Tri-State Agronomic Scout School

The University of Florida/IFAS along with Auburn University and the University of Georgia will host a Tri-State Agronomic Scout School on June 8 at the Jackson County Agricultural Conference Center in Marianna, Florida. The event will start that morning with registration at 8:00 AM (CST) and ends with lunch. This meeting will focus on insects pertaining to cotton, corn, soybean, …

National Walnut Day

  Cathy Isom tells us about the walnut and celebrating one of the world’s healthiest foods. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours.     Every year on this day, May 17th, is National Walnut Day. Walnuts are a tree nut that originated in the Mediterranean region and Central Asia, and have been part of the human diet for thousands …

Dairy Industry Launches Marketing Campaign

The dairy industry has launched a multi-year marketing campaign promoting more than just milk. The Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy, in partnership with America’s Dairy Farm Families and Importers, has launched “Undeniably Dairy,” showcasing the “undeniable taste and enjoyment” that comes from dairy products. A marketing executive at Dairy Management Inc. said in a statement that the campaign “is about …

Farmers Union Confronts the Farm Crisis

The national farm economy is deteriorating, forcing many family farmers and ranchers to make tough financial decisions that will impact their families, communities, and the entire country. In order to provide farmers with the resources and support needed to endure these tough economic conditions, National Farmers Union (NFU) and Farmers Union state divisions have compiled resources, organized listening sessions, and …

USDA Approves Modifications to Margin Protection Plan of Insurance for Crops

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Risk Management Agency this week announced greater crop insurance options for farmers against unexpected decreases in their operating margin. Offered through the federal crop insurance program, margin protection insurance for corn, wheat, rice and soybeans will be available in more states and have updates designed to better clarify the real input costs covered beginning in …

Japan Wishes for U.S. to Return to TPP

Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said this week he hopes the U.S. will rejoin the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade agreement that is worth billions of dollars for U.S. agriculture. Japan is continuing to push to finalize TPP, following Donald Trump removing the U.S. from the agreement. The 11 remaining members have started discussions on how to proceed. Prime Minister Abe …

Roberts, Stabenow, Pressing USDA on Canada Dairy Policy

Senate Agriculture Committee leaders want the Department of Agriculture to address a dairy pricing issue between the U.S. and Canada. Senators Pat Roberts and Debbie Stabenow are pressing USDA and the U.S. Trade Representative’s office to provide continued engagement with Canada over its dairy pricing policies that are harmful to U.S. dairy producers. In a letter to Agriculture Secretary Sonny …

NFU, Coalition of Rural Organizations Oppose Elimination of Rural Development Mission Area and Under Secretary

Highlighting the important work carried out by U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development, National Farmers Union (NFU) and a diverse coalition of rural organizations are calling on Congress to prevent any attempt to eliminate the Rural Development Mission Area (RD) and the Office of the Under Secretary for Rural Development. The groups outlined their concerns in a letter to members …