Ian Florida Agriculture Losses Estimated at $1B

(NSF/TALLAHASSEE, FL/February 9, 2023) — Hurricane Ian caused an estimated $1 billion in agricultural-production losses, with the biggest hits to the citrus industry, along with growers of vegetables and melons, according to a new University of Florida report. The report from the UF-Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences also doesn’t include damage to such things as buildings and equipment, which …

New Appointments Named To The Cotton Board

New appointments have been named to serve on The Cotton Board by Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. Eighteen members, eighteen alternate members, and one advisor was named to serve three-year terms that will end December 31, 2025. Newly appointed members:Nick McMichen, Producer – AL; Albert Riley James, Producer – MO; Avinash Bhaskar, Importer; Patricia Lesser, Importer; John R. Rosman, Importer; and Barbara Buhr, …

Peanut Market Update

Nothing is happening with the peanut market right now. According to a story from Tyron Spearman, one broker called it very dull. 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 …

Cow-calf Producers with Larger Paddocks Rotate Cattle Less Frequently

USDA’s Economic Research Service reports that as average paddock size increases, farmers and ranchers tend to rotate their cattle less frequently. Rotational grazing systems rotate animals among a series of paddocks, or fenced pasture areas, allowing forage to recover before returning the cattle to graze in that spot again. A key decision for ranchers that affects forage growth is the …

Grain Trade to Monitor Upcoming Outlook Forum

There are various things the grain trade watches, and according to Mark Oppold, one of those could very well be the upcoming USDA Outlook Forum. 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 …

Senators Urge USDA to Address Avian Flu Immediately

A group of Senators urges the Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) to take swift action to address the ongoing avian influenza outbreak. The lawmakers asked Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack to quickly use funds provided by Congress in the Fiscal Year 2023 Agriculture Appropriations bill. Led by Senator Tammy Baldwin from Wisconsin, the lawmakers said, “it …

New Ways to Track COVID in Animals

The USDA is developing new ways to track COVID in wild and domestic animals. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. Scientists with USDA’s Agricultural Research Service (ARS) are developing new tests to identify and track the COVID virus in wild and domestic animals. Funded by the American Rescue Plan, USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is implementing …

Organizations Trying to Protect the Federal Crop Insurance Program

Various organizations, including those in the peanut industry, are working together to protect the Federal Crop Insurance Program. Tyron Spearman has more details. 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 …

NRCS Advanced Climate-Smart Agriculture, Broadened Reach of Conservation in Past Two Years

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) wants landowners to know that the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) continued its conservation work across the country amid an ongoing pandemic and numerous natural disasters. During that time, they helped agricultural producers and forest landowners, including urban and underserved producers, implement conservation practices on their working lands.  These efforts by NRCS helped conserve natural resources …

Quarterly Earnings Season Continues

The quarterly earnings season continues. Mark Oppold breaks down one agricultural company and how their shares are looking at this time. 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, …