Without our pollinators, there would be no food. Cathy Isom continues her series on bees by telling us what we can do to help bring back the bee population. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. Bees are the winged wonders that are really important to us but unfortunately are a dwindling population. Bees occur on every continent except …
Perdue Statement on Meeting with Guatemalan Ministers
Washington, D.C. (USDA) – U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue met with a host of Ministers from Guatemala to discuss implementation of the recently signed agreement between the United States and Guatemala to improve H-2A visa program operations. Following the meeting, Secretary Perdue issued the following statement: “America’s farmers and ranchers need a legal and reliable agricultural workforce, and we …
Yoho Drafts New Ag Labor Bill – Invites Ag Input
Florida Congressman Ted Yoho this week released a draft of guest worker legislation that he is sharing with the farm sector for further comments and input. Yoho has produced a video about his efforts, and just announced a round table meeting with farmers for further input and discussion about his legislative ideas. The round table is scheduled for Wednesday, August …
Department of Transportation Publishes Hours of Service Proposal
The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) today published a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) on changes to hours of service (HOS) rules. The objective is to increase safety on America’s roadways by updating existing regulations for commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers. “This proposed rule seeks to enhance safety by giving America’s commercial drivers more flexibility …
Cotton Board Recommends $86 Million Budget and Elects Chairman
Texas cotton producer Jeff Posey elected Cotton Board chairman and new officers elected During its annual meeting in Durham, North Carolina, the Cotton Board reviewed and voted to recommend Cotton Incorporated’s proposed 2020 budget of $86 million to the Secretary of Agriculture. This is a $4 million increase from the 2019 budget. The 2020 Cotton Incorporated plan and budget remains …
Peanut Crop Update
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Feral Swine Eradication Signup Ends Monday
USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) wants to remind potential project applicants that the call for proposals for the Feral Swine Eradication and Control Pilot Program (FSCP) ends Monday, August 19. The first round of pilot projects are being offered in 10 states, those with the with the highest feral swine populations. This does include Alabama, Florida and Georgia. FSCP is implemented jointly by NRCS …
Cotton Production, Supply, Demand, and Price
When USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) released their August crop reports Monday, it showed cotton production in the U.S. is now forecast at 22.5 million 480-pound bales, up 23 percent from 2018. Planted area this year, at 13.9 million acres, is up 1 percent from the previous estimate but down 1 percent from last year. USDA Chief Economist, Rob Johansson, discusses the …
AEM Releases July Ag Equipment Sales Numbers
(NAFB) — July 2019 saw decreases in U.S. sales of combines and four-wheel-drive tractors as well as total U.S. two-wheel-drive tractor sales compared to July of last year. Monthly data from the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) shows U.S. four-wheel-drive tractor sales decreased 4.7 percent in July, compared to last year. U.S. July combine sales decreased 25.9 percent. And, total …
Trump Delays Tariff Hike Until December
(NAFB) —The Trump administration will delay part of a planned tariff increase on China until December. The U.S. Trade Representative’s office made the announcement Tuesday the administration would not implement the planned tariffs. Instead, the tariffs will be implemented December 15, 2019. USTR Robert Lighthizer says certain products are even being removed from the tariff list based on health, safety, …