The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced they are extending the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) General Signup period. The previous deadline was Feb. 12, 2021. Acting Farm Service Agency (FSA) Administrator Steve Peterson told Southeast AgNet’s Randall Weiseman, USDA will continue to accept offers as it takes this opportunity for the incoming Administration to evaluate ways to increase enrollment. The CRP program provides annual rental …
Update on Florida OJ Supply and Demand
In the Feb. 3 Florida Citrus Commission meeting, Marisa Zansler, Florida Department of Citrus director of economic and market research, provided an update on the Florida orange juice (OJ) movement and availability. External trends, such as fruit drop and increased demand during the pandemic, may significantly impact the availability of orange juice throughout the season. Coming into the 2020–21 season, beginning inventory …
Vilsack Looks Ahead at Various Issues
U.S. Agriculture Secretary-designate Tom Vilsack recently listed some of the top issues he’s concerned about, Tyron Spearman has the story. The Senate Agriculture Committee this week did approve Vilsack to return to the helm of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). The overall process is still waiting for confirmation by the full Senate. Sponsored ContentFlorida Cattle Enhancement Board Provides Opportunities to …
USDA Updates to Conservation Easements Strengthens Protection
Thursday, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) released the final rule for its Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP). The program enables agricultural producers and private landowners to protect farmlands, grasslands, and wetlands with conservation easements. The rule updates ACEP as directed by the 2018 Farm Bill and incorporates public comments made on an interim rule. NRCS received more than 570 comments on the ACEP interim rule, which …
Field-Testing Natural Compounds to Fight HLB
Field tests of numerous antibacterial products and plant-derived compounds are underway with the goal of eliminating the HLB-causing bacteria in citrus and reversing plant damage to restore tree health. University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) plant root biologist Lorenzo Rossi discusses a new research project funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Institute of …
NMPF: 2021 Holds Promise
National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) President CEO Jim Mulhern says 2021 holds promise with a big to-do list. In the new Congress, the organization seeks to advance dairy’s needs within COVID-19 relief legislation. Child nutrition programs are up for reauthorization, offering a chance to maintain and expand dairy options in school meals and build upon the strong reaffirmation of dairy’s …
Alabama Sweet Potato Farmer to Be Featured on National TV Show
Sweet potatoes are not a crop we think a lot about across the Southeast. But one farmer in Baldwin County, Alabama thinks about them regularly. His story will receive both statewide and national exposure. On the next episode of “Simply Southern TV”, Joel Sirmon will explain what it takes to grow sweet potatoes. Alabama Farmers Federation’s Kevin Worthington, co-host of …
Busy Week for Georgia Lawmakers
Week four of the 2021 Georgia State Legislative Session was a busy one for lawmakers, including more work on the state budget. Georgia Agribusiness Council (GAC) President Will Bentley says they are still hearing about some positive things in the budget for agriculture. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) noted food and agriculture workers were among the 30 …
What Americans will be Eating by the BILLIONS During the Big Game
What Americans will be eating by the BILLIONS during the big game this weekend. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. If there is one thing that the pandemic didn’t change this year:  America’s love for chicken wings. In restaurants, servings of chicken wings were up 7% in 2020 versus 2019 despite an 11% decline in trips to commercial …
Georgia Bermuda Grown for Super Bowl LV
(GDA) — The grass that will be used as the playing field for Super Bowl LV in Florida was actually grown in Georgia. Turfgrass varieties such as the game’s Bermuda are developed by the University of Georgia and have been used for many events including the World Cup and Super Bowl. “Tifway 419, bred and grown in Georgia, is a benchmark …