By Clint Thompson Like other crop specific organizations, the Georgia Cotton Commission (GCC) anxiously awaits the next farm bill. Taylor Sills, GCC executive director, discussed this important piece of legislation that growers are hopeful will get passed sometime this year. The farm bill will be one of the many topics set to be discussed at this year’s mid-year meeting on …
Boats, Bargaining Tables and Beef Marketing: Labor Union Raises Issue for Ag Exports
International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA), which represents workers at ports throughout the East and Gulf Coasts, recently canceled contract talks with terminal operators represented by the United States Maritime Alliance (USMX). The current labor contract between the two groups expires later this year, and negotiations have been called off over what ILA contends are efforts to automate additional port services, and …
A Look at Alabama’s Peanut Crop
During the recent USA Peanut Congress, updates were given on the state of Alabama’s peanut crop. Tyron Spearman reports.
Three Year Lows in Corn and Soybean Futures
We are seeing three year lows in both corn and soybean futures. Mark Oppold looks at how history shows this is normal for this time of the year.
NRCS Accepting RCPP Project Proposals until July 2
The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) wants to remind those interested it will accept project proposals through the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) until Tuesday, July 2. The 2024 RCPP funding priorities are climate-smart agriculture, urban agriculture, conservation, and environmental justice, all designed to help farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners adopt and expand conservation strategies to enhance natural resources while tackling the …
Summer Cookout Prices Up This Year
Your summer cookout could cost you more this year. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. The American Farm Bureau Federation’s 2024 summer cookout survey revealed record high prices. “The largest price increases in the survey were for ground beef, which was up 11 percent, and lemonade, which was up 12 percent. The good news here is that we …
NCBA Calls USDA Proposed Rule “Direct Attack”
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced new action on the Packers and Stockyards Act (P&S Act). It says the Fair and Competitive Livestock and Poultry Markets proposed rule would tackle longstanding challenges around interpretations of unfairness and competitive injury for the livestock, meat, and poultry sectors. However, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) issued a statement against the rule …
New Format: Sunbelt Field Day Open for Two Weeks
By Clint Thompson The Sunbelt Ag Expo Field Day will have a different look this July. Instead of being isolated to one specific day, those interested in learning more about the research at Spence Field in Moultrie, Georgia, can visit any time during a two-week timeframe in July, explains Chip Blalock, Sunbelt Ag Expo executive director. “We’re looking forward to …
Egg Production Report
U.S. egg production totaled 9.1 billion during May 2024, down two percent from May 2023. Production included 7.81 billion table eggs and 1.3 billion hatching eggs, of which 1.2 billion were broiler-type and 99.7 million were egg-type. The average number of layers during May totaled 372 million, down three percent from last year. May egg production per 100 layers was …
Real Meat for American Service Members
The cattle industry may not agree on everything, yet many can agree that America’s military should eat real beef. I recently visited with National Cattlemen’s Beef Association President, Mark Eisle, to hear his position on the government’s proposal to feed lab-grown protein to U.S. troops.