Secretary Perdue Hears from Youth in Ag

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue hosted a roundtable meeting about youth in agriculture at Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU) on Dec. 8 in Tallahassee. Those involved in the discussion included FAMU President Larry Robinson, Florida Congressman Al Lawson, FAMU students, Florida FFA state officers and members of Florida 4-H. Perdue began the meeting by asking the participants what …

Regional Cattle Adaptability

Innovative science and genomic technology is driving progress when it comes to regional adaptation of beef cattle. Jared Decker with the University of Missouri is involved in a comprehensive study, funded by a USDA grant, that seeks to improve regional adaptability of cattle. Adaptability Ultimately, Decker hopes to give producers the genomic tools to match cattle genetics with a specific …

Horn Honored With Cultivator Award For Service To Rural Alabama

Written by Marlee Moore, Alabama Farmers Federation Horace Horn, a champion of rural Alabama, was presented the Alabama Farmers Federation’s Cultivator Award for fostering relationships to benefit rural families at the organization’s annual meeting in Montgomery Dec. 4. For 30 years, the Crenshaw County native has been dedicated to rural development — first as an entrepreneur, then as a U.S. …

Pork Checkoff Invests in Consumer Research

Each year, the Pork Checkoff invests in consumer research. National Pork Board CEO Bill Even says the latest study offered unique insight into what happens at the meat case. Consumers Secondly, consumers have been confused with the names used for pork cuts. Cuts There is a rule of thumb for any business—ignore the customer at your own peril. Customers For …

Fox Squirrels – Denizens of the Longleaf Forest

Recently, I was touring a friend’s property in the Florida sandhills through beautiful older longleaf pines, with an open understory that is regularly burned.  As we came around the corner, two fox squirrels bounded towards the nearest large pine.  In a minute, both had found a tree they liked and were gone from sight.  I don’t know about you, but …

Peanut Industry Hosts Reception for Congressional Peanut Caucus Members

Congresswoman Roby and Congressman Bishop co-chair Peanut Caucus The Southern Peanut Farmers Federation, American Peanut Shellers Association and National Peanut Buying Points Association joined together to recognize members of the Congressional Peanut Caucus at a reception Dec. 5, 2017, in Washington, D.C. United States Congresswoman Martha Roby, R-Alabama, and Congressman Sanford Bishop, D-Georgia, serve as co-chairs of the Congressional Peanut …

Challenge Raises More Than 20,000 Pounds of Peanut Butter for the Hungry

Spread the cheer and the protein! Some families will get more healthy food to eat, now that Florida Panhandle residents donated a record of more than 20,000 pounds of peanut butter for this year’s UF/IFAS Extension Peanut Butter Challenge, organizers said. Combine nearly 9,000 pounds in donations to UF/IFAS Extension county offices with 11,340 pounds from the Florida Peanut Producers …

Dairy Producers Have Until Friday to Enroll for 2018 Coverage

USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) wants to remind dairy producers that this Friday is the deadline to enroll for 2018 coverage in the Margin Protection Program (MPP-Dairy). The voluntary program provides financial assistance to participating dairy producers when the margin, or the difference between the price of milk and feed costs, falls below the coverage level selected by the producer. MPP-Dairy …

Peanut Genomics Project Completed

During last week’s American Peanut Council Meeting, it was announced that the Peanut Genome Initiative was completed. Tyron Spearman has the story. Peanut Genomics Projected Completed Sponsored ContentCIR Agriculture Harvester ProductsJuly 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 …