China Buys another Large Shipment of U.S. Corn

(NAFB) — China bought a large shipment of U.S. corn on Tuesday. Private exporters reported the sale of 1.15 million tons of corn for delivery by the end of August. The corn is equivalent to more than 45 million bushels and was worth 251 million dollars based on Chicago futures prices. It was the largest sale of U.S. corn to …

USDA Offers CSP Participants Renewal Options for Contracts Set to Close

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced it is accepting Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) renewal applications through March 31 for contracts set to end this year. Participants with existing CSP contracts that close on December 31, 2021, can benefit from recent program changes by renewing their contracts for an additional five years if they agree to adopt additional conservation …

New Florida Farmer Pleased with NRCS Program

USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Florida wants to remind landowners applications for the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) for the fiscal year 2021 will be accepted through March 26. Samantha Longster with S&S Micro Farm LLC located in Bartow, Florida is a new and beginning farmer who with her husband, started farming blueberries last year. They just entered into CSP to plant cover crops …

Spanish Lemon Growers Optimistic About Tariff Suspension

The Agricultural Association of Young Farmers (ASAJA) Murcia expressed “enormous optimism” for the suspension of tariffs agreed to by the United States and the European Union (EU). Tariffs on Spanish lemons exported to the United States that were set at 25% have been temporarily lifted for four months. Similarly, the EU has suspended tariffs on U.S. grapefruit imports. “It is certainly good …

Alfredo Goes From “Fast Pasta” to “Fast Peanut”

From “Fast Pasta” to “Fast Peanut.” Anthony Alfredo will have a new nickname thanks to the Georgia Peanut Commission. The NASCAR driver will be sponsored by the Georgia Peanut Commission during Sunday’s 500-mile race at the Atlanta Motor Speedway. The new partnership will make Alfredo, known as “Fast Pasta,” to become “Fast Peanut” for the one-race partnership. “We are very …

‘Right to Farm’ Expansion Gets House Support

(NSF) — A priority of Senate President Wilton Simpson to give farmers more protection from “nuisance” lawsuits started to move forward Wednesday in the House. Over the objections of environmentalists who contend the proposal is intended to protect the sugar industry around Lake Okeechobee, the House Civil Justice & Property Rights Subcommittee voted 14-4 to support a measure (HB 1601) …

NIFA Invests Millions in Critical Research and Extension to Address Urgent Needs in Agriculture

Two southern universities were recipients of funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). It recently awarded more than $8.5 million in funding for 29 research and Extension grants that will advance solutions to critically important problems in U.S. agriculture. These grants, which are part of NIFA’s Agriculture and Food Research Initiative, include some …

Alabama Peanut Acreage and Crop Outlook for this Year

At a recent meeting of the Peanut Shellers Associations, peanut specialists were reporting on what they see ahead for the peanut industry this year. Peanut Extension Agronomist, Kris Balkcom from Auburn University in Alabama. Balkcom said he didn’t see the peanut acreage dropping much this year even with the higher cotton prices. He felt the acreage would hold at about …