gmo

FDA to Address Agricultural Biotechnology Misinformation

Dan Genetically Modified, Industry News Release

Included in a budget deal to avert a government shutdown is funding for the Food and Drug Administration for consumer outreach and education regarding agricultural biotechnology. The Washington Post reports the money is to be used to tout “the environmental, nutritional, food safety, economic, and humanitarian impacts” of biotech crops and their final food products. The bill includes $3 million …

assortment

NMPF Urges Dairy Imitators to Comply with Food Labeling Standards

Dan Dairy, Industry News Release

America’s dairy farmers have a clear message for plant-based food companies that have been meeting in California this week to assess the consistency of the labeling of their products: Dairy imitators must start complying with federal regulations that require foods such as milk, cheese, ice cream and yogurt to be made from real milk. “At a time when consumers want …

ahca

NFU Disappointed by House Vote for AHCA

Dan Industry News Release

Calls on Senate to Reject the Bill The U.S. House of Representatives voted to approve the American Health Care Act (AHCA), a bill that would cause millions of Americans to lose their health insurance, lessen protections for those with preexisting conditions, and adversely affect family farmers and rural Americans. National Farmers Union (NFU) President Roger Johnson issued the following statement …

farm

Farm Banks Report Ag Lending Gains in 2016

Dan Economy, Industry News Release

Farm banks increased their agricultural lending by 5.3 percent in 2016 and held $103.4 billion in ag loans at year’s end, according to the American Bankers Association’s annual Farm Bank Performance Report. Despite overall declines in farm income, farm banks continued to maintain healthy asset quality and capital levels. More than 97 percent of farm banks were profitable in 2016, …

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 …