Signup for Dairy Producers Ends Friday

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) wants to remind dairy producers who elected to participate in the Livestock Gross Margin for Dairy Cattle Program (LGM-Dairy) have until Friday to participate in the Margin Protection Program for Dairy (MPP-Dairy) for 2018 coverage.  The MPP-Dairy program offers protection to producers when the difference between the national all-milk price and the national average feed cost falls below the dollar amount selected by the producer for …

Brew Your Own Beer? Grow Your Own Hops

Are you into brewing your own beer, or maybe thinking about brewing? Cathy Isom tells you a few things about how to grow your own hops. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. If you love beer, then you might consider growing the crop that is needed for flavoring your favorite beverage. If not for yourself, then sell them …

Commissioner Nikki Fried Announces New Water Policy Director

Commissioner Nicole “Nikki” Fried announced her appointment of Christopher Pettit as Director of Agricultural Water Policy for the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. Speaking outside the South Florida Water Management District, Fried highlighted Pettit’s background in water resources management in Florida and beyond. A livestream of the press conference may be viewed here. “Addressing our state’s water issues was one of my …

New Executive Director for Alabama Peanut Producers

It was recently announced that Jacob Davis has been named the new executive director of the Alabama Peanut Producers Association based in Dothan. Tyron Spearman has the story. Sponsored ContentCIR Agriculture Harvester ProductsJuly 1, 2026FL Cattle Enhancement Board Wraps up Funding YearJune 30, 2026Florida Cattle Enhancement Board Awarded Researcher Discusses New World Screwworm OverviewJune 19, 2026Verdant Robotics Offers Growers Targeted Application of …

Charleston Gray Watermelon Sequenced

Summertime is quickly approaching, and Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientists and their university colleagues are reporting on genomics research on a traditional summer treat, watermelon. In a long-term study, researchers explored the genetics of “Charleston Gray,” a watermelon variety that was introduced to the public in 1954 by ARS. Watermelon has a long history in the United States and a …

Signup by Friday for CSP

The signup deadline for Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) applications to be considered for 2019 funding is Friday, May 10. USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is planning to invest up to $700 million for both new enrollments and contract extensions in fiscal year 2019. The 2018 Farm Bill did make several changes to CSP including high ranking applications are now based on …

Benefits of Irrigation from an IPM Perspective

Water management is one of the most critical issues in modern agriculture. Water resources have been critical to farmers since the advent of agriculture. Proper and timely irrigation is one of the first requirements of a sustainable integrated pest management (IPM) system. Mismanaged water in a vegetable garden or farm can lead to sick plants that makes them more vulnerable …

Weather Hampering Planting Progress on Major Crops

Weather conditions have played a big part in hampering progress on major crops across the nation. Stephanie Ho has more on this story. Sponsored ContentCIR Agriculture Harvester ProductsJuly 1, 2026FL Cattle Enhancement Board Wraps up Funding YearJune 30, 2026Florida Cattle Enhancement Board Awarded Researcher Discusses New World Screwworm OverviewJune 19, 2026Verdant Robotics Offers Growers Targeted Application of Herbicides or Beneficials …

Road to the World Livestock Auctioneer Championship

Tulare Sales Yard in Tulare, California will host the 56th annual World Livestock Auctioneer Championship (WLAC) June 7-8. The free event will take place in conjunction with the Livestock Marketing Association (LMA) Annual Convention. The WLAC competition will feature 31 contestants, and Rod Bain has a story explaining what those contestants have to go through to reach and compete in the annual event. Sponsored ContentCIR Agriculture Harvester …

U.S. Beef Exports to Egypt Face Potential Obstacle

Egypt is the second-largest market for U.S. beef variety meat behind Mexico. But effective May 1st, the government of Egypt started recognizing only one approved halal certifier. Joe Schuele with the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) has more details. Sponsored ContentCIR Agriculture Harvester ProductsJuly 1, 2026FL Cattle Enhancement Board Wraps up Funding YearJune 30, 2026Florida Cattle Enhancement Board Awarded Researcher …