Today’s farmers, ranchers, and private forest landowners are better prepared to maintain healthy and resilient soil due to the tireless efforts of Dr. Hugh Hammond Bennett, the Soil Conservation Service’s (SCS) first Chief and the Father of Soil Conservation, born 140 years ago on April 15, 1881. A maverick and visionary, Bennett knew that productive soils would help farmers, ranchers …
More Storms in ‘Average’ Hurricane Season
The U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) will issue its initial seasonal outlook for the 2021 hurricane season in late May. The Atlantic hurricane season officially runs from June 1 through Nov. 30. Beginning with this year’s hurricane season outlooks, NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center (CPC) will use 1991-2020 as the new 30-year period of record. The updated averages for …
Enrollment Open for Growers to U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol
Enrollment is open for cotton growers to the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol for the 2021 cotton crop. Existing members will also need to re-enroll their operations. The U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol sets a new standard for more sustainably grown cotton amid greater demand for transparency. Ted Schneider, U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol board member, and a Louisiana cotton producer says enrollment …
U.S. Drought Monitor: Tale of Two Regions
The Western U.S., in the latest Drought Monitor released Thursday, shows much of the region in drought categories, with several areas classified in extreme or exceptional drought, the two most severe categories. Comparatively, the Eastern U.S. is mostly drought-free from the Eastern seaboard to the Central Plains. Drawing a line from the eastern border of Texas to the North is …
HAULS Act Introduced in U.S. House
A new bill concerning much-needed flexibility for livestock haulers was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives. The Haulers of Agriculture and Livestock Safety (HAULS) Act of 2021, introduced by Rep. John Rose (R-TN-06) and Rep. Darren Soto (D-FL-09), is a companion to S.792, which the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) worked on to get introduced. According to NCBA, the HAULS Act …
What to Plant and More Importantly What Not to Plant Right Now
What to plant now, and more importantly what not to plant. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. Seeds germinate based on the soil temperature at the seed level. If your area is still experiencing cooler weather, the seeds that can germinate right now are beets, radishes, spinach, Swiss chard, leaf lettuce, peas, collards greens, kale, kohlrabi, leeks, onions, parsley, …
2020 Export Surge
Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, there was an increase in some U.S. agriculture exports in 2020. Tyron Spearman has the details. 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 through SharpShooter™June 16, …
USDA Extends Deadline for Comments on Proposed Revisions
USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) announced it is extending the deadline for public comments on proposed revisions to 23 national conservation practice standards. Comments on the proposed revisions, which were published March 9, are now due April 22. NRCS is encouraging agricultural producers, landowners, organizations, Tribes, and others that use its conservation practices to comment on these revisions. They …
Farmers to Families Food Box Program Will End Soon
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack told House lawmakers Wednesday the Department of Agriculture is ending the Farmers to Families Food Box program. According to a story from Gary Crawford, it will end later this month. 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, …
NPPC Holding Legislative Action Conference
Pork producers from across the country are gathering virtually this week, taking part in the National Pork Producers Council’s (NPPC) Legislative Action Conference (LAC). Various topics are being discussed with lawmakers, including expanding market access to Vietnam, visa reform to address a livestock agriculture labor shortage, and foreign animal disease prevention. “Trade remains crucial to the continued success of the U.S. pork …