During that hearing, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack told lawmakers, “We will over the next four years do everything we can to root out whatever systemic racism and barriers that may exist at the Department of Agriculture.” In a recent interview with Southeast AgNet, Vilsack explained what they are looking at. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) wants producers to know …
U.S. Peanut Federation Uniting Industry for Legislative Issues
The U.S. Peanut Federation continues efforts to unify the peanut industry when it comes to legislative issues. Tyron Spearman has the story. Sponsored ContentFlorida Cattle Enhancement Board Provides Critical Funding To Enhance Brahman GeneticsApril 24, 2026Strong Relationship Exists Between the Florida Cattle Enhancement Board and UF-IFASApril 17, 2026Florida Cattle Enhancement Board Provides Funding For Quicker Response to Research QuestionsApril 10, 2026Florida …
Responses Needed to Short Ag Census Survey
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is urging farmers to respond to a short survey that will help them with the Ag Census. Stephanie Ho has the details. Adam Cline, with the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), says the USDA definition of a farm includes operations that may be smaller than you think. If you received a copy of the National Agricultural …
USDA Improves Livestock Crop Insurance Policies with New Options
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced they are updating livestock insurance policies to improve options for producers and to create more opportunities for producers to participate. USDA’s Risk Management Agency’s (RMA) has made updates to the Dairy Revenue Protection (DRP) and Livestock Gross Margin (LGM) policies. These updates will be effective for the 2022 and succeeding crop years. Updates to …
New Peanut Related Podcast and TV Commercial
Thanks to the various state peanut associations across the Southeast, there is a new peanut podcast, TV commercial, and efforts to collect peanut butter for donations. Tyron Spearman has more details. Sponsored ContentFlorida Cattle Enhancement Board Provides Critical Funding To Enhance Brahman GeneticsApril 24, 2026Strong Relationship Exists Between the Florida Cattle Enhancement Board and UF-IFASApril 17, 2026Florida Cattle Enhancement Board …
Financial Assistance Helps Ag Producers in Florida Improve Water Quality
Agricultural producers in select watersheds in Florida can apply for financial assistance from USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) until May 31 to improve water quality in coastal waters. The lower Suwannee watersheds are Long Pond and Long Pond Slough in Levy County and the North Old Town Hammock watershed in Gilchrist and Dixie counties. If landowners show interest, NRCS proposes funding …
Grower Enrollment for U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol is Underway
Due to the ever-greater supply chain scrutiny and a growing demand for transparency, the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol was developed. It sets a new standard for more sustainably grown cotton and brings quantifiable and verifiable goals and measurement to responsibly-grown cotton production and drives continuous improvement in key sustainability metrics. And cotton growers across the Southeast are being reminded enrollment …
Florida Lawmakers to Vote Friday on Budget
Florida lawmakers are scheduled to vote Friday afternoon on a record $101.5 billion budget for the upcoming fiscal year and end the regular legislative session on time. According to the News Service of Florida, House Speaker Chris Sprowls, R-Palm Harbor, announced that the budget went to lawmakers at 12:06 p.m. Tuesday, starting a legally required 72-hour “cooling off” period before …
Vilsack: No Plans to Take Land to Meet Climate Goals
We told you last week that the Biden Administration’s goal to conserve at least 30% of U.S. land and water by 2030, commonly known as “30X30,” was raising a few questions. As a matter of fact, there have been rumors they are planning to take land away from people and discourage consumers from eating beef to help fight climate change. …
America Grows Act Introduced in the Senate
The America Grows Act of 2021 was introduced on Monday in the Senate. It would significantly increase U.S. public investment in agricultural research and development. The bill would increase funding for agricultural research by 5% every year on an inflation-adjusted basis at four USDA agencies over the next decade. Those agencies are the Agricultural Research Service, the Economic Research Service, …