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 …
Identifying a Few Common Pest That Will Go After Onions
Identifying some common pest that will go after your homegrown onions. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. If you plan to grow onions, you’ll likely deal with onion pests at some point. Although alliums tend to repel many insects, some stubborn species do like them an awful lot. The two-spotted spider mite — also known as the red …
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 …
New Peanut Shelling Plant Going up in Alabama
Construction of a new peanut shelling plant continues near Atmore, Alabama. Coastal Growers, LLC is building the facility, and plans to be operational with the first part of it by September of this year. Southeast AgNet’s Randall Weiseman caught up with President and CEO of Coastal Growers, LLC, Dirk Lindsey, during the recent Alabama Agribusiness Council meeting. Lindsey said their growers are …
NCBA Region 2 VP on Issues of Importance to Southeast Producers
Various issues continue to keep cattle producers concerned, and the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) is very involved in each and every one of them. But a few of those are specific to producers here in the Southeast, something that Fred Smith from Clayton, North Carolina is very aware of. Smith serves on the NCBA Executive Committee as Policy Vice President for …
Fewer Cotton and Peanut Acres, More Corn and Soybeans
While the June 30 acreage report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Agricultural Statistics Service (USDA-NASS) shows cotton and peanut acreage is down slightly, it indicates corn and soybean acreage is up slightly. The USDA-NASS report notes cotton growers planted 11.7 million acres this year, down 3 percent from 2020, while peanut growers planted 1.63 million acres in 2021, down two …
Climate-Smart Agriculture and Forestry Practices Program is Part of EQIP
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently announced $10 million has been earmarked to support climate-smart agriculture and forestry through voluntary conservation practices in 10 states, including Florida and Georgia. Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Deputy Chief of Programs, Jimmy Bramblett, says this pilot program is associated with a NRCS program many producers may already be familiar with, EQIP. Through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program …
Preventing Serious Health Issues from Chicken Coop Dust
How chicken coop dust could be harmful to your health. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. Chicken coop dust, also known as poultry dust, is a mixture of bedding material, chicken droppings, bird feed, and other components that are naturally found within your chicken’s housing area. Although it is admittedly tough to avoid, chicken coop dust can have …
U.S. Cotton Acreage is Down Three Percent
USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) has released their 2021 planted acreage reports, and Becky Sommer with NASS in Washington D.C. says cotton acreage across the country is down three percent from last year. Cotton growers planted 11.7 million acres in 2021, down 3 percent from last year. Upland planted area is estimated at 11.6 million acres, down 3 percent from 2020. American Pima …