The dynamic between grazing and wetlands interests Peter Frederick, a wetland science and restoration professor at the University of Florida’s Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation. Fifteen years ago, Frederick and his wife bought 282 acres of prairie, freshwater marshes, hammocks and stands of longleaf pine. The property’s beauty and location makes it prime real estate, vulnerable to development as …
U.S. Beef Faces New Challenge in China
It has been just over one year since China reopened to U.S. beef after an absence of nearly 14 years. The U.S. beef industry has made progress in establishing a customer base in China, but is about to face a steep challenge – an additional 25 percent retaliatory tariff, which will raise China’s total import duty rate on U.S. beef …
Alabama NRCS Funding Opportunity Ends Friday
USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Alabama announced a funding opportunity earlier this month where they are seeking support from and opportunities to partner with like-minded natural resource conservation partners. The overall intent is to solicit partnerships to help enhance the implementation of key conservation objectives and priorities. But for those interested, this funding opportunity ends Friday, June 29th. …
USDA Taking Comments on Product of USA Label
The Department of Agriculture is accepting public comment on a policy that allows foreign beef to be labeled as “Product of USA” if inspected in the United States. The comment period opened last week following a petition by the American Grassfed Association and the Organization for Competitive Markets. The petition demands the Food Safety Inspection Service policy be changed to …
China Dropping Tariffs on Feed Grains from Asian Countries
China is dropping tariffs on feed ingredients from five Asian countries as it seeks supplies that do not originate in the United States. The ongoing trade war between the U.S. and China is bringing further tariffs on U.S. soybeans and coproducts imported to China, as retaliation on U.S. tariffs implemented on China. Thus, China is seeking cheaper soybeans, soymeal, soybean …
How to Grow Peach Tree at Home
Peach trees come in all varieties and sizes. Dwarf (8-10 feet tall), Semi-Dwarf (12-20 feet tall) and full-sized trees up to 30-plus feet tall. So even if your space is small, you can still have your peaches. Rather than planting by seed, most people simply go to a nursery and buy a young tree. Ideally, the tree will be one-year-old, …
Trade Promotion Authority to Auto-Renew
Trade Promotion Authority will auto-renew at the end of this month due to no congressional action. Originally authorized by Congress during the Obama administration for the advancement of the Trans-Pacific Partnership, TPA will auto-renew for another three years. The renewal comes due to the inaction by the House and Senate during a three-month window to pass a resolution of disapproval …
Senate Farm Bill Making Progress
The Senate early this week showed large support for the farm bill, or at least debate on the bill. The procedural cloture vote Monday passed easily, 89-3. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell says the chamber has the opportunity to finalize this bill this week. Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Pat Roberts spoke on the Senate floor Tuesday, calling the legislation “the …
Agri View: Pork Exports to Other than China
Everett Griner talks about pork exports to other than China in today’s Agri View. Pork Exports to Other than China You know, one of the most important items to U.S. farmers on that list of China’s embargoed items is pork. It can cost U.S. hog farmers millions of dollars. No one knows how to deal with it, as long as …
EPA Proposes Biofuel Requirements for 2019; On Track to Meet Congressional Deadline
WASHINGTON (June 26, 2018) – Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Scott Pruitt issued a proposed rule under the Renewable Fuel Standards (RFS) program that would set the minimum amount of renewable fuels that must be supplied to the market in calendar year 2019, as well as the biomass based diesel volume standard for calendar year 2020. “I’ve traveled …