Due to the recent partial government shutdown, USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) was not able to release the annual Cattle Inventory Report at the end of January. But now one month later, NASS has released the figures which shows the number of all cattle and calves in the United States, as of January 1, 2019, totaled 94.8 million head, up slightly …
Farm Bureau Gears Up to Fight for Florida Ag
The Florida legislative session begins next week, and Florida Farm Bureau (FFB) is ready for a busy session. Adam Basford, FFB legislative affairs director, is gearing up to fight for Florida agriculture. Every year, FFB has multiple priorities to bring to legislators. For this session, one of the biggest focus points will be on the damage caused by Hurricane Michael, …
Plant City’s Fancy Farms Wins 4R Advocate Award
Fancy Farms, a strawberry farm in Plant City, Florida, is one of the five winners of the Fertilizer Institute’s 4R Advocate Award for 2019. The award is being presented this week during Commodity Classic in Orlando, Florida. Dustin and Carl Grooms of Fancy Farms will be recognized, as well as Jerrod Parker of Chemical Dynamics as Fancy Farms’ fertilizer service …
WTO Officially Acknowledges Chinese Subsidies Violate Rules
The World Trade Organization (WTO) has now officially ruled in favor of the U.S. in a complaint related to Chinese subsidies for agricultural products. The WTO dispute settlement panel found that China exceeded international standards for farming support, causing trade distortion and creating artificial pricing for wheat and rice. The ruling was expected to go in favor of the U.S. …
Peanut Calendar
Tyron Spearman runs through some upcoming events in March that may be of interest to Southeast peanut growers. Sponsored ContentCIR Agriculture Harvester ProductsNovember 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 through SharpShooter™June 16, 2026
NCBA President Urges Producers to Be Involved
New National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) President, Jennifer Houston from Sweetwater, Tennessee, urges cattle producers who are not active in their local, state or national associations to be involved. Houston has been active in the beef industry for more than 30 years, first serving at the state level then being elected to positions in national posts. She has been an NCBA board …
AU Animal Science Students Ready for Spring Tour
Every spring, a few students in the Animal Science Department at Auburn University (AU) take part in a spring break trip designed to increase their overall knowledge of the industry. Head of the AU Animal Science Department, Dr. Wayne Greene, told Southeast AgNet’s Randall Weiseman they will have 44 students on the bus tour this year. Sponsored ContentCIR Agriculture Harvester ProductsNovember 1, 2026FL …
Trump Budget Proposal to Include USDA Cuts
The Trump 2020 budget proposal will include “big cuts” to the Department of Agriculture, according to Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue. The budget request will propose cutting non-defense programs by five percent. However, Politico reports USDA is likely to face steeper budget cuts. Perdue noted that Congress usually disregards the president’s budget request, which in recent years has unsuccessfully called for …
Coalition Asks Congress to Safeguard Crop Insurance
A coalition of more than 50 farm groups is asking lawmakers to safeguard crop insurance. The organizations, including the American Farm Bureau Federation, warned in a letter to top-ranking House and Senate budget leaders this week that “An overreliance on budget savings from the agriculture community and from crop insurance will unquestionably undermine rural economies.” 2018 farm profitability is expected …
Bayer Driving Innovation Forward
The 2019 Commodity Classic is underway at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida. The five associations presenting the annual event are the American Soybean Association, National Corn Growers Association, National Association of Wheat Growers, National Sorghum Producers and the Association of Equipment Manufacturers. Commodity Classic is a farmer-focused event featuring educational sessions, a large trade show and various speakers. But …