scientists

Scientists Find Way to Surgically Strike Out Weeds That Impede Crop Growth

Dan Florida, Industry News Release, Research

by Brad Buck University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences By using a combination of fumigants, University of Florida scientists believes they can surgically strike out some weeds that otherwise get in the way of vegetable growth. Researchers with the UF Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences have shown that farmers can place fumigants in specific zones, rather …

ifas

UF/IFAS Budget Affected by Gov. Scott’s Veto Pen

Dan Education, Industry News Release

According to a release from Sydney Stone, legislative assistant for the University of Florida/IFAS Governmental Affairs, while the governor’s veto list included a huge hit to the K-12 and higher education budget, 14 UF/IFAS projects, most of which were existing – not new projects — were saved. (from Sydney Stone) We want to send out a big, huge, thank-you to …

nelson

Scott Wields Veto Pen on New Budget

Dan Industry News Release

Gov. Rick Scott on Friday used his veto pen to slash $410 million in legislative projects across the state, saying they failed to “provide a great return for Florida families.” In signing the bulk of an $80 billion-plus budget for the fiscal year that starts July 1, Scott told reporters the savings from vetoes will help cover a planned increase …

ffa convention

Conference Instills Leadership in FFA Members

Dan Industry News Release

Thousands of FFA members from throughout the country are converging on Washington, D.C., this summer to evaluate their personal skills and interests, develop leadership talent and create service plans that will make a difference in their communities. More than 2,300 students are registered for the 2017 Washington Leadership Conference, the second-largest student experience that the National FFA Organization hosts each …

perdue

Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue to Travel to Canada

Dan Industry News Release, Trade

Secretary Sonny Perdue will make his first international trip as U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, Monday, June 5, to Toronto, Canada. “The bilateral U.S.-Canada relationship is important to the prosperity of both of our countries and I look forward to strengthening this bond with our neighbors to the north moving forward,” said Perdue. Perdue will meet with Canadian Minister of Agriculture …

beef

Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman on U.S. Beef to China

Dan Beef, Export/Import, Industry News Release, Trade

U.S. trade officials are meeting this week with counterparts in China to finalize trade protocols regarding the export of U.S. beef to China. The move follows last month’s announcement that the U.S. and China reached an agreement to restart U.S. beef exports to China, sidelined since 2003. However, as the Financial Times reported last week, China already has access to …

trade agreement

Leaving Paris Climate Accord Could Impact Trade Negotiations

Dan Export/Import, Industry News Release, Trade

The Donald Trump administration is pledging a plan of bilateral trade negotiations with individual countries, but Politico speculates his latest move may hinder negotiations. President Trump removed the U.S. from the Paris climate accord last week, joining just Nicaragua and Syria as the only nations not to sign the pact. Politico says the withdrawal sets up the potential for other …

road

Farm Machinery Giant Acquiring Leading Road Construction Manufacturer

Dan Industry News Release

Deere & Company announced it has signed an agreement to acquire the Wirtgen (Vert-gIN )Group, a privately-held international company that is the leading manufacturer worldwide of road construction equipment. The acquisition is valued at $5.2 billion, or 4.35 billion euros, in an all-cash transaction. Headquartered in Germany, the Wirtgen Group has five premium brands across the entire road construction sector …

salmonella

Backyard Flocks Sickening Hundreds of People

Dan Industry News Release, Poultry

The Centers for Disease Control says more than 370 people have reported Salmonella infections from backyard flocks this year, and more than one-third of them were children under five years old. The CDC is reporting eight separate outbreaks across 47 states in backyard flocks. These outbreaks are expected to continue for the next several months, according to a public warning …

farm bill

House Ag Committee Plans Another Farm Bill Hearing

Dan Farm Bill, Industry News Release, Legislative

The U.S. House Agriculture Committee will hold another farm bill hearing this week. Texas Republican and Committee Chairman Mike Conaway announced the hearing, titled The Next Farm Bill: The Future of International Food Aid and Agricultural Development. The hearing is scheduled for Wednesday morning. Chairman Conaway says the committee has long planned to continue reviewing international food aid programs as …