Farmers, ranchers remain concerned on current conditions; optimistic about future Despite continued flat commodity prices, attitudes of U.S. farmers took a solid leap into positive territory, according to the most recent DTN/The Progressive Farmer (DTN/PF) Agricultural Confidence Index (ACI). The survey, which tracks farmer opinions of their current and future conditions, had an overall score of 130, a significant improvement …
Florida Commissioner’s Spotlight: FRESH! Recipe – Stone Crab Claws
On this week’s Commissioner’s Spotlight, Florida’s Commissioner of Agriculture Adam Putnam is joined by Executive Chef Justin Timineri to talk about his new Fresh! Recipe video featuring Stone Crab Claws and a key lime-mustard dipping sauce. You can follow Florida Commissioner Adam Putnam on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Discover more by visiting FreshFromFlorida.com. Sponsored ContentFlorida Cattle Enhancement Board Allows Viable …
Natural Pest Repellants
For those looking for more natural ways to protect their gardens, here are some additional pest control methods to consider: Diatomaceous Earth Diatomaceous earth (DE) is a fine, powdery substance made from the fossilized remains of tiny aquatic organisms. When sprinkled around plants, it acts as a barrier that damages the exoskeletons of insects like ants, slugs, and beetles, ultimately …
Ag Leaders Meet with EPA Administrator
A coalition representing various agricultural groups recently met with leadership from the Environmental Protection Agency. The Production Agriculture CEO Council, which includes CEO’s of the American Soybean Association, the National Corn Growers Association and others, met with EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt and other EPA staff members. The agriculture leaders focused on topics important for agriculture, including expressing the importance of …
Brazil Investigation Leads to Processor Closures
Brazil’s tainted meat corruption probe uncovered tainted meat samples and will result in the closure of some processors. As part of the investigation, the nation found eight samples of meat out of 302 tested positive for bacteria contamination. Unrelated problems uncovered at three processors led the government to order the cancellation of their Federal Inspection Service registrations, closing them permanently. …
March FAO Food Price Index Slips
A measure of global food prices retracted during March. The United Nation’s Food and Agriculture Organization’s Food Price Index averaged nearly 171 points in March 2017, down almost five points from February, but still 13 percent above its level a year earlier. The Index consists of the average of five commodity group price indices, weighted with the average export shares …
USDA: Agriculture a $992 Billion Economic Factor
Data by the Department of Agriculture shows agriculture and agriculture-related industries contributed $992 billion to the U.S. gross domestic product in 2015, a 5.5-percent share, the most recent USDA statistics.The output of America’s farms contributed $136.7 billion of this sum, about one percent of GDP. USDA says the overall contribution of the agriculture sector to GDP is larger than that …
USTR Nomination Vote Could Reach Full Senate After Recess
Senate Finance Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch of Utah is hopeful his committee can advance the nomination of Robert Lighthizer, President Donald Trump’s nominee for U.S. Trade Representative, when the Senate returns from its two-week Easter recess. Hatch attempted a committee vote Thursday, but was forced to delay the vote after just one Democrat, Oregon’s Ron Wyden, showed to the committee …
Mexico Eager to Start and Finish NAFTA Negotiations
Mexico is taking a ‘sooner rather than later’ approach when it comes to potential changes to the North American Free Trade Agreement. A top Mexican official told CNNMoney last week: “It will be in the best advantage of the countries involved that we finish this negotiation within the context of this year.” That’s because Mexico will hold a presidential election …
Agri View: GMO Crops Advance
Everett Griner talks about GMO crops increasing in volume in today’s Agri View. The issue of genetically modified crops still generates a lot of negative opinion. In spite the fact that scientific study has found nothing wrong with them. Matter of fact it is conclusive that GMO seed helps growers reduce the volume of water needed to produce a crop. …