Consul General Ricardo Zuniga displays U.S. beef ready for Brazilian customers representing more than a decade of work.

Secretary Perdue Announces Arrival of First Shipment of U.S. Beef to Brazil

Dan Beef, Industry News Release

Secretary Sonny Perdue announced that the first shipment of fresh U.S. beef has arrived in Brazil following a 13-year hiatus.  The entrance of American beef into the Brazilian market ushers in promising long-term economic opportunity for U.S. beef producers. “With Brazil’s large market reopened to the United States, U.S. beef exports are poised for new growth. I look forward to …

soil health partnership

Soil Health Partnership Urges Farmers to Take USDA Survey

Dan Environment, Industry News Release, Soil

Whether you are a longtime advocate of cover crops—or have never even considered using them—the Soil Health Partnership is encouraging all farmers to participate in the USDA’s 2017 Cover Crop Survey. In its fifth year, the survey helps the USDA’s Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program understand why farmers choose to use cover crops, or the reasons that they don’t. …

Urban High Tunnel Initiative

Signup Deadline for Alabama Urban High Tunnel Initiative is May 20

Dan Alabama, USDA-NRCS

USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Alabama wants to remind producers the application deadline for the Urban High Tunnel Initiative is just two weeks away, as the deadline was extended to May 20th. The initiative between NRCS Alabama and the Federation of Southern Cooperatives focuses on addressing conservation in Alabama’s urban areas. Eligible individuals in the metropolitan Birmingham and …

2017 P.I.E. Program Tour Dates Set

Dan Cotton, Industry News Release

The National Cotton Council (NCC) has scheduled tour dates and locations for the 2017 Producer Information Exchange (P.I.E.) Program. The P.I.E. program’s goal is helping U.S. cotton producers maximize production efficiency and improve yields and fiber quality by: 1) gaining new perspectives in such fundamental practices as land preparation, planting, fertilization, pest control, irrigation and harvesting; and 2) observing diverse …

avian influenza order

ADAI Accepting Applications for USDA Organic Cost Share Programs

Dan Alabama, Industry News Release, Organic

Growers and handlers of organic agricultural products now can recover part of the cost of their USDA certification. The Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries (ADAI) will be allocated funds from the USDA to reimburse producers and handlers who either obtain or renew their organic certification in the fiscal year that ends September 30, 2017. The reimbursement covers 75% of …

watching

Budget on Track For Monday Approval

Dan Florida, Industry News Release, Legislative

by Brandon Larrabee The News Service of Florida Lawmakers closed in on an elusive budget deal Wednesday, even as Gov. Rick Scott ramped up criticism of the spending plan as he toured the state. House Speaker Richard Corcoran, R-Land O’ Lakes, and Senate President Joe Negron, R-Stuart, announced Wednesday morning that the two chambers have agreed in principle on how …

ethanol

Response to Environment and Climate Change Canada’s paper on Clean Fuel Standard

Dan Energy, Environment, Industry News Release

Growth Energy and the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) joined the U.S. Grains Council (USGC) in submitting comments in response to Environment and Climate Change Canada’s (ECCC) Discussion Paper on a Federal Clean Fuel Standard (CFS). Representatives of the three organizations just completed a visit to Canada to discuss that country’s newest environmental initiative with regulators and industry and share details …

UF Faculty Help Keep Palm Trees Part of Florida’s Fabric

Dan Florida, Industry News Release, Nursery Crops

by Brad Buck University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences When you come to Florida, you anticipate seeing palm trees. They’re part of the Florida landscape – whether they’re native or imported. They also bring in hundreds of millions of dollars a year in sales alone, so Monica Elliott has worked for more than 30 years to make …

NMPF, USDEC Organize Dairy Fly-In on Capitol Hill to Build Support for Trade with Canada, Mexico

Dan Dairy, Industry News Release, Trade

U.S. dairy leaders from across the country visited Washington, D.C., this week to urge Congress and Trump Administration officials to hold Canada accountable for its trade violations and hasten the repeal of Canada’s controversial new dairy pricing system. During a fly-in rally organized Tuesday and Wednesday by the National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) and the U.S. Dairy Export Council (USDEC), …

prices

NM Attorney Launches Probe of U.S. Beef Processors

Dan Beef, Industry News Release

New Mexico’s Attorney General is launching a probe into the business practices of some of the nation’s largest beef processors. He contends the state’s ranchers and cattle farmers are being “harmed by out-of-state corporations.” The Attorney General, Hector Balderas, says he’s concerned about the “unfair and anti-competitive practices” of companies like Cargill, JBS, Tyson Foods, and the National Beef Packing …