Fried ‘Ready’ to Run for Governor

Clint Thompson Florida

NSF – Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried, touting her campaign as “something new” and saying she will fight the “rigged system” in Tallahassee, formally entered the 2022 race for governor on Tuesday. Fried, an attorney and former medical-marijuana lobbyist who scored a narrow victory in 2018 to become the only statewide-elected Democrat, criticized Republicans’ two-decade hold on Florida government in …

Peanut Industry Seeking Solution to Non-Tariff Trade Barriers

Clint Thompson Peanuts, Trade

Concerns continue over the non-tariff trade barriers the U.S. peanut industry is dealing with. According to a story from Tyron Spearman, they are looking for solutions to solve them. 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 …

Alabama Cattlemen Holding Regional Cookouts

Clint Thompson Alabama, Cattle

In an effort to see members across the state, the Alabama Cattlemen’s Association (ACA) will conduct Regional Cookouts over the next few weeks. ACA Executive Vice President Erin Beasley says the first one will be held next week. For more information about the Regional Cookouts, contact the ACA office in Montgomery. Sponsored ContentFlorida Cattle Enhancement Board Provided Opportunity To Highlight …

Hurricane Season Begins

Clint Thompson USDA-NRCS

Federal Program Protects Public Safety Hurricane season officially begins today and the Emergency Watershed Protection Program (EWP) may be able to help if your area suffers damage from a natural disaster. The program can relieve imminent hazards to life and property caused by floods, fires, wind­storms and hurricanes. Aid may include financial and technical assistance to remove debris from streams, …

Successful Beef Month in Georgia

Clint Thompson Beef, Georgia

May Beef Month has wrapped up in Georgia. According to Georgia Beef Board (GBB) Director of Public Relations Taylor Evans, it was a great month-long celebration leading into the summer grilling season. To learn more about Beef Checkoff funded promotions in Georgia, contact the GBB office in Macon or go to its website. Sponsored ContentFlorida Cattle Enhancement Board Provided Opportunity …

Market Diversification Stressed at USMEF Virtual Conference

Clint Thompson Beef, Pork

The importance of market diversification for U.S. red meat exports was a key point of emphasis at the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) Spring Conference, which was held in a virtual format May 26-27. USMEF Chair Pat Binger, who heads international sales for Cargill Protein North America, addressed this topic in his opening remarks. Binger said this foresight is now …

USDA Collecting Data for the Planted Acreage Report

Clint Thompson USDA-NASS

Every year at this time many in agriculture question how many acres of what crops will farmers plant, and this season is no different. USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) is currently going through the huge effort to collect that data. NASS Chief of the Crops Branch, Lance Honig, says the accuracy of the upcoming USDA Acreage Report depends on …

Regional Farm Credit Conditions Improving

Clint Thompson Economy

Further strengthening of the U.S. Ag economy bolstered farm credit conditions in the first quarter of 2021. A Federal Reserve survey of agriculture credit conditions shows farm loan repayment rates continue to improve rapidly. After many years of growing financial stress and weakness in the Ag economy, bankers reported that farm income was higher than a year ago for the …

Planter Considerations for Cotton During Dry Conditions

Clint Thompson Cotton, Georgia

By Clint Thompson The Georgia Cotton Commission cautions producers about planting this year’s cotton crop in extreme hot and dry conditions. That’s why Simer Virk, University of Georgia Assistant Professor and Cooperative Extension Precision Ag Specialist, recommends growers wait as long as possible for rainfall to provide moisture to the soil. “If you can wait, definitely wait. But if you …

USDA Forecasts Record Farm Exports in FY 2021

Clint Thompson Exports/Imports

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) just released its quarterly agricultural trade forecast, and it is projecting fiscal year 2021 U.S. farm exports at $164 billion – the highest total on record. This represents an increase of $28 billion, or 21%, from last fiscal year’s total, and a $7-billion increase from USDA’s previous FY 2021 forecast published in February. The …