USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Alabama has announced applications are being accepted for two different programs. One involves several new and expanded opportunities for climate-smart agriculture in 2022. Updates include nationwide availability of the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) Conservation Incentive Contracts option and a Climate Smart Agriculture and Forestry Initiative. These improvements to NRCS’ working lands conservation …
Alabama Cattlemen’s Association Seeking YCLP Class Participants
The Alabama Cattlemen’s Association (ACA) continues to cultivate future industry leaders through its Young Cattlemen’s Leadership Program (YCLP), which is funded in part by the Alabama State Beef Checkoff. Applications for YCLP Class 9 are being accepted now through March 15. ACA Director of Field Services, Morgan Desselle, says they recruit a class of 25 every year. More information can …
Citrus Recovery Act Seeks to Update Florida Citrus Commission
It is set to be a busy legislative session for agricultural interests in Florida. One of the bills making its way through the process is SB 1002, the Citrus Recovery Act. Sen. Danny Burgess (R-District 20) introduced the bill to amend the Florida Citrus Commission (FCC). The FCC is the governing body of the Florida Department of Citrus. The Citrus Recovery Act …
High Fertilizer Prices Could Lead to Increased Peanut Acres in Georgia
By Clint Thompson High fertilizer prices could factor in Georgia’s peanut acreage topping its 2021 total of 748,000 acres. Industry leaders would like to see acreage decrease this season, because crop rotations are essential to peanut production. But that’s not likely to happen as cotton and corn growers may opt for more peanut acreage to avoid paying for high input …
Wireworms: A Destructive, Slimy Critter with a Very Bad Reputation
A slimy critter with a very bad reputation in the garden. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. Wireworms, are destructive pests for farmers and gardeners, especially those growing corn. Wireworms are the larvae of the click beetle. Wireworms are found everywhere throughout North America; they’re most common in fields and grass pastures. They may be tiny, but they cause …
Florida Lawmakers Talk Broadband and Immigration
Lawmakers Look to Boost Broadband in Rural Areas (NSF/TALLAHASSEE/January 24, 2022) — Florida lawmakers are looking to use at least $400 million in federal stimulus money to to help broadband providers expand services to mostly rural, underserved areas. But don’t expect to see the money reduce rates for customers. The Senate Commerce and Tourism Committee on Monday unanimously supported measures …
Florida Commissioner Nikki Fried on Additional TS Elsa Disaster Declarations by the USDA
(Tallahassee, FL/January 24, 2022) — Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried welcomed the news from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) that it has designated Dixie and Gilchrist counties as primary natural disaster areas eligible for Farm Service Agency (FSA) emergency loans to help producers impacted by Tropical Storm Elsa in July 2021 recover. “While we were fortunate that the 2021 hurricane season was relatively quiet for Florida, all three storms that made landfall in the …
ARC-PLC Signup Deadline is March 15
USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) encourages producers to contact their local USDA Service Center to make or change elections and to enroll for 2022 Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) or Price Loss Coverage (PLC) programs. Tyron Spearman reports the enrollment period runs through March 15, 2022. Sponsored ContentFlorida Cattle Enhancement Board Awarded Researcher Discusses New World Screwworm OverviewJune 19, 2026Verdant Robotics Offers Growers Targeted Application …
Big Numbers in USDA’s Cattle Feedlot Report
USDA’s latest report on cattle feedlot activity shows the number of cattle and calves on feed for the slaughter market in the U.S. for feedlots with capacity of 1,000 or more head was at 12.0 million head on January 1, 2022, 1 percent above January 1, 2021. Gary C4rawford reports that overall, there are some big numbers in this report. The new …
USDA-NASS Conducting Third Phase of ARMS
The USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) has started the third and final phase of the 2021 Agricultural Resource Management Survey (ARMS). They are collecting information about farm economics and production practices from more than 30,000 producers nationwide, including nearly 4,100 producers in Alabama, Florida, Georgia and South Carolina. Anthony Prillaman, Director of the NASS Southern Regional Field Office, explained to Southeast AgNet’s …