John Deere is about ready to kick off its series of events throughout much of the eastern part of the U S to promote its new line of tractors and equipment for specialty crops. The first four events are “previews” that will be held in Florida in early December, where growers and customers will have a hands-on chance to “Drive Green” with various models, and discuss some of the special closeout deals and financing opportunities on last year’s models too.
Stay tuned to Southeast AgNet for details as “Drive Green” makes its debut in here in the “Deep Southeast”. There will be valuable prizes for producers attending these events, and some other special promotional tie ins that will offer opportunities for our region’s producers. The Florida events are Dec 3, GreenSouth Equipment, Middleburg, FL; Dec 4 Greensouth Equip, Gainesville, FL; Dec 5 Everglades Farm Equipment, Belle Glade, FL; and Dec 6 sponsored by Highland Tractor, to be held at Tampa State Fairgrounds…To hear lots more about these events, and about what Deere is doing to better serve specialty crop producers CLICK HERE.
The renewal of the Agricultural Air Quality Task Force will mean various experts in the fields of agriculture and air quality will be working together to look further into quality issues which have entered discussions across the U.S.
The U.S. Meat Export Federation will hold their annual Strategic Planning Conference this week as USMEF President and CEO Philip Seng talks about some of the issues they will be discussing.
To learn more about this week’s USMEF Strategic Planning Conference click Here
A series of meetings were recently held to get the industries take on how the new Farm Bill policies should be administered. Brett Offutt, director of the policy and litigation division for the USDA’s packers and stockyard program explains why these meetings were so necessary.
The 31st Annual Sunbelt Ag Expo kicks off today in Moultrie, Georgia as there will be exhibits and events that most anyone will enjoy during the 3-day event.
Sunbelt’s Executive Director Chip Blalock invites everyone to attend.
At the recent Northwest Florida Bioenergy Conference and Expo Rick Higden of AgriSource fuels talked about their biodiesel plant in Dade City that uses poultry by-product as a feed source.
Many producers have waited a long time for higher prices for their products, and while that time has finally arrived, they are being offset by rising input costs.
Russia has banned imports from 19 U.S. poultry suppliers as of Monday and could add another 29 companies. Russian officials say the ban was issued because those companies use antibiotics and other chemicals in their products. However, American officials say the ban is in retaliation to U.S. officials criticizing Russia for the use of military force against Georgia. Among the companies targeted in the ban were Tyson, Peco and the Equity Group.
The Environmental Protection Agency announced Thursday that it would deny a request by Texas Governor Rick Perry to reduce the Renewable Fuels Standard.
EPA Administrator Stephen Johnson says they carefully considered the more than 15,000 comments on the issue and found that “the RFS is not causing economic harm but is strengthening our nation’s energy security and supporting American farming communities.”
But there are many in the livestock industry disappointed with the EPA’s decision.
With implementation of mandatory Country of Origin Labeling just over six weeks away, USDA is working to assist retailers and food industry organizations in implementing mandatory Country of Origin labeling with outreach and information.
Suppliers and retailers are invited to a free webinar outlining COOL requirements from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 8. Pre-registration is required by Aug. 7 to participate. Click here to pre-register and receive audio dial-in instructions. Computer log-in instructions will be sent separately to all pre-registered attendees before the seminar.
USDA has issued the interim final rule for Country of Origin Labeling and are seeking comments. Listen to report here: To learn more about the new COOL rule, click Here
Due to many problems with meat recalls, new rules have been established and will start in a few weeks to help consumers better understand what needs to be done and where.
Many in animal agriculture may not realize it but there is a group out there watching your back everyday when it comes to threats from activists. Report (1:15 mp3) To learn more log on to www.consumerfreedom.com
We are now less than 3 months from the implementation of Country of Origin Labeling, and while many are worried about being ready for the September 30th start date, Ag Secretary Ed Schafer says there will be a six-month grace period once it starts. Report (1:00 mp3)
Georgia, Florida and North Carolina are joining together for their annual meetings this year. The schedule includes an update from the American Egg Board and a Mid Atlantic Layer Management workshop. Georgia is hosting the meeting which will be held June 25-27 at the King and Prince Golf and Beach resort on St. Simon’s Island. Registration information is available from the Georgia Egg Association.
It is with great sadness and tremendously heavy hearts we report of the passing of Lee V. McCoy, known to many of his legions of friends and colleagues as the “RealMcCoy”. Lee lost his battle with cancer early morning Thursday May 22 in a Georgia hospital, admitted the Monday before in a bout with pneumonia.
Please find details regarding Lee’s memorial services at the end of this news post.
For nearly a decade until making a move into a new career opportunity last year, Lee was a regional representative of this radio network. He travelled the region and nation, and occassionally overseas, newsgathering and representing the network from his home location Read the rest of this entry »
Next month’s Alabama Chicken and Egg Festival features two new “eggciting” new contests this year.
The “Guitar Hero” contest and egg and spoon race join the egg toss, chicken wing and hard-boiled egg eating contests, Colonial Sanders look-a-like, “Catch-a-Falling-Egg” competition, chicken clucking contest and karaoke for big chickens.
The Alabama Chicken and Egg Festival is set for April 12 & 13 at the Lions Club Fairgrounds in Moulton.
Alabama Commissioner of Agriculture Ron Sparks recently returned from the Eastern European Country of Ukraine. Commissioner Sparks led the first American trade mission to participate in a food based trade show in Ukraine. The trade mission included three Alabama poultry related companies and the trade show component showcased six Alabama food product companies and four additional Southern based food product companies.
The first four events are “previews” that will be held in Florida in early December, where growers and customers will have a hands-on chance to “Drive Green” with various models, and discuss some of the special closeout deals and financing opportunities on last year’s models too. 
The renewal of the Agricultural Air Quality Task Force will mean various experts in the fields of agriculture and air quality will be working together to look further into quality issues which have entered discussions across the U.S.
The U.S. Meat Export Federation will hold their annual Strategic Planning Conference this week as USMEF President and CEO Philip Seng talks about some of the issues they will be discussing.
A series of meetings were recently held to get the industries take on how the new Farm Bill policies should be administered. Brett Offutt, director of the policy and litigation division for the USDA’s packers and stockyard program explains why these meetings were so necessary. 
The 31st Annual Sunbelt Ag Expo kicks off today in Moultrie, Georgia as there will be exhibits and events that most anyone will enjoy during the 3-day event.
The Environmental Protection Agency announced Thursday that it would deny a request by Texas Governor Rick Perry to reduce the Renewable Fuels Standard.
With implementation of mandatory Country of Origin Labeling just over six weeks away, USDA is working to assist retailers and food industry organizations in implementing mandatory Country of Origin labeling with outreach and information. 
We are now less than 3 months from the implementation of Country of Origin Labeling, and while many are worried about being ready for the September 30th start date, Ag Secretary Ed Schafer says there will be a six-month grace period once it starts. 
It is with great sadness and tremendously heavy hearts we report of the passing of Lee V. McCoy, known to many of his legions of friends and colleagues as the “RealMcCoy”. Lee lost his battle with cancer early morning Thursday May 22 in a Georgia hospital, admitted the Monday before in a bout with pneumonia. 
USDA’s 
Alabama Commissioner of Agriculture Ron Sparks recently returned from the Eastern European Country of Ukraine. Commissioner Sparks led the first American trade mission to participate in a food based trade show in Ukraine. The trade mission included three Alabama poultry related companies and the trade show component showcased six Alabama food product companies and four additional Southern based food product companies.
