New USDA Grants to Benefit Meat and Poultry Inspection Operations

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced $55.2 million in competitive funding will be available through the new Meat and Poultry Inspection Readiness Grant (MPIRG) program. The new program is being funded through the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021. “We are building capacity and increasing economic opportunity for small and midsized meat and poultry processors and producers across the …

Updates Improve Cotton Cultivated Website

Cotton Incorporated’s producer-focused website, Cotton Cultivated, was recently refreshed making the site an even better resource for producers. Since its launch in 2015, Cotton Cultivated has become a tool for the cotton-growing community, allowing quick and easy access to important information. The site provides a portal that integrates videos, downloadable documents, webcasts, and real-time news feeds that have been “cultivated” to reduce …

Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease Virus Update

The Georgia Department of Agriculture’s (GDA) Animal Industry Division has confirmed Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease Virus 2 (RHDV2) in domestic rabbits at a single Cobb County premise. The investigation is ongoing to determine the source of the virus and there are currently no other confirmed or suspect cases in Georgia. RHDV2 is a highly contagious Calicivirus that affects domestic rabbits, as …

Farm Bank Lending Stay Strong in 2020

Despite a global slowdown in 2020 brought on by COVID-19, agricultural lending by U.S. farm banks remained strong at $98.6 billion, just a 1.8 percent drop from the prior year. The American Bankers Association’s annual Farm Bank Performance Report attributes the change to a 6.7 percent decline in agricultural production loans. By contrast, the outstanding loans secured by farmland increased …

Senators Want Reasons for Replacing the Navigable Waters Protection Rule

West Virginia Republican Senator Shelly Moore Capito and several Republican colleagues want to know why the Biden EPA decided to replace the Navigable Waters Protection Rule. Capito, the Ranking Member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, says, “After the administration’s continued commitments to transparency, engagement, and communication with stakeholders and Congress on this issue, the lack of transparency …

Vegetable Plants that Outshine Others in Summer Heat

The vegetable plants that love the summer heat. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. When summer gets cranked up, certain vegetable garden crops naturally outshine others. Sweet potatoes, for example. In summer, they produce abundantly in as little as 90 days. Wait to plant them until the weather is good and hot for best results. Southern Peas, Yard …

Peanut Planting Nearing Completion

Recent rains provided by Tropical Storm Claudette did slow planting progress down a bit. But according to Tyron Spearman, peanut planting is nearing completion in most areas. Sponsored ContentCIR Agriculture Harvester ProductsNovember 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 …

Florida DEP Provides Update to Cattlemen

One of the speakers during last week’s Florida Cattlemen’s Association Convention held at Marco Island was Adam Blalock, deputy secretary of ecosystems restoration for the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). Blalock gave producers an update on BMP’s, and also provided information about funding that was earmarked during the recent Florida Legislative Session for environmental programs. Southeast AgNet’s Randall Weiseman talked …

Pate Speaks at Alabama Agribusiness Council Meeting

Folks in the agriculture industry across Alabama have been in Orange Beach this week attending the Alabama Agribusiness Council (AAC) Annual Meeting. One of the guest speakers was Alabama Commissioner of Agriculture Rick Pate. In an interview with Southeast AgNet’s Randall Weiseman, Pate noted he was pleased with how the Alabama Legislature funded the Alabama Department of Agriculture & Industries for the …