Ballot Initiatives Being Discussed in Florida Legislative Session

(NSF/January 11, 2022) — Legislation filed at the state capitol last week would restrict subjects that could be included in ballot initiatives. The measure will be considered during the 2022 legislative session that starts today. The proposal comes after years of attempts by the GOP-controlled Legislature to make it harder to pass constitutional amendments through the citizens’ initiative process. Under …

USDA Renews Partnership with Federation of Southern Cooperatives

During an event held Monday in East Point, Ga., Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack joined the Executive Director of the Federation of Southern Cooperatives/Land Assistance Fund, Cornelius Blanding, to sign an agreement signifying a continued partnership between USDA and the nonprofit organization. The partnership aims to increase the number of minority landowners in the South and support them in sustainable forestry and …

Florida Cattlemen Preparing for Boots on the Hill

The 2022 Florida Legislative Session kicks off in Tallahassee, and the Florida Cattlemen’s Association (FCA) is preparing for their annual “Boots on the Hill” event next week. FCA Director of Governmental Affairs, Sam Ard, explains what issues they will be discussing with lawmakers this year. To learn more about any of those issues, contact the FCA office in Kissimmee. Sponsored ContentCIR Agriculture Harvester ProductsJuly …

India Agrees to Allow Imports of U.S. Pork

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack and Trade Representative Katherine Tai announced Monday that the government of India has agreed to allow imports of U.S. pork and pork products into India, removing a longstanding barrier to U.S. agricultural trade. This news follows the successful revitalization of the U.S.-India Trade Policy Forum held in New Delhi in November 2021. The National …

Common Pests that Pose a Threat to Your Strawberry Crop

Some common pests that pose a threat to your Strawberry crop.  That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. Strawberry plants are one of the easiest fruit plants to add to your garden, but that doesn’t mean you won’t encounter common strawberry pests and diseases. The pests that love to feast on your berries are aphids, army worms, Japanese Beetles, …

Peanut Consumption Numbers Vary

While the consumption of candy made with peanuts was higher in the latest USDA Peanut Stocks and Processing Report, Tyron Spearman reports some of the other categories were a bit lower. 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 …

Fertility Recommendations for Citrus Discussed at Conference

The Southeast Regional Fruit and Vegetable Conference was held this past weekend in in Savannah, Georgia. Various topics were discussed including fertility recommendations for citrus. Dr. Kelly Morgan, with the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS), told AgNet Media that he talked about the research projects they’ve conducted over the past few years. And Morgan told us he has taken on some …

Trade Update Shows Rising U.S. Exports

The new fiscal year is off to a blistering start when it comes to U.S. agricultural export sales. According to a story from Gary Crawford, a new report shows the overall level of global trade in agricultural products is rising. Bart Kenner, USDA economist, with some key agricultural numbers for the first eleven months of 2021. Sponsored ContentCIR Agriculture Harvester …

Judge Rules “Gruyere” is a Common Food Name and Not a Term Exclusive to Europe

A judicial ruling has determined that “gruyere” is a generic style of cheese that can come from anywhere. The decision reaffirms that all cheesemakers, not just those in France or Switzerland, can continue to create and market cheese under this common name. In the judicial decision made public last week, the Consortium for Common Food Names (CCFN), U.S. Dairy Export Council (USDEC), National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF), and …

November Beef Exports Set New Value Record

According to data released late last week by the U.S. Department of Agriculture that was compiled by the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF), beef export value reached another new high in November. It actually topped the $1 billion mark for the second time in 2021. November pork exports, while a bit lower than a year ago, saw year-to-date export values …