National Cotton Council (NCC) Chairman Ronnie Lee said the NCC “is extremely disappointed that the fiscal year 2017 omnibus appropriations bill does not include the cottonseed policy developed by the U.S. cotton industry in consultation with Congress.” Lee said the cottonseed policy is: 1) broadly supported by the entire U.S. cotton industry, as well as many other farm bill stakeholders; …
Time to Celebrate a Year-Round, Healthy Snack – the Strawberry
by Brad Buck, University of Florida/IFAS May is National Strawberry Month, a time to reflect on the history of this sweet, nutrition-packed fruit that grows well in Florida – and to extol its health benefits. Strawberries originally grew in Europe. In France, people regarded them as the highest-quality aphrodisiac. People believed Alpine strawberries provided various medicinal benefits. While some used the leaves, …
Tight Fuel Ethanol Supplies in Brazil Boost U.S. Exports
U.S. Fuel Ethanol exports are up sharply in the current marketing year, thanks in part to tighter fuel supplies in Brazil, which are resulting in higher U.S. imports. The change can be traced to an increase in the price of sugar in Brazil, which comes from stronger export demand for Brazilian sugar products. As a result of that higher demand, …
Florida Teacher Calls Ag Students “Murderers”
A Florida teacher is on the verge of losing his job after bullying and harassing FFA students that were raising livestock to be sold for slaughter. An Associated Press article says Thomas Allison, Jr., who teaches middle school at the Horizon Academy at Marion Oaks, has been placed on unpaid leave. A Marion County School District letter documenting the case …
Perdue Convinces Trump Not to Terminate NAFTA
The new secretary of agriculture played a big part in convincing President Trump to not pull out of the North American Free Trade Agreement. He had a little help from the secretary of commerce in doing so. Daily Caller Dot Com reports that just days after taking office, Ag Secretary Sonny Perdue persuaded the president to change his mind after …
Farmer Opinions on Trump’s First 100-Days
A new Farm Journal poll offers farmer perspective on Donald Trump’s first 100 days in office. In fact, Farm Journal has tracked farmer opinions on Trump since 2015. Several polls conducted in 2015 and 2016 showed Trump was the clear favorite candidate within the ag sector. The most recent Farm Journal poll wanted to know if farmers were still happy …
Trump Threatens to Terminate ‘KORUS’
In a recent interview, President Donald Trump threatened to terminate a trade agreement with South Korea, which he referred to as a “horrible deal that’s left America destroyed.” A Washington Post article says Trump sharply criticized the U.S. free trade agreement with South Korea, known as “KORUS,” which was most recently ratified in 2011. “It’s a Hillary Clinton disaster, a …
Most Wisconsin Dairy Farmers Find Milk Buyers
It appears most Wisconsin dairy farmers caught up in the trade dispute with Canada have found new buyers for their milk. This good news allows them to stay in business and literally comes days before they may have had to shut their doors for good. The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel says 58 farms had been in danger of closing. The farm sizes …
Environmental Budget Talks Falter
by Brandon Larrabee, News Service of Florida Negotiations between the House and Senate about funding for environmental and water programs imploded Saturday, as talks over a new state budget moved up the ladder ahead of a Tuesday deadline. A visibly irritated Sen. Rob Bradley, R-Fleming Island, announced Saturday that he would ask for all of the issues that once separated …
Georgia Beef Producers to Vote on Continuation of Georgia Beef Commission Check-off
The Georgia Agricultural Commodity Commission for Beef was established at the request of Georgia cattlemen in 2014 by the Georgia Legislature. Georgia beef producers voted to approve a marketing order to establish a $1 per head assessment on all cattle sold in Georgia for beef with a value over $100. It is required that the market order be voted on …