UF/IFAS Researchers Hope Better Technology Produces Less Costly Ethanol

University of Florida scientists wondered how cheaply fuel ethanol can be made from inedible plant material – called biomass – using currently available technology. Their goal is to make this form of ethanol less expensively than gasoline and help reduce greenhouse-gas emissions. Currently, fuel ethanol is made from corn, which is edible. Corn also uses a lot of fertilizer and …

Georgia Produce Safety Alliance Website

If you are you a farmer in Georgia that grows fresh produce and makes over $25,000 per year in produce sales, then you may have to comply with the new Federal Produce Safety Rule. And the Georgia Department of Agriculture has a website that provides information to help growers be in compliance with the new rule. Brandon Sauceda, with the …

Celebrating National Walnut Day

Continuing the National Holiday of foods, Cathy Isom has us recognizing a nutty holiday. That’s coming up on this Land of Ours. Celebrating National Walnut Day Every year on May 17th, America recognizes the tree nut that is not only tasty to eat on its own, but is great in baked goods and candies. Today is National Walnut Day. Rounded, …

Senate Farm Bill Markup Expected Soon

As the House of Representatives debates its version of the farm bill this week, the Senate is expected to hold a markup session on its version soon. Senate Agriculture Chairman Pat Roberts recently told the Hagstrom Report that the Senate should be ready to announce a markup date next week. Senator Amy Klobuchar, a Democrat from Minnesota who sits on …

Cargill Still Concerned About Likelihood of Trade War

Cargill remains concerned that the U.S. and China trade discussions will escalate into a trade war. In Comments sent to U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer, Cargill officials say the tariffs proposal by the U.S. targeting China will “not effectively advance the goal of addressing distortive trade practices,” according to Reuters. Cargill sent a five-page letter to Lighthizer as the USTR …

Controlled Environment Ag Growing

Controlled environment agriculture is growing rapidly, according to a new report from CoBank. Controlled environment agriculture, a technology-based approach toward food production to use optimal growing conditions, often indoors, occurs in all 50 states, but the vast majority of the large facilities growing tomatoes, cucumbers and peppers are in the Northeast, West and Southwest. CoBank says technological advancements and consumer …

Equipment Groups Release Policy Survey Results

In April, the Equipment Dealers Association and the Association of Equipment Manufacturers surveyed their members about the impact of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act and steel and aluminum tariffs on their businesses. Dealers and manufacturers were in consensus that the two most beneficial provisions of the tax legislation were the lower corporate tax rate and the favorable expensing provisions …

Nationwide Reveals Most Common Agribusiness Insurance Claims

Motor vehicle accidents top the list of insurance claims in farming in agribusiness. A statement from Nationwide Insurance says that accidents, workers compensation and misapplication of chemicals or drift issues, have accounted for more than 50,000 claims over the last three years. However, over the past three years, motor vehicle accidents have accounted for more than 20,000 total commercial agribusiness …

Agri View: Farmers Concerns and TPP Losses

Everett Griner talks about how U.S. loses will play out without TPP in today’s Agri View. Everett tells us about some of the concerns farmers in the United States are having. Farmers Concerns and TPP Losses Most consumers in this country have little knowledge of TPP, and, what dropping the United States out of that trade group will do to …