Florida NRCS Moves Bronson Field Office to Trenton USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Florida has announced they are moving the Bronson Field Office to Trenton, Florida on May 14. The Trenton office will continue to serve farmers and ranchers in Dixie, Gilchrist and Levy counties. The new address is 1727 East Wade Street, Suite D, Trenton, Fla. 32693, …
U.S.-U.K. Trade Talks This Week
Trade talks got underway virtually this week between the United States and the United Kingdom. The talks come more than 18 months after U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer notified Congress of the intent to begin talks with the United Kingdom. A video conference started the talks. In March, the U.K. published its objectives for trade negotiations with the United States. …
Lawmakers Seek Quick Investigation of Beef Industry
A bipartisan group of U.S. Representatives urges the Department of Agriculture to provide findings of its beef pricing investigation as soon as possible. Following the announcement of the USDA’s Packers and Stockyard Division investigation in August of 2019, Secretary Sonny Perdue extended USDA’s investigation last month to determine the causes of divergence between live beef and box prices during the …
Commissioner Nikki Fried Urges Farmers to Sign Up for USDA Purchasing Programs
Tallahassee, Fla. — Following the USDA’s announcement of $470 million in federal food purchases to occur in June and July, Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried is urging Florida farmers and ranchers to sign up for the Section 32 purchasing program to sell perishable commodities during the COVID-19 pandemic. The USDA is purchasing surplus foods from agricultural producers for distribution to communities nationwide. “As farmers …
Florida NRCS Agricultural Land Easement Signup Ends Wednesday
The deadline for applications to fund Agricultural Land Easements (ALE) in Florida is Wednesday, May 6. USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) will provide financial assistance to conservation partners to purchase an ALE that protects the agricultural use of cropland, rangeland, grassland, pastureland and nonindustrial private forestland. While applications are accepted on a continuous basis, funding selections are typically made …
Commissioner Fried Encourages Farmers to Apply for Economic Injury Disaster Loans
Tallahassee, Fla. — Following today’s announcement by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) that agricultural businesses are now eligible for SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) programs, Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried is encouraging Florida’s farmers and ranchers to apply immediately. The EIDL portal reopened today as a result of funding authorized by Congress through the Paycheck Protection Program and Healthcare Enhancement Act, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. “As Florida’s agricultural producers work hard to …
Peanut Meetings to be Held
While some upcoming peanut meetings have been changed to a virtual format, one big event is still planning to be held as normal in July. Tyron Spearman reports registration is now open for the Southern Peanut Growers Conference, which is scheduled for July 16-18 in Panama City Beach, Florida. Sponsored ContentFlorida Cattle Producers Proactive In Research Efforts Funded by the …
Florida Rancher Using Traceability as Management Tool
A topic that continues to be discussed by many cattle producers is animal traceability. It was the subject of a session held back in February during the Alabama Cattlemen’s Association Convention. One of the speakers was Florida Cattlemen’s Association (FCA) President-elect, Gene Lollis, from Lake Placid, Florida. He explained to Southeast AgNet’s Randall Weiseman how they use traceability on the …
Cotton and Peanut Planting Update
For the most part, planting progress is comparable to the previous five years. USDA meteorologist Brad Rippey has the latest look at cotton planting numbers across the belt. But Rippey says peanut planting progress is slightly behind the average. In Alabama, 20% of the cotton crop has been planted, which compares to 22% last year, and 21% is the 5-year …
AJCA Round-Up Planned for July
While various events have either been postponed or cancelled due to COVID-19, one event is still being planned to take place in July. The 14th Annual Alabama Junior Cattlemen’s Association (AJCA) Round-Up is scheduled for July 16-19 at the Garrett Coliseum in Montgomery. Alabama Cattlemen’s Association (ACA) Director of Field Services, Morgan Pounds, told Southeast AgNet’s Randall Weiseman that registration …