(FDACS) — Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried and the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) is advising farmers to utilize new flexibilities for crop insurance announced by the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Risk Management Agency (RMA). “Our team has been in constant communication with agriculture producers, industry leaders, and the USDA throughout the coronavirus outbreak — we have relayed concerns and challenges facing the …
Secretary Perdue Statement on Coronavirus Rescue Package
(USDA)– U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue issued the following statement after President Donald J. Trump signed the CARES Act: “The passage of the Coronavirus response legislation will provide much needed relief to Americans across this country, especially workers and small-business owners who have been impacted by COVID-19. President Trump has made the safety and security of the American people …
State Department Clears the Way for Agriculture Workforce
(AFBF) — The U.S. State Department revised its restrictions on the processing of visa applications submitted by farm workers in Mexico after hearing concerns that the restrictions would lead to a farm worker shortage in the U.S. Consular officers can now waive the visa interview requirement for eligible first-time and returning H-2A and H-2B applicants, making more workers in the H-2 …
Lower Cotton Price Putting Pressure on Acreage for Peanuts
The hope of higher prices for cotton disappeared due to the coronavirus, thus the lack of cotton competition as a rotation crop means no competition for land for peanut acreage. And according to a story from Tyron Spearman, this also means no aggressive contracting of 2020 crop peanuts. Sponsored ContentVerdant Robotics Offers Growers Targeted Application of Herbicides or Beneficials through …
UF Plant and Soil Diagnostic Labs Essential to Florida Agriculture, Economy During COVID-19
(UF/IFAS) — In the time of COVID-19, plants still get sick, and the soil that nourishes them needs care. The health of plants and soil is critical to agriculture, an industry designated an essential service in response to the pandemic. That’s why today, when many American universities have transitioned to online-only and their employees adapt to working from home, scientists …
Georgia NRCS Conservation Easements Sign Up Ends March 31
The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Georgia reminds landowners that in order to be considered for the fiscal year 2020 funding pool for the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP), applications must be submitted by March 31, 2020. The ACEP, created through the 2014 Farm Bill and reauthorized in the 2018 Farm Bill, is a program that has two components, known …
Florida NRCS Extends Agricultural Land Easement Signup
The deadline for applications to fund Agricultural Land Easements in Florida has been extended to May 6. USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Florida provides financial assistance to conservation partners to purchase an Agricultural Land Easement (ALE) that protects the agricultural use of cropland, rangeland, grassland, pastureland and nonindustrial private forestland. Although applications are accepted on a continuous basis, funding selections are typically …
USDA March Meat Outlook
USDA’s March Meat Outlook notes more meat is expected to be produced than what was estimated last month. According to a story from Rod Bain, that could impact prices received by producers. Sponsored ContentVerdant Robotics Offers Growers Targeted Application of Herbicides or Beneficials through SharpShooter™June 16, 2026Florida Cattle Enhancement Board Provides Resources To Researchers For Applied ResearchJune 12, 2026Florida Cattle …
Secretary Perdue Applauds State Department’s H-2 Decision
(USDA) – U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue issued the following statement in response to the Department of State and the Department of Homeland Security’s decision to authorize temporary waivers for in-person interviews for eligible H-2 visa applicants. “Temporarily waiving in-person interviews for H-2 visa applicants streamlines the application process and helps provide steady labor for the agriculture sector during this …
More Than 3.4 Million Acres Selected for General CRP Signup
(USDA/FSA) — Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue announced the acceptance of more than 3.4 million acres in the general Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) signup recently completed, the first general signup enrollments since 2016. Through CRP, farmers and ranchers receive an annual rental payment for establishing long-term, resource-conserving plant species, such as approved grasses or trees, to control soil erosion, improve water …