Econo-pack
There is a huge missing market. Small packaging! Everett Griner tells us how this has been totally missed.
There is a huge missing market. Small packaging! Everett Griner tells us how this has been totally missed.
Georgia Cotton Commission’s Richey Seaton says there may be some changes in cotton acreage from USDA’s planting intentions report released back in March, but not much.
There has been quite a bit of talk regarding mandatory country-of-origin labeling as the agricultural sector has a number of concerns with the mandate. However, a recent survey has found that a large majority of Americans continue to strongly support the practice.
Farmers and ranchers may feel like the fate of the Farm Bill is completely out of their hands, but former House Ag Committee member and current Ag Appropriations Committee member Tom Rooney, says there is a lot our producers can do to communicate the need and importance of the Farm Bill.
Click here for the complete interview with Congressman Rooney.
The Georgia Beef Board is gearing up for June Beef Month as their new Director of Industry Information, Suzanne Black, talks about some of the events they have planned.
The Chairman of the Florida Beef Council, Cliff Coddington of Bradenton, wants cattle producers across Florida to know that their dollars are being spent wisely to promote beef in various ways.
Erin Beasley with the Alabama Cattlemen’s Association has information about how the beef checkoff program in Alabama was instrumental in training a group of retailers yesterday.
Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack recently met with Mexico’s New Secretary of Agriculture to discuss bilateral agricultural trade between the two countries.

Dairy producers could be ramping up production next year as Gary Crawford has the story.
The cause of the West Fertilizer Company explosion in Texas last month has officially been ruled undetermined.
This year’s cotton planting pace is the slowest on record. However, despite heavy rains in many parts of Alabama, growers were able to make considerable gains last week.
While quite a bit of progress was made this past week, peanut planting is still running behind what’s normal for this time of the year. Tyron Spearman runs through the updated NASS numbers for Alabama, Florida, and Georgia.
Beef!! Is there a cheaper protein? Everett Griner discussed this food cost today.
As planting continues, Tyron Spearman reports many farmers are keeping an eye on what peanut contracts are doing.
Landowners interested in restoring or enhancing wetlands and/or grasslands only have about a week left to take advantage of several easement programs offered by the Natural Resources Conservation Service. Florida Assistant State Conservationist for Easement Programs Roney Gutierrez says the 2013 funding deadline for the Wetlands Reserve Program, the Grassland Reserve Program and the Everglades Initiative is coming up May 28, 2013.
The Southeast Regional Winner of the Monsanto’s Farmer of the Year contest, Virginia grain and cattle farmer Betty Rosson, has been named 2013 America’s Farmers Mom of the Year.
The StrikeForce for Rural Growth and Opportunity in Alabama has officially launched and Alabama Ag Commissioner John McMillan hopes it will help the growing produce industry address some challenges so they can continue their important role in the state’s economy.

Peanut growers kept a close eye on last week’s Senate and House Farm Bill mark-ups, and Don Koehler and Armond Morris with the Georgia Peanut Commission explain how this year’s discussions and outcome was very different than last.
During last week’s markup of the farm bill in the Senate, an amendment to repeal mandatory Country of Origin Labeling was withdrawn, but the discussion is far from over.
Greg Carlton, chief of the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ Bureau of Pest Eradication and Control, tells why abandoned citrus groves present a problem to viable citrus growers, and what is being done about the situation. He tells how growers who destroy trees in abandoned groves can obtain the lowest property tax rates available.
To view the Abandoned Grove Abatement Initiative flyer CLICK HERE.
This citrus news post sponsored by:
USDA’s latest Cattle on Feed report shows there were 10.7 million head on feed as of May 1st, down 3 percent from May 1, 2012.
On this week’s Commissioner’s Spotlight, Florida’s Commissioner of Agriculture Adam Putnam provides some tips from the Florida Forest Service about steps to take to be safe with fire over the upcoming Memorial Day weekend.
More information is available on the Florida Forest Service website by clicking on Fire Prevention.
You can follow Florida Commissioner Adam Putnam on Facebook and Twitter.
The altered food list is growing. Everett Griner tells us what we need to do to get the real thing.
THE CAPITAL, TALLAHASSEE, May 17, 2013………. The fate of the Apalachicola Bay could be hanging in the balance as Florida’s congressional delegation fights for more water from Georgia, and seafood workers try to restore oyster beds.
This week, the U.S. Senate was the scene of the latest skirmish in a tri-state water dispute between Florida, Georgia and Alabama dating back to 1990. The Senate voted 83-14 to pass the 2013 Water Resources Development Act, after deleting Read the rest of this entry »
Here are the Alabama and Georgia cattle market numbers for the week ending May 17th, put together by the Livestock Market News Service in both states.
AL:
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GA:
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Despite Senate Leader Harry Reid announcing his intention to move forward with the Farm Bill, he has also said he will move to immigration reform as soon as the Senate Judiciary Committee finishes mark up on that bill, even if the farm bill isn’t finished. However, Senate Ag Chair Stabenow isn’t worried that floor consideration of the farm bill could be interrupted.
Consumers have yet to see the expected rise in food prices.
Dalton Yancey, the former Chief Executive Officer of the Florida Sugar Cane League, has been named the “Sugar Man of the Year ? 2012.” A highly respected leader in the sugar industry, Mr. Yancey received the coveted Dyer Memorial Award at an affair in New York City.
The National Cotton Council is pleased with the passage of the legislation in both the House and Senate Ag Committee’s and urge Cotton Belt Representatives to support their agriculture committee’s work and oppose damaging amendments when the bills are brought up for debate on their respective floors.
