The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is providing additional guidance to help online buyers and sellers comply with U.S. laws when they import seeds and live plants from other countries. The information, available on the APHIS website, is essential to help protect critical U.S. agriculture infrastructure and natural resources from potential invasive pest and disease …
Parasite Hijacks Iron in Honey Bees
(USDA/ARS) — An Agricultural Research Service (ARS) entomologist has discovered the Nosema ceranae parasite that causes major problems and death in honey bees works by hijacking its host’s iron for itself. Iron is as essential a micronutrient for honey bees as it is for people. Honey bees usually get enough to meet their needs from their flower pollen diet. They use iron …
USDA, FDA Offer Update on Transmission of COVID-19 Through Food or Food Packaging
The following statement about COVID-19 and its impact through food or food packaging can be attributed to Acting USDA Secretary Kevin Shea and Acting FDA Commission Janet Woodcock: After more than a year since the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak was declared a global health emergency, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, and the U.S. …
University of Florida Focusing on AI
Researchers with the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) are working as teams to use artificial intelligence (AI) to attack complex issues. An example of such teamwork is Arnold Schumann, a professor at the Citrus Research and Education Center, working with weed scientist Nathan Boyd at the Gulf Coast Research and Education Center. They use machine …
Reviewing 2020 Peanut Crop Numbers
Looking back at all of the numbers from the 2020 U.S. peanut crop, Tyron Spearman reports there won’t be enough peanuts to go around from last year’s crop. Sponsored ContentFlorida Cattle Enhancement Board Awarded Researcher Discusses New World Screwworm OverviewJune 19, 2026Verdant Robotics Offers Growers Targeted Application of Herbicides or Beneficials through SharpShooter™June 16, 2026Florida Cattle Enhancement Board Provides Resources …
New BQA and MBA Program Updates for 2021
This week, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) announced new updates and initiatives to its Beef Checkoff funded Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) and Masters of Beef Advocacy (MBA) programs for 2021, as well as updates to their educational training modules. NCBA Director of Beef Quality Assurance Programs Chase DeCoite told Southeast AgNet’s Randall Weiseman they will also be launching a …
National FFA Week Starts Saturday
Starting Saturday, more than 760,000 FFA members across the country will share the story of agriculture as part of National FFA Week. Whether it is through service projects or community gatherings, this special week is a time for FFA members to raise awareness about the role the National FFA Organization plays in developing agriculture’s future leaders and the importance of agricultural …
New Form Required for Some NRCS Customers
If you are a producer or landowner who participates in USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) conservation programs, you may receive information in the mail from the Farm Service Agency (FSA) about a form you’ll need to fill out. Starting this year, all producers and landowners participating or applying to participate in certain NRCS conservation programs must complete form CCC-902, Farm Operating Plan. …
Push for More Farmers and Ranchers to be Eligible for PPP Loans
Lawmakers are seeking clarified terms to ensure more farmers and ranchers are eligible for loans through the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). The request was in a letter to the Treasury Department and Small Business Administration. Led by Democratic Representative Ron Kind and Democratic Senator Tammy Baldwin, along with Republican Senator John Thune of South Dakota, the lawmakers say many farmers …
A Number of Ways to Reuse Coffee Grounds Other Than Trash
A number of ways to reuse coffee grounds. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. Coffee grounds can be a fantastic and affordable way to help grow your garden. Recycling coffee grounds by adding them to your garden can help enrich the soil with organic matter and minerals. There are other ways to reuse coffee grounds as well. In …