetics influence nitrogen use efficiency, this conversation unpacks the science behind smarter fertilization. Improving how we set nitrogen fertilizer rates for rainfed corn is a key focus. Discover why the MRTN model matters more than ever, and how shifting mindsets and better data can boost yields and environmental outcomes. Tune in now on all major platforms!

"The nitrogen that comes from soil mineralization is the first nitrogen the plant sees, and its role is underestimated."

Meet the guest:

Dr. Emerson Nafziger is Professor Emeritus of Crop Sciences at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, with degrees in agronomy from Ohio State, Purdue, and Illinois. His research has focused on nitrogen rate strategies and crop productivity. He co-developed the Maximum Return to Nitrogen (MRTN) model, which is widely used across the Midwest. His research spans N response trials, hybrid interactions, crop rotation effects, and yield stability.