USDA Releases Final 2020 Cotton Report

Clint Thompson Alabama, Cotton, Florida, Georgia

The United States Department of Agriculture released its 2020 final all cotton production report on Wednesday. Becky Sommer with the National Agricultural Statistics Service in Washington D.C. has the final numbers: The 2020 final all cotton production was estimated at 14.6 million 480-pound bales, 27% lower than the 2019 crop. The United States yield for all cotton is estimated at 847 pounds per …

Factors to Consider During Cotton Planting

Clint Thompson Cotton, Georgia

Georgia cotton producers have begun planting this year’s crop. According to the University of Georgia (UGA) Cotton Team Newsletter, there are various factors to consider when planting your crop. One pertains to varieties that are not included in the on-farm variety trials. “Although the on-farm variety trial does a great job of evaluating varieties across a wide range of environments, …

Virtual Beekeeping Institute Offering Educational Resources for Apiarists

Clint Thompson Georgia

Anyone interested in learning about bees is invited to register for the 29th Young Harris College/University of Georgia Beekeeping Institute. It will be a two-day virtual format on May 13 and 14. Registration is available through today. The cost is $40 and covers two days of presentations from prominent beekeeping educators and scientists for both experienced beekeepers and beginning apiarists. …

GBB Celebrating Beef Month in Georgia

Clint Thompson Beef, Georgia

It’s a special time of the year for the Georgia Beef Board (GBB). May is Beef Month in Georgia, and the GBB is celebrating all things beef, says GBB Director of Public Relations Taylor Evans. For more information about May Beef Month or to contact the GBB office in Macon, call 478-474-1815 or go to their website, georgiabeef.org. Sponsored ContentFlorida Cattle Producers …

Georgia Agriculture Commodity Commissions Seeking Nominations

Clint Thompson Georgia

Multiple Georgia Agriculture Commodity Commissions are seeking nominations for positions of individuals whose terms are set to expire. The deadline for receiving nominations is Thursday, May 30, 2021. To be eligible to serve on a Commodity Commission, a person must be a producer of the commodity of the commission, commit to attend meetings and represent the producers of the commodity. …

ACA Set to Introduce New Class for Young Cattlemen’s Leadership Program

Clint Thompson Alabama, Cattle

The Alabama Cattlemen’s Association (ACA) is set to introduce Class Eight of the Young Cattlemen’s Leadership Program. The ACA kicks off a new class this week. ACA Executive Vice President Erin Beasley said there will be 25 producers in this year’s class, ranging from age 21 to age 40, from across the state. They’ll be committing the next eight months …

Nikki Fried: Agriculture Needs a Seat at the Table When We’re Discussing What to do on Immigration

Clint Thompson Florida

By Clint Thompson According to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, the H-2A program allows U.S. employers who meet specific regulatory requirements to bring foreign nationals to the United States to fill temporary agricultural jobs. The program is also very costly; in some cases, prohibitively so, for farmers trying to earn a profit and remain sustainable. Florida Ag Commissioner Nikki …

GCC Encourages Nominations for Georgia Agriculture Commodity Commission

Clint Thompson Cotton, Georgia

By Clint Thompson The Georgia Cotton Commission (GCC) reminds cotton producers who are interested in serving on the Georgia Agriculture Commodity Commission, the deadline to receive nominations is Thursday, May 30. To serve on a Commodity Commission, a person must be a producer of that commodity, commit to attend meetings and represent the producers of that commodity. Those interested in …

Southeast Cotton, Peanut Planting Near Five-Year Averages

Clint Thompson Alabama, Cotton, Florida, Georgia, Peanuts

Many Southeast farmers dealt with cool, wet weather to start the 2021 planting season. But according to the latest numbers from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (USDA-NASS), both cotton and peanut planting were close to the 5-year averages this past week. USDA meteorologist Brad Rippey says rain in other areas of the cotton belt hampered planting. …

Ag Businesses Report Favorable First Quarter Earnings

Clint Thompson Economy

Earning reports topped headlines on Wall Street this week, and agriculture businesses seem to be doing well. Syngenta reported first-quarter sales of $7.1 billion, up 20% for the same period last year. BASF reported first-quarter sales were up 16% to 19.4 billion euros, or $23.52 billion. AGCO reported sales for the first quarter were approximately $2.4 billion, an increase of …