(NSF) — Measures are in place to offset potential blue-green algae blooms after the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers started Wednesday to schedule water releases from lower Lake Okeechobee, according to the state Department of Environmental Protection. A news release late Wednesday said the department and the South Florida Water Management District are prepared to use “innovative technology” if needed …
USDA Issues $1.68 Billion in Payments to Producers Enrolled in Conservation Reserve Program
WASHINGTON, Oct. 15, 2020 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is issuing $1.68 billion in payments to agricultural producers and landowners for the 21.9 million acres enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), which provides annual rental payment for land devoted to conservation purposes. “CRP is one of the many ‘tools’ that USDA offers to producers and private landowners to help …
Researchers are Juicing Alfalfa as a Next-Generation Aquafeed
Cows and horses aren’t the only fans of alfalfa. Yellow perch like it, too. That’s what Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientists and their collaborators concluded when they fed the fish pellets made with a protein concentrate from the legume crop’s protein-rich leaves. They’re experimenting with alfalfa as part of a broader effort to find suitable alternatives to using fishmeal, a …
Peanut Harvest Update
More sun and drier conditions across the Southeast have helped harvest progress so far this week. But in a report from Tyron Spearman, the latest USDA numbers show recent weather conditions really hampered any efforts last week, and thus harvest is still behind normal. Sponsored ContentFlorida Cattle Enhancement Board Provides Production ResearchMay 8, 2026Florida Cattle Enhancement Board Provides Opportunities to …
FSA Deputy Administrator: Sign up for Programs, Including WHIP Plus
USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) Deputy Administrator for Field Operations, Peggy Browne has been in the Southeast this week making stops to talk with producers. Southeast Agnet’s Randall Weiseman caught up with her via phone during a stop in Florida, and she talked about signing up for various programs including the Wildfire and Hurricane Indemnity Program-Plus (WHIP+). USDA reminds producers that …
UGA Closes Tifton Dairy Research Center
From the Georgia Milk Producers According to the Georgia Farm Bureau, after several years of battling low milk prices, changes in administrators and recent state budget cuts from COVID-19, the vacuum pumps at the University of Georgia (UGA) Tifton Dairy Research Center were permanently turned off on Sept. 4, Georgia Milk Producers reported in its September Georgia Milk Review. Since …
NCBA Commends USDA for Increased Research on Brucellosis
The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association’s (NCBA’s) Chief Veterinarian, Dr. Kathy Simmons, issued a statement this week in response to the U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA-APHIS) announcing draft policy to allow animal health researchers to conduct brucellosis studies on cattle and other large animals that cannot be easily housed indoors. “This announcement is welcome news …
China Purchases More U.S. Corn as Fears of Shortages Increase
Private exporters report more large sales of U.S. corn to China. The Department of Agriculture reported on Wednesday two large export sales, one of 420,000 metric tons and another totaling 264,000 metric tons for the new 2020-21 crop year. China needs to continue increased corn purchases to reach the lofty targets included in the Phase One agreement with the United …
Steps to Transplanting Your Plants for Survival
A beginners guide to transplanting your plants. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. After you start your seeds and sprout your seedlings, the next step is transplanting your plants into your garden. There are a few ways to prepare to do this so your plants survive and thrive. Timing is everything. First, make sure to check the first …
USDA Updates RCPP Announcement to Clarify Forestry Eligibility
Proposal deadline for the Regional Conservation Partnership Program extended to November 30 WASHINGTON, October 14, 2020 – USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) today re-posted a revised Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) funding announcement, inviting potential conservation partners to submit project proposals for federal funding. NRCS will award up to $360 million to locally driven, public-private partnerships that improve the …