USDA Expands Efforts to Prevent and Reduce Food Waste

The Department of Agriculture (USDA) Wednesday announced an additional $25 million investment to expand efforts to prevent and reduce food loss and waste. The investment, funded under the American Rescue Plan Act, is part of a joint agency initiative between USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) and USDA’s Office of the Chief Economist. More than one-third of all …

AgNet Weekly: Ag Labor Wages and the AEWR

There’s a call to reevaluate the required minimum pay for ag labor and the Adverse Effect Wage Rate (AEWR) Rule . Michigan’s current minimum wage is $10.10 for workers who don’t get tips, but the minimum wage that farmers can pay their H2A workers is $17.34. The Executive Director of the Michigan Asparagus Association, Jamie Clover Adams, says the true …

Weekly Livestock Market Report Week Ending 09-22-2023

Here are the weekly livestock market reports for Alabama, Florida, and Georgia, for the week ended September 22, 2023, compiled by the Livestock Market News Service for all three states. AL Livestock Market Report: At Alabama Livestock Auctions, for the week ended- September 22, 2023, receipts at 21 markets totaled an estimated 16,394 head compared to 17,869 last week and …

Fall Cattle Market Outlook

by Will Jordan As hints of cooler weather are beginning to appear, the heat of cattle prices remains steady. Looking into the fall, marketing calves and rebuilding the cowherds are on the minds of many producers. To help inform marketing decisions, AgNet visited with Holden Ramey, cattle market analyst from CattleFax, for a Fall cattle market forecast.  Sponsored ContentCIR Agriculture …

Increase in Peanut Production Forecast

USDA has increased their forecast for 2023 U.S. peanut production. Tyron Spearman runs through the updated numbers. 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 Herbicides or Beneficials through SharpShooter™June 16, 2026

New Crop Insurance for Tropical Storms Benefits Producers Impacted by Idalia

(USDA-RMA/WASHINGTON, Sept. 20, 2023) – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) recent expansion of its hurricane crop insurance policy to cover tropical storms this year has already provided farmers with $85.4 million to help them recover from Hurricane Idalia. USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA) rolled out the new Tropical Storm Option for its Hurricane Insurance Protection-Wind Index (HIP-WI) Endorsement earlier this year …

Efforts Being Made to Address Rural Veterinary Shortages

Lawmakers have reintroduced the Rural Veterinary Workforce Act, formerly known as the Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program Enhancement Act. Introduced in both the House and Senate, the legislation would expand its reach. The Program helps increase access to food animal veterinary services in rural areas by assisting with the significant obstacle of educational debt. The legislation would end the federal …

Majority of U.S. Apples Used in Juices

How the U.S. uses most of its apples. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. There are a lot of ways to eat them – pies, cobblers, crisps, with peanut butter, or cheese or made into sauce or cider. However, new data from USDA’s Economic Research Service (ERS) shows a majority of apples are used in juices. In 2021, …

Idalia Agricultural Losses Estimated Up to $370M in Florida

(FDACS/TALLAHASSEE,FL/Sept. 21,2023) — A preliminary report released Thursday by the University of Florida estimated up to $370.9 million in agricultural losses from Hurricane Idalia, which barreled through rural areas of North Florida in late August. And losses could increase as damage to infrastructure and such things as timber are factored in. Christa Court, director of the Economic Impact Analysis Program …

Commissioner Wilton Simpson Announces Cost-Share Assistance for Agricultural Producers Impacted by Hurricane Idalia 

~ Maximum grant for eligible producers raised from $50,000 to $150,000 ~ (FDACS/TALLAHASSEE, FL/Sept. 21,2023) — Today, Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson announced a cost-share assistance program to support agricultural producers severely impacted by Hurricane Idalia. The cost-share assistance program will be administered though the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ (FDACS) Office of Agricultural Water Policy and will support …