USDA/NIFA Needs Stakeholder Input on Food, Agriculture Priorities

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) is soliciting stakeholder input on the emerging needs and opportunities in food and agricultural sciences. Through this initiative, “NIFA Listens: Investing in Science to Transform Lives,” stakeholders are invited to provide input to help ensure the strategic positioning and relevancy of NIFA’s investments in advancing agricultural research, …

Forest Service Wildland Fire Suppression Costs Exceed $2 Billion

Secretary Perdue Renews Call for Congress to Fix “Fire Borrowing” Problem U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue announced that wildland fire suppression costs for the fiscal year have exceeded $2 billion, making 2017 the most expensive year on record.  Wildfires have ravaged states in the west, Pacific Northwest, and Northern Rockies regions of the United States this summer.  As the …

Peanut Supply Update

Tyron Spearman has updated numbers from the latest Peanut Supply and Disappearance report.       Sponsored ContentCIR Agriculture Harvester ProductsJuly 1, 2026FL Cattle Enhancement Board Wraps up Funding YearJune 30, 2026Florida Cattle Enhancement Board Awarded Researcher Discusses New World Screwworm OverviewJune 19, 2026Verdant Robotics Offers Growers Targeted Application of Herbicides or Beneficials through SharpShooter™June 16, 2026

Farm Leaders Make the Case for Keeping KORUS

Pressure from the Ag community continues to build, as the President continues to toy with the idea of withdrawing the U.S. from the Korea-U.S. free trade deal, known as KORUS. Hundreds of farm leaders were in Washington, D.C. recently to make their case for keeping KORUS and expanding farm trade. Sponsored ContentCIR Agriculture Harvester ProductsJuly 1, 2026FL Cattle Enhancement Board …

Congressman Bishop Comments on Passing of Former GA Agriculture Commissioner Tommy Irvin

Congressman Sanford D. Bishop, Jr. (GA-02), Ranking Member of the U.S. House Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies released the following statement regarding the passing of Tommy Irvin, who served as Georgia’s Agriculture Commissioner for 42 years. “I was greatly saddened to learn of the passing of my friend of longstanding, Tommy Irvin, …

Livestock Groups Petition DOT for ELD Waiver

The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) joined other livestock groups in hand delivering to Transportation Secretary Elaine L. Chao a petition for a waiver followed by a limited exemption from compliance with the Electronic Logging Devices (ELD) rule. The petition also asks the Department of Transportation (DOT) to address livestock industry concerns that the current Hours of Service (HOS) rules …

Georgia Pecan Growers Suffer Big Losses from Irma

Georgia pecan growers are looking at what could be major losses from Irma. Gary Crawford has more on the story. Len Wells, University of Georgia Extension Pecan Specialist, says Irma took down quite a few pecan trees. The storm not only created losses for this year’s harvest, but for many years to come. Len Wells, University of Georgia Extension Pecan …

U.S. Sugar Statement Regarding the Impact of Hurricane Irma

Statement by Judy Sanchez, U.S. Sugar Senior Director for Corporate Communications & Public Affairs, Regarding the Impact of Hurricane Irma “First and foremost, our employees and their families are safe. As for our sugarcane and citrus crops, we are conducting field by field and grove by grove assessments that will take days, possibly weeks, before we understand the actual impact.  What …

Foraging for Stinging Nettles

Cathy Isom tells us why we should forage for stinging nettles and where to find them. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours.     Nettles may be considered noxious weeds, and quick to move in and take over the landscape. But they are edible and some say quite delicious. Their medicinal qualities may grab your attention. Nettle infusions are …