The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) announced Thursday they were submitting the Department’s Legislative Budget Request (LBR) for Fiscal Year 2021-2022. The request focuses on key priorities for the Department, while taking into account the looming $5.5 billion revenue shortfall projection caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. “Our budget priorities of supporting Florida farmers, protecting consumers, improving water quality and …
Commissioner Fried to Florida Farmers: Apply for Second Round of USDA Support Immediately
Tallahassee, Fla. — Following this morning’s announcement from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) on additional funding to support agricultural producers facing market disruptions and costs due to COVID-19, Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried is urging all eligible Florida farmers to apply as soon as applications open on Monday, September 21 with the enrollment period running through December 11, 2020. Up to an additional $14 billion has been designated for additional support through the Coronavirus Food Assistance …
USDA to Provide Additional Direct Assistance to Farmers, Ranchers Impacted by the Coronavirus
(Washington, D.C., September 18, 2020) – President Donald J. Trump and U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue announced today up to an additional $14 billion for agricultural producers who continue to face market disruptions and associated costs because of COVID-19. Signup for the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP 2) will begin Sept. 21 and run through December 11, 2020. “America’s …
Getting it Covered: UGA Researchers Study Cover Crops
By Emily Cabrera for CAES News University of Georgia researchers are working on natural solutions to weed problems in row crops as government regulations of chemical herbicides grow stricter. Earlier in June, the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals pulled registrations for the use of all dicamba products for row-crop production. The herbicide, which has been around since the late …
$16 Billion in USDA Aid Now Available; Commissioner Fried Urges Farmers to Apply
Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Tallahassee, Fla. – Applications opened on Tuesday for $16 billion in U.S. Department of Agriculture financial support through the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP) to help American farmers impacted by COVID-19. Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried is urging all eligible Florida farmers and ranchers to apply immediately through their county Farm Service Agency (FSA) office. …
Alabama General Fund Budget Increases Funding for Agriculture
Agriculture and forestry would benefit from increased funding under a General Fund (GF) budget approved last week by the Alabama Legislature. According to the Alabama Farmers Federation, the package, funded at almost $2.4 billion, awaits action by Gov. Kay Ivey, who could sign or veto the bill, or add executive amendments. The Legislature is set to reconvene next Monday, May …
Florida Forestry Keeps the Toilet Paper Rolling
(UF/IFAS) — Forest products contribute to a large and valuable industry for the state of Florida – altogether comprising the state’s largest agricultural commodity. This includes primary and secondary product industries that range from lumber to, you guessed it, toilet paper. With stores struggling to maintain supply in toilet paper aisles and many Floridians now under stay-at-home orders, shoppers can …
USDA Offers New Insurance Pilot Program for Nursery Crops in 2021
WASHINGTON, D.C., Feb. 20, 2020 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Risk Management Agency (RMA) today announced a new crop insurance pilot program, Nursery Value Select (NVS), for crop year 2021. NVS is another crop insurance option for nursery crop producers, including those growing hemp, in addition to the Nursery crop insurance program. NVS is available in select counties …
Agriculture Issues Discussed in Georgia Legislature
Week one of the 2020 session for the Georgia General Assembly took place this week. Various issues of interest to agriculture are on this year’s agenda. Georgia Agribusiness Council (GAC) President Will Bentley talked with Southeast AgNet’s Randall Weiseman about some of those issues, which include the budget, Georgia’s Right to Farm legislation and hemp. To keep track of activities …
Federal Officials Begin to Crack Down on CBD Products
A number of new dietary supplements and food products containing cannabidiol (CBD) have hit the market this year, however federal authorities are looking to crack down on the companies marketing CBD products. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently issued a series of letters to companies marketing products that contain CBD, warning them of violating the Federal Food, Drug, …