Agriculture and forestry would benefit from increased funding under a General Fund (GF) budget approved last week by the Alabama Legislature. According to the Alabama Farmers Federation, the package, funded at almost $2.4 billion, awaits action by Gov. Kay Ivey, who could sign or veto the bill, or add executive amendments. The Legislature is set to reconvene next Monday, May …
USDA Reminds Florida Producers to Complete Crop Acreage Reports
(GAINESVILLE, Fl) – USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) offices in Florida are currently open to phone and virtual appointments only but can still work with producers on timely filing crop acreage reports. FSA staff can provide assistance over the phone, by email and through virtual meetings via Microsoft Teams. Acreage reporting dates vary by crop and by county. Contact your …
Soliciting Peanut Butter Product Bids
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced that Tuesday, May 12 is the deadline for the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) to accept bids on a list of peanut butter and peanut products. According to a story from Tyron Spearman, the products need to be packages that are ready for shipment for USDA domestic programs. Sponsored ContentFlorida Cattle Enhancement Board …
Cotton Demand Continues to Drop
By Clint Thompson Demand for cotton has plummeted across the world. It’s reflected in the latest cotton prices update. They show cotton futures prices set at 56 cents per pound. In the latest UGA Cotton Team Newsletter, the supply chain is severely impacted globally by COVID-19, according to Yangxuan Liu, University of Georgia Cooperative Extension economist. She said, “an unexpected …
Florida to Receive $23 Million in Aquaculture and Fisheries Assistance via CARES Act Stimulus
Tallahassee, Fla. – The U.S. Department of Commerce has announced the allocation of $300 million in federal assistance for fisheries provided by the CARES Act stimulus package. These funds will be available for coastal and marine fishery participants negatively affected by COVID–19. Florida will receive $23.6 million of this funding to aid the state’s commercial fishing and aquaculture industries. The Florida Department of …
Weekly Livestock Market Report Week Ending 05-08-2020
Here are the weekly livestock market reports for Alabama, Florida, and Georgia, for the week ended May 8, 2020, compiled by the Livestock Market News Service for all three states. AL Livestock Market Report: Feeder Steers: Medium and Large Frame 1-2 300-400 lbs####133.00-180.50 400-500 lbs####128.00-150.00 500-600 lbs####115.00-140.00 600-700 lbs####105.00-127.00 Feeder Heifers: Medium and Large Frame 1-2 300-400 lbs####116.00-145.00 400-500 lbs####105.00-137.00 …
America’s Meatpacking Facilities Practicing Safe Reopening to Ensure a Stable Food Supply
(Washington, D.C., May 8, 2020) – U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue today applauded the safe reopening of critical infrastructure meatpacking facilities across the United States. These meatpacking facilities have resumed or plan to resume operations this week following President Trump’s Executive Order directing the facilities to implement the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Department of …
Planting Advice From Peanut Specialists
With planting well underway across the Southeast, peanut specialists are providing advice on a variety of factors that growers are experiencing right now. Tyron Spearman has the story. Sponsored ContentFlorida Cattle Enhancement Board Plays Major Role in Applied Beef Cattle ResearchOctober 17, 2025FCEB Recurring Funding Provides Opportunity for Longer Term Research ProjectsOctober 10, 2025Florida Cattle Enhancement Board Advances Forage ResearchOctober …
Little Projected Rainfall Means More Irrigation Needed
By Clint Thompson Limited rainfall over the next couple of weeks means row crop growers need to be irrigating early and often to get their seed producing. University of Georgia Cooperative Extension irrigation specialist Wes Porter said water requirements for cotton and peanuts is low early in the season. But they do still require water. “If we’re absolutely getting no …
Florida Reopening Forest Campgrounds
Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried and the Florida Forest Service announced today the Phase One re-opening of Florida State Forest campgrounds, campsites, and recreation areas. The Florida Forest Service, a division of the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS), manages more than 1 million acres of state forests and provides forest management assistance on more than 17 million …