farm bureau

Tax Reform Crucial for America’s Farmers, Ranchers

Dan Cattle, Industry News Release

Congressional leaders and administration officials have released a statement on tax reform that addresses many issues of importance to America’s farm and ranch families. The following statement about that action may be attributed to Zippy Duvall, President, American Farm Bureau Federation: “America’s farmers and ranchers are encouraged to see that key congressional leaders and the administration understand how important tax …

2017-2018 Florida Heifer Development Program

Deadline for Florida Heifer Development Program is Tuesday

Dan Cattle, Florida, Industry News Release

Cattlemen across the Southeast are being reminded that Tuesday, August 1st is the deadline for the nomination of heifers in the 2017-2018 Florida Heifer Development Program. Last year the program developed 79 head of commercial and purebred heifers for producers from Georgia, Alabama, and Florida. All heifers in the program will be housed at the North Florida Research and Education …

Rooney CITRUS Bill Praised by Industry

Dan Citrus, Florida, Industry News Release

Congressman Tom Rooney (R-FL) introduced the bipartisan CITRUS Act, a bill developed with extensive grower input that will help expedite the delivery of the economic assistance needed in the short-term to save our domestic citrus industry. Joined by Congressman Valadao (R-CA) and Filemon Vela (D-FL), the CITRUS Act authorizes critical citrus greening disease research programs at the U.S. Department of Agriculture …

researchers

KSU Researchers Looking for New Ways to Preserve Bacon

Dan Industry News Release, Pork

Kansas State University researchers are looking into the question of whether or not an antioxidant could increase the sizzle in America’s love affair with bacon. Meat scientists have known for a long time that meat doesn’t taste as good the longer it sits, even if it’s in the refrigerator. KSU Meat Scientist Terry Houser says the fat in the meat …

expands

Drought Expands Across the U.S.

Dan Drought, Industry News Release

The latest Drought Monitor shows soils continuing to dry out and crops suffering as drought and abnormal dryness expands and intensifies across the Plains, Midwest, northern Rockies, and Virginia. Montana saw the most severe level of drought, called exceptional drought, grow by 10 points in a week. 12 percent of the state is in exceptional drought and 24 percent is …

foliar

SCN Resistant Soybeans are Showing Some Problems

Dan Industry News Release, Soybeans

Iowa State University nematologist Greg Tylka says soybeans with Soybean Cyst Nematode resistance are becoming less effective. He calls it an alarming trend that sets the stage for even more yield loss to SCN in the future. Farmers have effectively managed the pest for decades thanks to the built-in resistance. Just about all the SCN-resistant varieties have the same resistance …

group

Exports Slip on NAFTA Uncertainty

Dan Exports/Imports, Industry News Release

A panel of expert witnesses told the House Agriculture Committee this week that speed is a critical factor in renegotiating the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). The uncertainty over how negotiations may play out is causing some importers to look elsewhere for suppliers. Many of the importers that are looking elsewhere for chicken and grain products are located in …

epa

EPA, U.S. Army Move to Rescind 2015 “Waters of the U.S.”

Dan Industry News Release, Water

The Environmental Protection Agency, Department of Army, and Army Corps of Engineers (the agencies) are proposing a rule to rescind the Clean Water Rule and re-codify the regulatory text that existed prior to 2015 defining “waters of the United States” or WOTUS. This action would, when finalized, provide certainty in the interim, pending a second rulemaking in which the agencies …

apiculture

Apiculture Insurance Expanded to More States

Dan Industry News Release

Increased safety net available to beekeepers in 48 states. Crop insurance for beekeeper operations has been expanded to include 19 additional states and now spans the entire 48 contiguous states. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Risk Management Agency (RMA) announced changes to the Apiculture Pilot Insurance (API) plan, ensuring greater protection for the producers’ honey, pollen collection, wax, and …

rma

Funding for Research to Improve Livestock and Aquaculture

Dan Aquaculture, Cattle, Industry News Release, Livestock, Research

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) announced 40 grants totaling more than $15.7 million for agricultural research on the production of beef, dairy, poultry, pork, and fish that people consume every day. The funding is made possible through NIFA’s Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI), authorized by the 2014 Farm Bill. “To ensure …