USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) has announced they are seeking public comments on its interim final rule for the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP). The program is designed to help farmers have more robust conservation activities. The rule, which is now on the Federal Register, takes effect upon publication and includes changes to the program prescribed by the 2018 Farm …
U.S. poultry exports expected to top $1 billion annually (USDA) – United States Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue released the following statement on China’s decision to lift its ban on poultry imports from the United States: “The United States welcomes China’s decision to finally lift its unwarranted ban on U.S. poultry and poultry products. This …
The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) continues to keep up with various issues in Washington D.C., with one of those being groundwater. Last week, NCBA Chief Environmental Counsel Scott Yager, was able to sit in on a hearing with the U.S. Supreme Court and he explains what was discussed.
(NAFB) — Weather challenges, trade tensions, and long-term financial struggles continue to make life difficult in the U.S. agricultural sector. The Wall Street Journal says those headwinds are forcing an increasing number of farmers and ranchers to take on high-interest loans from lenders outside of the ag sector, just to stay in business. The more traditional farm banks are offering …
(NAFB) — The American Bankers Association teamed up with Farmer Mac for their Fall 2019 Ag Lender Survey. The biggest takeaway from the report is that the agricultural economy and farm income remain under stress, with little if any signs of improvement ahead in 2020. Over 82 percent of lenders in the survey said farm profits were being squeezed this …
Weeds are something we constantly battle in our gardens and farms. Cathy Isom has a few suggestions for the best organic weed methods. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. Weeds tend to be some of nature’s most annoying pests. When weeds encroach on your precious growing space consider organic weed methods. Organic methods are categorized as such because …
Exports are important to peanut growers, and Tyron Spearman looks at the latest numbers and where U.S. peanuts are going.
(NAFB) — Ag Secretary Sonny Perdue is hoping that a third round of trade aid payments to farmers will be unnecessary in 2020 because of a new trade deal with China. The Hagstrom Report says Perdue spoke with reporters shortly after returning from a “successful” trade mission to Mexico. Farmers “would rather have trade than aid,” Perdue says. At the …
(NAFB) — Late last week, the U.S. Justice Department filed a motion requesting a 90-day stay in the Court of International Trade’s ruling that an amended Mexico-U.S. trade agreement wasn’t valid. The Hagstrom Report says an agreement on Mexican sugar imports to the U.S. was amended in 2017. However, the court said that the amended agreement wasn’t valid because the …
The Georgia Department of Agriculture (GDA) has been working hard to get information out to produce growers about the Produce Safety Rule. Farm Safety Education and Outreach Associate, Elizabeth Stalvey, says that included spending time at the Sunbelt Ag Expo in Moultrie last month. Growers with more questions about inspections, on farm readiness reviews and trainings can log on to …
