Get Tested…Peggy Zone Tested!

Clint Thompson Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Peanuts

By Clint Thompson A potential gypsum shortage this year could impact the peanut farmer’s ability to apply calcium to their crop. University of Georgia Cooperative Extension soils and hydrology specialist Glen Harris encourages producers to sample their soil after the peanut plant emerges. This is done to see if the peanuts need gypsum at all. “We have a test where …

Weekly Livestock Market Report Week Ending 05-15-2020

Clint Thompson Alabama, Cattle, Florida, Georgia

Here are the weekly livestock market reports for Alabama, Florida, and Georgia, for the week ended May 15, 2020, compiled by the Livestock Market News Service for all three states. AL Livestock Market Report: At Alabama Livestock Auctions receipts at 21 markets totaled an estimated 11,100 head compared to 9,678 last week and 9,520 year ago. Compared to one week …

Estimates for the 2020 Peanut Crop

Clint Thompson Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Peanuts

Tyron Spearman looks through more numbers from the peanut crop coming out of this week’s monthly U.S. Department of Agriculture reports. Sponsored ContentFlorida Cattle Enhancement Board Provided Opportunity To Highlight Difficult Farming SubjectMarch 20, 2026Valley Helps Growers Get The Most Out Of Every AcreMarch 19, 2026Florida Cattle Enhancement Board Builds Relationships Between Researchers and Cattle ProducersMarch 13, 2026Florida Cattle Enhancement …

SLE Leaders Announce Cancellation of 2020 Rodeo

Clint Thompson Alabama, Livestock

MONTGOMERY, Ala.— Leaders of the Southeastern Livestock Exposition (SLE) announced the cancellation of the 63rd annual SLE Rodeo and Livestock Week today. The event was to be held March 19-21, 2020 at Garrett Coliseum in Montgomery but was forced to postpone due to the closure of city facilities, including the coliseum, amid growing coronavirus concerns. In monitoring conditions related to …

National Cotton Council Responds to Overcompensation Claim

Clint Thompson Alabama, Cotton, Florida, Georgia

The National Cotton Council (NCC) responded this week to a study out of Kansas State University that claimed U.S. cotton producers were overcompensated for trade damages incurred during the trade dispute between the U.S. and China. NCC Vice President of Economics and Policy Analysis Jody Campiche discusses the Council’s analysis and response to the study. For the NCC’s full analysis, …

Moving the Livestock Marketing Connection Out of the Barn

Clint Thompson Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Livestock

Local livestock sales barns remain an integral part of the auction process, but some buyers and sellers are using other methods to market their livestock. And as Rod Bain reports, in some cases, even make the sale. Sponsored ContentFlorida Cattle Enhancement Board Provided Opportunity To Highlight Difficult Farming SubjectMarch 20, 2026Valley Helps Growers Get The Most Out Of Every AcreMarch …

Bill Introduced to Increase Transparency in Cattle Pricing

Clint Thompson Alabama, Beef, Cattle, Florida, Georgia, Industry

A group of Senators this week introduced a bipartisan bill to increase transparency in cattle pricing. Led by Iowa Republican Senator Chuck Grassley, the legislation seeks to foster efficient markets while increasing competition and transparency among meatpackers who purchase livestock directly from independent producers. The bill will require that a minimum of 50% of a meat packer’s weekly volume of …

USDA SECURE Rule Paves Way for Agricultural Innovation

Clint Thompson General

(Washington, D.C., May 14, 2020) U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue today announced a final rule updating and modernizing the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) biotechnology regulations under the Plant Protection Act. The Sustainable, Ecological, Consistent, Uniform, Responsible, Efficient (SECURE) rule will bring USDA’s plant biotechnology regulations into the 21st century by removing duplicative and antiquated processes in order to …

Southern Peanut Growers Conference Coming in July

Clint Thompson Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Peanuts

The 22nd annual Southern Peanut Growers Conference will be held July 16-18, 2020 at the Edgewater Beach & Golf Resort in Panama City Beach, Florida. According to Tyron Spearman, the three-day event will provide farmers with information about peanut production, legislative issues and more. Sponsored ContentFlorida Cattle Enhancement Board Provided Opportunity To Highlight Difficult Farming SubjectMarch 20, 2026Valley Helps Growers …

Program Pays Ranchers in Southwest Florida to Help Panthers

Clint Thompson Florida

Ranchers in Southwest Florida may be able to get paid for helping the Florida panthers. The USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) will provide technical and financial assistance for conservation practices that improve its habitat through the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP). The signup deadline is June 15. This is a Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) project. To be eligible, a …