Next COVID Casualty Could be Coffee

COVID-19 shockwaves could create a round of trouble for the coffee industry, according to Purdue University. Starting in the 2011-12 growing season, a powdery orange fungus called coffee leaf rust spread throughout Latin America and Central America, damaging crops on 70 percent of farms and causing more than $3.2 billion in damage. Coffee crop management programs helped growers mitigate the …

NIFA Invests Over $5.4M in Bio-based Products Research

The Department of Agriculture Wednesday announced $5.4 million in bioprocessing, bioengineering, biofuels and biobased products research investments through the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). They recently awarded $4.8 million for 12 Bioprocessing and Bioengineering grants under NIFA’s Agriculture and Food Research Initiative, and more than $600,000 for six Biofuels and Biobased Products grants under NIFA’s Small Business Innovation …

Onion Diseases You May Encounter, and Dealing with Them

Onion diseases you may encounter, and how to deal with them. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. If you plan to grow onions, you’ll likely deal with some of these onion diseases. Such as Yellow Onion Dwarf, Purple Blotch, or Pink Rot. Damping-Off Disease is another issue you may encounter when starting your seedlings. It’s common when onions are …

Discussing Carbon Credits

Many discussions have been, and will continue to be held concerning carbon credits. Tyron Spearman looks at what is being said and done. 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 …

Lawmakers Working on Spending Bills

The U.S. House Appropriations Committee approved a fiscal 2022 funding bill Wednesday for the Agriculture Department, Food and Drug Administration and Commodity Futures Trading Commission that would boost spending by more than ten percent. The bill includes funding for ag research and climate related programs, along with funding for cotton industry priorities requested by the National Cotton Council. NCC Vice President …

Are Plant-Based Beef Alternatives Cutting into Beef Consumption?

On this 4th of July holiday weekend, there will be many hamburgers, beef hot dogs and a few steaks going on the grill. But, while shoppers are finding more plant-based meat alternatives in supermarkets, Gary Crawford reports some wonder if those products are causing us to eat less beef. Sponsored ContentCIR Agriculture Harvester ProductsJuly 1, 2026FL Cattle Enhancement Board Wraps up …

Farm Debt Declines Further and Credit Stress Eases

Agricultural debt at commercial banks continued to decline in the first quarter of 2021, and farm loan performance improved. The Kansas City Federal Reserve Bank recently released the data that shows both real estate and production loans decreased, reducing farm debt by more than five percent from a year ago. The reduction in agricultural loan balances was less pronounced among …

USDA Announces Efforts to Promote Transparency in Product of the USA Labeling

(WASHINGTON, July 1, 2021) — Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack released the following statement today following the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) vote to strengthen its enforcement of the Made in USA standard: “Today, the Federal Trade Commission took important steps to enhance its ability to enforce the Made in USA standard. I congratulate the FTC on strengthening this important protection for American …

USDA Seeks New Partnerships to Safeguard, Restore Wetland Ecosystems

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced they are investing up to $17 million for conservation partners to help protect and restore critical wetlands on agricultural lands through the Wetland Reserve Enhancement Partnership (WREP). USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Easement Program Division Director Carrie Lindig explains what this program is all about. Proposals from partners are due August 15, 2021 …