The peanut industry is working on collecting data from all of their farmers so they can sell more peanuts. Peanut growers are now able to access the Sustainable U. S. Peanut Initiative. It’s a platform and program available on your computer. The program, run by the American Peanut Council, will use this data, voluntarily supplied by peanut growers, who want …
USDA Researcher’s Role in Cacao
There are many roles in agriculture. Hear how one researcher found her path to working on saving chocolate. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. USDA researcher Doctor Alina Puig is working on the early detection of diseases in cacao, from which chocolate is made. She explains how she got into such a unique agricultural role. “I started working …
March Ag Economy Barometer Dips Lower
The Purdue University CME Ag Economy Barometer dipped to a reading of 113 in March. That is the weakest farmer sentiment reading since May, 2020. The March reading went 12 points lower than a month earlier, and 36 percent lower than March, 2021. Compared to a year earlier, producers appraisal of current conditions was down 44 percent, while their expectrations …
ARS-Developed Varroa-Resistant Honey Bees Better Winter Survivors
(USDA-ARS/Baton Rouge, LA, April 7, 2022) — Pol-line honey bees, a type of Varroa mite resistant honey bee developed by the Agricultural Research Service, are more than twice as likely to survive through the winter than standard honey bees, according to a study published in Scientific Reports. Although ARS developed Pol-line bees in 2014, this study was the first time that …
NCBA Endorses Bipartisan A-PLUS Act
(NCBA/WASHINGTON, April 7, 2022) — The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) supports the Amplifying Processing of Livestock in the United States (A-PLUS) Act, introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by Rep. Vicky Hartzler (R-MO) and Rep. Jimmy Panetta (D-CA). If enacted, the bill would clarify regulations under the Packers and Stockyards Act to allow livestock market owners to maintain an …
GPC Approves Research Funding for 2022-23
By Clint Thompson The Georgia Peanut Commission’s (GPC) recent approval of $795,205 for research funding signals its emphasis for the state’s growers to remain sustainable now and into the future. Donald Chase, GPC Research Committee chairman, talks about the importance of the funding. It includes 36 project proposals submitted from the University of Georgia, Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College, Fort Valley …
Peanut Industry Leaders: Tips for Producers Ahead of Planting Season
By Clint Thompson Soon it will be planting season for peanut growers in the Southeast. Industry leaders are ready to provide last-minute tips for farmers preparing to plant their crop. Ken Barton, executive director of the Florida Peanut Producers Association, reminds producers about the importance of not planting their crop too early. “One of the things I would recommend to …
U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol Deadline Extended: GCC Encourages Growers to Enroll
By Clint Thompson The Georgia Cotton Commission (GCC) reminds producers that the deadline to enroll in the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol has been extended. Taylor Sills, executive director of the Georgia Cotton Commission, discusses the importance of his state’s growers participating in the program. “The U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol deadline for your 2021 crop has been pushed back to April …
Rising Chocolate Demand Means More Plant Health Research
As demand for chocolate rises, so does the need for agricultural research. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. When was the last time you had a bite of chocolate? USDA researcher Doctor Alina Puig says people around the world are wanting it more, and that means a higher demand for cacao beans. As much as 40 percent of …
Southern Peanut Growers Conference Registration Underway
By Clint Thompson Registration is underway for the 23rd annual Southern Peanut Growers Conference scheduled for July 21-23 at the Edgewater Beach Resort in Panama City Beach, Florida. The three-day event provides farmers from Georgia, Florida, Alabama and Mississippi a chance to obtain timely information about peanut production, legislative issues, marketing and promotions. Don Koehler, executive director of the Georgia …
