(FDACS/TALLAHASSEE, FL/03-05-25) – Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson announced that the Governor and Cabinet, sitting as the Board of Trustees of the Internal Improvement Trust Fund, have approved the preservation of nearly 6,500 acres of working Florida farms and ranches through the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ Rural and Family Lands Protection Program. Rural lands protection easements prevent …
By Clint Thompson Georgia’s cotton acres are expected to drop to their lowest total in more than 30 years. That’s “alarming,” according to one industry expert. “(The National Cotton Council) is talking about the lowest cotton acres since 1993 in Georgia; 864,000 was their prediction,” said Camp Hand, University of Georgia (UGA) Extension cotton agronomist. “There’s quite a few people …
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has put out their final numbers concerning the value of the 2024 peanut crop. Tyron Spearman runs through the new numbers. Sponsored ContentFlorida Cattle Enhancement Board Supports Beef Education and Promotion ProgramsJanuary 23, 2026Florida Cattle Producers Proactive In Research Efforts Funded by the Florida Cattle Enhancement BoardJanuary 16, 2026Florida Cattle Industry Supports Administration of Florida …
You may have heard the story how the USDA, for the first time, confirmed the presence of H5N1 avian influenza in rats. This is of course raising concerns about the virus’s ability to spread among mammals. Rusty Halvorson has more details. Sponsored ContentFlorida Cattle Enhancement Board Supports Beef Education and Promotion ProgramsJanuary 23, 2026Florida Cattle Producers Proactive In Research Efforts Funded by …
Many traders are keeping an eye on what is happening with corn futures.  Mark Oppold has a look at what is currently affecting that commodity. Sponsored ContentFlorida Cattle Enhancement Board Supports Beef Education and Promotion ProgramsJanuary 23, 2026Florida Cattle Producers Proactive In Research Efforts Funded by the Florida Cattle Enhancement BoardJanuary 16, 2026Florida Cattle Industry Supports Administration of Florida Cattle Enhancement …
The Rural Mainstreet Index (RMI) continued its downward trend in February, marking the 17th decline in the past 18 months. The index, which measures the economic health of rural communities across a ten-state region dependent on agriculture and energy, fell to 38.0, down from 42.3 in January. A reading below 50 indicates economic contraction. Economic uncertainty remains a key concern, …
I’m Mark Oppold with an American Agriculture History Minute. You wouldn’t think Minnesota would be the flour capital of the U.S., but indeed in 1915 it was. Over 20 million dry barrels of milled flour was being produced annually out of Minnesota and three firms in the Minneapolis area. 20 million would be the peak production of the three and …
The 2025 Southeastern Livestock Exposition (SLE) Rodeo in Montgomery is just around the corner. And according to Alabama Cattlemen’s Association (ACA) Executive Vice President Erin Beasley that means the SLE Livestock Judging Contest and Junior Livestock Expo starts this week. The SLE rodeo will be held March 14-16 at the Garrett Coliseum in Montgomery. Sponsored ContentFlorida Cattle Enhancement Board Supports Beef Education and Promotion …
By Clint Thompson March is National Peanut Month, and the Georgia Peanut Commission celebrated on Tuesday with its annual PB&J (peanut butter and jelly) Day at the State Capitol. Joy Crosby, assistant executive director at the Georgia Peanut Commission, talked about the annual event. “The Georgia Peanut Commission kicked off National Peanut Month with a celebration in Atlanta at the …
Last week the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) president testified before the Senate Committee on Agriculture. While she touched on various issues, Rusty Halvorson reports trade issues and ongoing market access with tariff concerns was one of the top ones. Stevermer also discussed California Proposition 12, a state law that prohibits the sale of uncooked whole pork meat from hogs born to sows raised …
