Cotton harvest across the Southeast continues to move along. USDA meteorologist Brad Rippey has an update on the progress. And Rippey updates the progress of the peanut harvest, which has ended in some states. In Alabama, 86 percent of the cotton crop has been harvested, which compares to 73 percent this time last year. 95 percent pf the peanuts have …
Registration Underway for Beltwide Cotton Conferences
The National Cotton Council (NCC) wants to remind producers the 2020 Beltwide Cotton Conferences will be held January 8-10 in Austin, Texas, and registration is open. Lauren Krogman, coordinator of the Conferences and NCC’s Manager of Marketing and Processing Technology, has more details. The annual event brings together university and USDA researchers, extension personnel/agents, consultants, and industry sales/support personnel. The …
DeSantis Praised, Criticized on Environmental Spending
(NSF) — Gov. Ron DeSantis drew praise as “a true environmental leader” but was also criticized for not putting more money toward the Florida Forever program and failing to adequately prepare the state for climate change as he released a proposed $91.4 billion budget on Monday. DeSantis received the mixed reviews from environmental groups for his spending plan, which included …
Getting Rid of Those Pesky Garden Moles
After all of your hard work getting your garden planted and producing, you find you have a pesky critter causing you problems. Cathy Isom has some helpful tips for you about getting rid of garden moles. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. Moles can be a real problem in your garden but the good news is there are …
DeSantis Touts to Continue “Momentum” on Environmental Issues
(NSF) — Gov. Ron DeSantis on Monday proposed a $91.4 billion state budget for next year, touting plans to funnel more money to public-school teachers and continue “momentum” on environmental issues. The proposal is an initial step as lawmakers prepare for the January start of the annual legislative session, which will include negotiating a budget for the fiscal year that …
2020 Plant Trends Head Off the Beaten Garden Path
(UF/IFAS) — Expect to see more eco-conscious and unconventional plants in homes and gardens for 2020, according to horticultural experts with the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences. Below are some of the hottest trends to look for in the new year. Plants are considered native to your area if they naturally occur there. “One trend I …
Food Trends 2020: Meal Kits, Convenience Store Nutrition and Drinkable Collagen
(UF/IFAS) — Most people think of collagen as a protein used for cosmetic purposes that you get in a jar, but prepare for drinkable collagen. If you think that’s interesting, try going online to order meal kits – full of just-the-right ingredients for the dishes you want to prepare. Those are a couple of the fearless forecasts from UF/IFAS faculty …
Voting Continues for FSA County Committee Elections
The U.S. Department of Agriculture recently mailed ballots to eligible farmers and ranchers for the Farm Service Agency (FSA) county committee elections. FSA Administrator Richard Fordyce said the county committee system is very important to administering FSA programs. To be counted, ballots must be returned to the local FSA county office or postmarked by Dec. 2, 2019. According to Fordyce, eligible …
Japan Likely to Vote on U.S. Trade Pact This Week
(NAFB) — Media reports in Japan are saying that the parliament is likely to start voting on a trade pact with the U.S. sometime this week. The lower house of the Japanese Diet will take up the pact Wednesday, while the upper house, called the House of Councilors, will begin considering the deal the next day. A Japan Times report …
New Hours of Service Legislation Introduced
At the end of October, new bipartisan legislation was introduced in the U.S. House that would provide flexible and common-sense relief from Hours of Service (HOS) rules for agricultural haulers. The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) applauded the introduction of HR 4919, The Responsible & Efficient Agriculture Destination (TREAD) Act. It would ensure that the current HOS exemption that applies to the …