Good Crowd Attends Georgia Forage Conference

Day two of the annual Georgia Cattlemen’s Association Convention and Trade Show is taking place today at the Georgia National Fairgrounds in Perry. Yesterday’s events included the annual Forage Conference, which has been a good kick-off for the GCA Convention the past few years. And University of Georgia Professor and State Forage Specialist, Dennis Hancock, is pleased with this year’s …

Tips for Planting a Butterfly Garden

We all need to remember, butterflies are pollinators. What better way to attract butterflies than to plant a garden. Cathy Isom has some tips for planting a beautiful butterfly garden. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. Tips for Planting a Butterfly Garden Butterflies can be a great attraction to any garden. Not only will they bring you great …

World Food Prices Rise 1.1 Percent in March

The United Nations food agency says world food prices rose during March, driven by increases in grains and dairy costs. The Food and Agriculture Organization’s food price index measures monthly changes for a basket of cereals, oilseeds, dairy products, meat, and sugar. The March index was 1.1 percent higher than the February number. When compared to a year ago at …

USDA and SBA Join Forces to Help Rural American Businesses

Ag Secretary Sonny Perdue and Small Business Administration chief Linda McMahon signed a Memorandum of Understanding on strengthening small businesses and the agricultural economies in rural America. They signed the MOU during a stop on Perdue’s “Back to Our Roots” tour in Ohio. The collaboration is designed to do several things, including enhancing investment opportunities in rural America. The organizations …

Growth Energy Responds To EPA Waivers

Growth Energy sent a letter to Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt condemning the decision to give a small refinery waiver to one of the largest refiners in the U.S. They are also demanding a moratorium on waivers being issued by the EPA. Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor says they want the EPA to immediately stop issuing waivers and end …

White House Trade Chief Says U.S./China to Hold Trade Talks

A Bloomberg report says that American and Chinese officials have both indicated a willingness to find a negotiated solution to their trade differences. Top government officials are expected to hold talks before American tariffs on Chinese imports will take effect. White House Trade Adviser Peter Navarro tells CNBC that Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer will lead …

Perdue Says Trade War May Affect the New Farm Bill

Ag Secretary Sonny Perdue says a potential trade dispute with China could have negative consequences on the new Farm Bill Congress is currently working on. Politico says Congress may need to factor in possible trade disruptions while working on the new legislation. China announced that dozens of U.S. farm products, including soybeans and beef, could potentially face a 25 percent …

Putnam Backs Trump on Revamping NAFTA

Florida Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam sent a letter Thursday to U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer that backed President Donald Trump’s push for a “more equitable North American Free Trade Agreement” with Canada and Mexico. “As you are aware, producers of perishable and seasonal agricultural products in Florida and other regions have been decimated by unfair trading practices resulting in a …

Putnam Urges NAFTA Changes to Better Protect Florida Agriculture

Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam sent a letter to Ambassador Robert Lighthizer underscoring the importance of ensuring that Florida agriculture is better protected from unfair and illegal trade practices as NAFTA negotiations continue. “Current remedies available to address unfair trade practices are simply insufficient to protect Florida’s specialty crop producers. It is critical that the NAFTA negotiations result …