Provides Producers with Marketing Flexibilities Amid COVID-19 Uncertainties (USDA) — Agricultural producers now have more time to repay Marketing Assistance Loans (MAL) as part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s implementation of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act of 2020. The loans now mature at 12 months rather than nine, and this flexibility is available for most …
UF/IFAS Extension Helps Get Food Directly From Farmers to Customers During Pandemic
(UF/IFAS) — As the novel coronavirus disrupts the usual methods to deliver food from farms to consumers, UF/IFAS Extension agents are helping connect growers with customers. Two such specialists are Sarah Bostick, an agriculture agent with UF/IFAS Extension Sarasota County and Lisa Hickey, a sustainability agent with UF/IFAS Extension Manatee County. The two are now working together to encourage farmers …
Shipping Out More U.S. Peanuts
The latest numbers show more and more U.S. peanuts are being shipped out to other countries. Tyron Spearman looks at the new figures. 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 …
Farmer Sentiment Takes a Hit in March
(NAFB) — The Purdue University/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer took a dive in March, dropping 47 points from the previous month to a reading of 121. This was the biggest one-month drop in the history of the index, which dates back to late 2015. Declining agricultural commodity prices and the coronavirus impact on the U.S. economy and ag sector are …
USDA Working on Aid for Livestock, Dairy, Specialty Crops
(NAFB) — Ag Secretary Sonny Perdue is working on developing aid programs for livestock, dairy, and specialty crop producers ahead of any aid to traditional commodity producers in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak. The Hagstrom Report says House Ag Committee Chair Collin Peterson spoke with Perdue, who told the chairman that he’s trying to develop systems to provide aid …
NCBA Commends Secretary Perdue For Swift Action In Expanding Investigation Into Cattle Markets
(NCBA) — NCBA President Marty Smith released the following statement on United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Sonny Perdue’s announcement of expanding the agency’s investigation into cattle markets: “I would like to thank President Donald Trump and Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue for their quick response to NCBA’s request to expand the agency’s investigation into cattle markets. Secretary Perdue’s decision …
Reasons Why Leaves on Your Plants Turn Yellow
Cathy Isom reviews some reasons why the leaves on your plants are turning yellow. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. In most cases a plant’s leaves are supposed to be green, with the obvious exceptions, of course. Yellowing leaves can be caused by a number of factors, and typically signal that your plant is in some kind of …
Pandemic Causes Some Stockyards To Suspend Sales
(ALFA) — Several Alabama stockyards suspended cattle auctions this week to protect employees and customers and help control the spread of the COVID-19 virus. Scott Garrett, an owner of Mid State Stockyards, LLP in Letohatchee, said he and several stockyard owners in Alabama talked before suspending sales this week. Because stockyards are classified as essential, he said closures were made by …
Efforts Continue to Produce Peanut Products
The American Peanut Council (APC) fully supports the U.S. peanut industry as it continues to deliver safe, nutritious products to the world during this difficult time. As Tyron Spearman reports, manufacturers are working hard to ensure the health and safety of employees while continuing to maintain production and shipment of healthy and nutritious products. With more and more Americans facing temporary economic instability, …
The Day South Florida Agriculture Changed
Submitted by Gene McAvoy, Regional Vegetable Extension Agent IV Emeritus with UF/IFAS “Up to the end of Feb our growers were having a banner year and it looked like this season would be one of those homeruns that come around every 5-6 years.” Here is a report that I prepared on the state of S Florida ag and shared with …