Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam is now accepting nominations for the 2017 “Woman of the Year in Agriculture” award. Since 1985, the “Woman of the Year in Agriculture” award has recognized women in all areas of the industry who have made outstanding contributions to Florida agriculture. The deadline for submitting nominations is June 1, 2017. Nominations may be …
USDA Offers Help to Fire-Affected Farmers and Ranchers in Florida
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency’s (FSA) Acting State Executive Director, Debby Folsom, reminds farmers and ranchers affected by the recent wildfires that disaster assistance programs are available to support their recovery efforts. The Farm Service Agency (FSA) can assist farmers and ranchers who lost eligible crops and honeybees as a result of a natural disaster. FSA …
National Garlic Day
April 19th, is National Garlic Day. Cathy Isom tells you how you may pay homage to a stinky vegetable that is also known as nature’s wonder drug. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. Garlic, which is dubbed the Stinking Rose because of its overpowering taste and smell, dates back more than 6,000 years ago. It’s a member of the Lily …
More Farmers Considering Drone Use
A new poll finds 21 percent of farmers plan to operate a drone this year. The poll by Farm Journal Media found 21 percent of farmers will operate the drone themselves, while another 12 percent of farmers indicated they would opt for a third-party entity to fly drones. More than 1,000 farmers responded to the poll. 31 percent of respondents …
2017 Corn Plantings Falling Behind
Wet conditions across the Corn Belt are delaying corn plantings. The Department of Agriculture indicated earlier this week corn plantings have fallen slightly behind the five-year average, and wet weather this week in the Midwest will likely bring further delays. With six percent of total corn acres planted by April 16th, progress fell three percentage points short of the five-year …
Commerce Department Investigating Argentina and Indonesia Biodiesel Imports
The U.S. Commerce Department has launched an antidumping and countervailing duty investigation aimed at biodiesel imports from Argentina and Indonesia. DTN-The Progressive Farmer reports the investigation is in response to a complaint filed by the biodiesel industry in the United States. U.S. biodiesel industry representatives testified to the International Trade Commission last week, saying biodiesel produced in Argentina and Indonesia …
63 Indictments in Brazil Tainted Meat Scandal
Brazil has indicted 63 people for their role in a corruption scheme within the nation’s Ministry of Agriculture. Drovers Cattle Network reports the charges allege federal auditors at meat processing facilities took bribes for years in exchange for fraudulent sanitary permits. Suspects in the case are charged with falsifying medical records and certificates, tampering with food products, conspiracy and corruption. …
U.S. Petition Seeks Brazilian Beef Ban
An online petition is seeking a ban on beef imports to the U.S. from Brazil. Posted on the White House’s We the People Website, the petition cites Brazil’s tainted meat scandal in asking the administration to ban “unsafe imports” from Brazil until all beef in the U.S. is sold with a country-of-origin label. Food Safety News reports the petition was …
Tax Reform by August Unlikely
Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin (mi-new-chin) says getting tax reform legislation on the President’s desk by August appears unlikely. Mnuchin told the Financial Times this week the tax reform timeline is “highly aggressive to not realistic at this point,” in referring to his prior comments on finishing tax reform by August. He cites health care reforms as the delaying factor, but …
Agri View: Worldwide Food Costs
Everett Griner talks about food costs still rising worldwide in today’s Agri View. It is generally about the middle of the year when our government’s annual Food Cost Report comes out. Food prices always go up. For many years were accustomed to increases of one and one-half to two percent annually. More recently it has been three and …