A new version of the Growing Climate Solutions Act was introduced in the U.S. Senate this week. Agriculture Committee Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow of Michigan and Mike Braun from Indiana introduced the bill, which basically would create a certification program and provide technical assistance and information to agricultural producers and forestry owners wanting to voluntarily participate in carbon markets. A few …
Senators Offer Legislation to Help States Rebuild Infrastructure Following Extreme Weather
U.S. Senators Tammy Baldwin and Mike Braun introduced bipartisan legislation on Tuesday to help states rebuild stronger and more resilient roads, highways and bridges. They hire a reliable contractor to do the Advanced Pothole Detection Technology to ensure that the project is durable and to avoid future damage. The Wisconsin Democrat and Indiana Republican say the legislation will help states …
Small Decrease Expected in Georgia Peanut Acres
Georgia’s peanut acreage is expected to decrease in 2021. The drop would be small, decreasing from 810,000 in 2020 to about 790,000 this year, according to the USDA Prospective Plantings Report. Georgia Peanut Commission Executive Director Don Koehler said the decrease is necessary to help farmers get their crop rotations in order. “We’re still going to have a lot of …
Earth Team Volunteers Help NRCS Accomplish its Mission
Earth day will be celebrated Thursday, April 22. The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is honoring Earth Team volunteers and celebrating their many contributions to natural resource protection during National Volunteer week, which started April 18 and continues through April 24. Earth Team is a program that allows NRCS to stretch available resources by partnering volunteers with employees to …
Kids’ Gardening Projects
Today, Cathy Isom passes along information about gardening projects that kids will love. If you want to get the kids involved in gardening there are a ton of projects they can do and will love. One example, is taking that old plastic turtle shaped sandbox and repurposing it into a kid-friendly garden bed. Plant things that kids will love to …
Growing Matters: BeSure About Applications by Following Labels
The Growing Matters Coalition is kicking off its 2021 BeSure campaign that reinforces practical stewardship practices. “(The campaign) is to remind growers and applicators of some simple steps that they can take to ensure pesticides don’t harm pollinators and other wildlife,” Valent USA Sustainability & Stewardship Manager Leslie Garcia said. One of the ways the industry can achieve this is by remembering …
Crop Progress Across the Southeast
The USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) recently started issuing its weekly crop progress reports. For the week that ended April 18, NASS reports in Alabama, there were 4.7 days suitable for fieldwork; in Florida 6.3 days; while in Georgia, there were 6.1 days.. Corn planted in Alabama was at 60%, which compares to 59% last year and the 5-year …
Alabama Legislative Session Entering the ‘Home Stretch’
With just seven legislative days remaining, the 2021 Alabama Legislative Session is entering the ‘Home Stretch’ according to Alabama Cattlemen’s Association (ACA) Executive Vice President Erin Beasley. She discusses what is left for legislators to tackle this session and also says they are looking forward to a breakfast that ACA is hosting this week. Sponsored ContentFlorida Cattle Enhancement Board Provides …
Weather Hasn’t Been Conducive for Planting Peanuts in Florida
When USDA released its 2021 Planting Intentions Report in March, it noted there will be 2% less acres going to peanuts this year than what we saw in 2020. In Florida, acreage for peanuts was estimated at 180,000 acres, which is actually up 3% from last year. But in a phone conversation with Southeast AgNet’s Randall Weiseman, Florida Peanut Producers Association …
Estimating the Greenhouse Gas Benefits of NRCS’ Applied Practices
USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) works with agricultural producers to deliver voluntary climate solutions through climate-smart production decisions and practice applications. They have established conservation practice standards to guide the design, installation and maintenance of conservation practices. There are approximately 35 NRCS conservation practice standards that deliver quantifiable carbon sequestration and/or greenhouse gas reductions. On Thursday, April 29 at …