A group of Georgia lawmakers is pitching an idea to scrap some GIPSA rules to Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue, a former Georgia Governor. A group of 10 members of Congress from Georgia has sent a letter to Perdue urging the Secretary to withdraw two proposed rules under the Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration. The lawmakers say the rules, currently …
Ag Export Groups Support CREAATE Act
Members of the Coalition to Promote U.S. Agricultural Exports and the Agribusiness Coalition for Foreign Market Development welcomed introduction of House Resolution 2321 last week, the Cultivating Revitalization by Expanding American Agricultural Trade and Exports Act. The Act was introduced by Washington-State Republican Representative Dan Newhouse and Maine Democratic Representative Chellie (Shell-lee) Pingree. The coalitions say the CREAATE Act captures …
Canada, Mexico, Eyeing Trade Markets Beyond U.S.
Mexico and Canada both are eyeing new trade partners as trade rhetoric and threats from the U.S. are growing trade-related concerns between the three countries. The North American Free Trade Agreement members, Canada and Mexico, are considering non-U.S. markets, including China, to grow their economies in the future. The moves come as President Donald Trump promises a renegotiation of NAFTA, …
Roberts Suggests no New Farm Bill Funding
Leadership of the Senate Agriculture Committee indicated there would be no additional money to spend in the next farm bill while touting the cost savings from the most recent farm bill. During a farm bill field hearing in Michigan over the weekend, Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Pat Roberts said: “The reality is we are going to have to do more …
Perdue Continues Midwest Outreach
Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue over the weekend continued his outreach to the Midwest as he completed his second week on the job. The former Georgia Governor met with farmers in Iowa Friday, then toured flooded-out areas of Arkansas over the weekend. Perdue was slated to give his first major farm policy speech in Iowa Friday. But, noting that his staff …
Agri View: Migrant Labor Shortage
Everett Griner talks about how the migrant labor shortage problem will hurt everybody in today’s Agri View. Well our new president’s efforts to control our borders and deport illegals is not a good thing for farmers. It is going to create a labor shortage that’s already a serious challenge. Present laws that permit migrant farm workers to come …
Putnam: `No End In Sight’ to Wildfires
from The News Service of Florida Nearly 125 wildfires were active in the state on Monday, and the dry conditions are expected to continue into the early summer, Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam said. “Florida is in the middle of its worst wildfire season in years — with no end in sight,” Putnam said in a prepared statement. “With such an …
IFAS Hosts Pasture Walk to Discuss the Benefits of Winter Forage
By Patrick Troy and Jane Griffin Regional Specialized Agent Row Crops, and County Livestock and Forage Agent, Live Oak, FL, University of Florida/Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences. As warm-season pastures in North Florida go dormant in the winter, livestock producers have two basic choices for animal feedstock: 1) purchase hay and store-bought supplements or 2) grow their own cool-season …
Peanut Calendar
Tyron Spearman has some dates of importance coming up for your Peanut Calendar for the next few weeks or so. Tyron explains all of these events with their dates, times, locations and what they have planned for those which attend. USA Peanut Congress is being planned. July 13th, Field Day for Sunbelt Ag Expo July 11-13, American Peanut Research …
USDA Seeks Feedback from Growers
During the next several weeks, U.S. Department of Agriculture’s ( USDA) National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) will conduct two major mid-year surveys, the June Agricultural Survey and the June Area Survey. The agency will survey nearly 1,200 producers across Alabama, 1000 producers across Florida and 1,800 producers across Georgia  to determine crop production and supply levels in 2017. According to …