Ag Interest Spread Cash in Cabinet Race

From farmers to horse trainers, agricultural interests put up more than $100,000 in April to support three candidates running for Florida agriculture commissioner, with U.S. Sugar Corp. accounting for $30,000, new finance reports show. Republicans Denise Grimsley of Sebring, Matt Caldwell of North Fort Myers and Baxter Troutman of Winter Haven each topped six figures in April fundraising, with Troutman’s …

CGCS Sign-Up for Cotton Producers Changed to May 31

We told you earlier this week that the deadline to sign up for the Cotton Ginning Cost Share (CGCS) program was May 11. But, because of an error in a letter distributed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farm Service Agency stating May 31 was the deadline, the agency has decided to honor that date as the new deadline. So Reece …

Five Questions for Republicans Running for Florida Agriculture Commissioner: Part 5

The three Republican candidates for Florida Agriculture Commissioner presented their views to approximately 200 attendees at a recent Candidate Summit Luncheon near Orlando. Coldwell Banker Commercial Saunders Real Estate organized and hosted the event in conjunction with its  10th annual Lay of the Land Conference, which draws a strong agricultural following. This is the fifth part in a Q&A series of …

Senate Ag Leaders Introduce Bipartisan Farmer Veteran Legislation

Members of the Senate Agriculture Committee are touting legislation that will help veterans in agriculture. Introduced by Committee Chair Pat Roberts and ranking Democrat Debbie Stabenow, the Farmer Veteran Opportunity Act of 2018 makes all new veterans eligible for support from the Department of Agriculture. The Senators say the bill also improves access for farmer veterans across eight existing initiatives …

Conaway Comments on Trump Challenging India Market Practices

House Agriculture Chairman Mike Conaway says the Trump administration is holding India accountable in it’s latest trade move. The administration announced earlier a Word Trade Organization counter notification on India’s market price support for wheat and rice. In applauding the effort, Conaway says India has been “funneling illegal farm subsidies into its agriculture industry for too long.” Conaway, along with …

USDA Projects Smaller Corn, Soybean Crops

The May World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates from the Department of Agriculture projects smaller corn and soybean crops this year. The corn crop is projected at 14.0 billion bushels, down from last year with a lower forecast area and yield. The yield projection of 174.0 bushels per acre is based on a weather-adjusted trend assuming normal planting progress and …

Texas Tech to Launch Veterinary School

Texas Tech University will launch the nation’s first new veterinary school in 40 years. The Amarillo, Texas city council recently approved an amendment to a 2016 agreement between Texas Tech and the Amarillo Economic Development Corporation to fund up to $69 million to ensure the construction of the Texas Tech University School of Veterinary Medicine. Leaders say that along with …

Secretaries Perdue and Zinke Join Forces to Combat 2018 Wildfire Season

Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue and Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke Thursday hosted a fire briefing for Members of Congress at the Department of Agriculture detailing the wildfire forecast for 2018. Following the meeting, the secretaries sent a letter to wildland fire leadership highlighting the importance of inter-departmental collaboration to increase firefighter, public, and community safety as the 2018 wildfire season approaches. …

Agri View: Trade War

Everett Griner talks about the effects of a trade war in today’s Agri View. Everett discusses how all United States industries will be affected by this. Trade War Now suppose China does strike back by placing embargoes on U.S. goods. Here is what that means. Let’s take pork. China has already listed pork imports as one of the products. The …