Farmer Sentiment Takes a Hit in March

(NAFB) — The Purdue University/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer took a dive in March, dropping 47 points from the previous month to a reading of 121. This was the biggest one-month drop in the history of the index, which dates back to late 2015. Declining agricultural commodity prices and the coronavirus impact on the U.S. economy and ag sector are …

USDA Working on Aid for Livestock, Dairy, Specialty Crops

(NAFB) — Ag Secretary Sonny Perdue is working on developing aid programs for livestock, dairy, and specialty crop producers ahead of any aid to traditional commodity producers in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak. The Hagstrom Report says House Ag Committee Chair Collin Peterson spoke with Perdue, who told the chairman that he’s trying to develop systems to provide aid …

NCBA Commends Secretary Perdue For Swift Action In Expanding Investigation Into Cattle Markets

(NCBA) — NCBA President Marty Smith released the following statement on United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Sonny Perdue’s announcement of expanding the agency’s investigation into cattle markets: “I would like to thank President Donald Trump and Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue for their quick response to NCBA’s request to expand the agency’s investigation into cattle markets. Secretary Perdue’s decision …

Reasons Why Leaves on Your Plants Turn Yellow

Cathy Isom reviews some reasons why the leaves on your plants are turning yellow.  That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. In most cases a plant’s leaves are supposed to be green, with the obvious exceptions, of course. Yellowing leaves can be caused by a number of factors, and typically signal that your plant is in some kind of …

Pandemic Causes Some Stockyards To Suspend Sales

(ALFA) — Several Alabama stockyards suspended cattle auctions this week to protect employees and customers and help control the spread of the COVID-19 virus. Scott Garrett, an owner of Mid State Stockyards, LLP in Letohatchee, said he and several stockyard owners in Alabama talked before suspending sales this week. Because stockyards are classified as essential, he said closures were made by …

Efforts Continue to Produce Peanut Products

The American Peanut Council (APC) fully supports the U.S. peanut industry as it continues to deliver safe, nutritious products to the world during this difficult time. As Tyron Spearman reports, manufacturers are working hard to ensure the health and safety of employees while continuing to maintain production and shipment of healthy and nutritious products.  With more and more Americans facing temporary economic instability, …

Extension Specialist: Soybean Rust Overwinters in two Alabama Counties

By Clint Thompson Soybean farmers need to be wary of soybean rust disease, which overwintered in Baldwin County, Alabama and Mobile County, Alabama, according to Edward Sikora, professor and Extension plant pathologist in the Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology at Auburn University. He stresses that the pathogen’s presence in Alabama doesn’t mean there will be an outbreak of the …

UF/IFAS Offers More Resources for Growers

(UF/IFAS) — UF/IFAS Extension is collaborating with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) to compile a list of farms, distributors, and farmers markets selling Florida-grown food directly to final consumers. The intention is to build a directory of sellers who are moving Florida-grown foods to consumers during the market disruptions caused by COVID-19. The list may include …

NCBA Requests President Trump Expand USDA Market Investigation

(NCBA) — NCBA President Marty Smith sent a letter to President Donald Trump, requesting the government to act quickly to investigate the striking disparity between boxed beef prices and cattle prices in the futures and cash markets during the current COVID-19 crisis and following the packing plant fire in Holcomb, Kan., last August.   In his letter, Smith requests President Trump to …