Secretary Perdue Issues USDA Statement on Plant Breeding Innovation

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue issued a statement providing clarification on the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) oversight of plants produced through innovative new breeding techniques which include techniques called genome editing. Under its biotechnology regulations, USDA does not regulate or have any plans to regulate plants that could otherwise have been developed through traditional breeding techniques as long …

Issues Delaying Farm Bill Progress

Work up on the new Farm Bill will not take place this month as hoped, and Tyron Spearman reports that is due mainly to differences among the Agriculture Committee members concerning the nutrition assistance program. Issues Delaying Farm Bill Progress Sponsored ContentCIR Agriculture Harvester ProductsJuly 1, 2026FL Cattle Enhancement Board Wraps up Funding YearJune 30, 2026Florida Cattle Enhancement Board Awarded …

Protecting Ag from Trade Retaliation

Many in the agricultural sector are worried about possible retaliation against the U.S. for announced tariffs on imported steel and aluminum. But according to a story from Rod Bain, the President’s Special Assistant for Agriculture says the White House will do everything in its power to protect the farm sector from the impacts of potential retaliatory trade actions. Protecting Ag …

How Much Seafood Did You Eat? Photos Jog Memory, Aid Scientific Recommendations

Seafood can be a tasty source of protein that supports a healthy, balanced diet. But too much of anything is not always beneficial, said Anne Mathews, a food and human nutrition scientist with the University of Florida Institute for Food and Agricultural Sciences. To assess health risks versus benefits of consuming certain seafood products, scientists analyze seafood for nutritional value …

U.S. Producers Worried about Retaliatory Tariffs from China

China is threatening to impose stiff retaliatory tariffs on U.S. pork and soybeans, and that has U.S. producers worried. China’s wasted no time in coming up with a list of U.S. targets for retaliation for billions in U.S. tariffs on Chinese metals and IP-related goods. Politically-sensitive U.S. pork and soybeans, as feared, are on China’s retaliation list. U.S. Producers Worried …

Renewal Options Available for Expiring CSP Contracts

USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) wants to remind participants with existing Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) contracts that expire on December 31, 2018, you can renew those contracts for an additional five years. But the deadline to renew is April 13. Renewal Options Available for Expiring CSP Contracts Sponsored ContentCIR Agriculture Harvester ProductsJuly 1, 2026FL Cattle Enhancement Board Wraps up …

Crafty Ideas for the Garden Fence

In the second of her series on sprucing up the garden fence, Cathy Isom has some crafty ideas for putting up a barrier or fence around the garden. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. Crafty Ideas for the Garden Fence There are several ideas you can use for a fence installation or barrier in your garden. How about …

Trade Coalition Launches Effort Against U.S. Tariffs

A new effort seeks to protect U.S. agriculture from trade retaliation. Americans for Farmers and Families Tuesday announced the “Retaliation Hurts Rural Families” project. Former Missouri state lawmaker and spokesperson for the project, Casey Guernsey, says the effort will help farmers and ranchers “communicate with one voice” to the Trump administration that “rural and farming communities must be heard.” The …

McConnell Introduces Hemp legislation

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell this week announced legislation he intends to introduce in the Senate to support hemp farmers. The Hemp Farming Act of 2018 will legalize hemp as an agricultural commodity and remove it from the list of controlled substances. McConnell announced the legislation in his home state earlier this week, which implemented a hemp pilot program that …