Growing and Harvesting Bell Peppers

Growing and harvesting your homegrown bell peppers. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. Bell peppers need warm soil and warm temperatures to thrive. To encourage faster growth in cooler areas, consider laying black plastic over the soil. Just be careful not to let the soil get so hot that beneficial soil bacteria are killed. For improved fruit production, keep …

Insurance, Water Issues on the Table for Legislative Session

(NSF) — Florida senators will be asked to eliminate the state’s no-fault auto insurance option and increase spending to repair the state’s natural springs, the incoming Senate president said Thursday. Senate President-designate Wilton Simpson, R-Trilby, told business leaders that lawmakers meeting for the 2021 legislative session also will need to consider efforts to keep polluted Central Florida waters from flowing …

North American Ag Officials Affirm Role of States and Provinces in Implementation of USMCA

(NASDA) — Members of the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) and their state and provincial counterparts from Mexico and Canada today issued a joint communiqué underscoring the role of states and provinces in successful implementation of the United States-Mexico-Canada (USMCA) Trade Agreement. North American state and provincial agriculture officials gathered virtually this week for the 29th annual Tri-National Agricultural …

Six Members and Seven Alternates Named to the National Peanut Board

(NPB) — Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue recently appointed six members and seven alternates to serve on the National Peanut Board. The appointees will serve three-year terms, from Jan. 1, 2021, to Dec. 31, 2023, with the exceptions of the Missouri appointees and At-Large alternate appointee whose terms will begin immediately and will end Dec. 31, 2022. The members and …

The Beef Checkoff: Beef Demand Is a Well-Primed Pump

(CBB) — There seems to be a rash of articles and news pieces in ag media lately, focused on beef demand and its driving power and importance in everything from cattle prices to grocery store sales. The writers and experts all agree on this:  the process of generating beef demand is like a well-primed pump. It provides the beef industry …

APC Report on Peanut Exports

U.S. peanut exports for January-August 2020 saw a value of $519 million, which is an increase of 18%. Tyron Spearman runs through all the latest numbers from the American Peanut Council (APC). Sponsored ContentFlorida Cattle Enhancement Board Provides Production ResearchMay 8, 2026Florida Cattle Enhancement Board Provides Opportunities to Develop Preliminary Data For Future Grant ProjectsMay 1, 2026Florida Cattle Enhancement Board Provides Critical …

State Cattle Groups Support Cattle Market Transparency Act

More than a dozen state cattle organization voice their support for the Cattle Market Transparency Act. In a letter to Senate Agriculture Committee leadership, 16 state cattle groups say the bill “will aid in cattle market transparency for all producers.” Led by the Nebraska Cattlemen’s Association, the group says, “our respective organizations do not ask for any type of market …

FARM to Host Quick Convo Informational Sessions

The National Farmers Assuring Responsible Management (FARM) Program will host a series of online informational sessions beginning Nov. 4. The “Quick Convos” will feature FARM staff and industry stakeholders discussing program components, expectations, and available resources. “These conversations will be an opportunity for farmers to really engage,” said Emily Yeiser Stepp, vice president for the FARM Program at the National …

NCC Testifies During Hearing on Rail Transportation

The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation held a hearing this week that focused on passenger and freight rail in the United States. During the hearing, committee members examined the current state of the passenger and freight rail network, including impacts of COVID-19 and legislative considerations for surface transportation reauthorization. Rail transportation is vitally important to agriculture in the …

Latest Outlook for Meat Imports and Exports

We hear information from time to time that exports of some agricultural products are doing better this year than expected. Stephanie Ho has a story looking at the latest outlook for not only meat exports but also imports. World Ag Outlook Board Chair Mark Jekanowski notes they are expecting increases in beef imports. Sponsored ContentFlorida Cattle Enhancement Board Provides Production …