As hurricane season progresses, UF/IFAS Extension and the U.S. Department of Agriculture are encouraging Florida growers to take steps now to prepare their operations before a storm is in the forecast. While the Atlantic hurricane season officially runs from June 1 through Nov. 30, the most active part of the season historically occurs from mid-August through October. Preparing ahead of …
The Trump administration’s efforts to expand agricultural exports and reduce the nation’s agricultural trade deficit are beginning to show measurable results, according to USDA Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs Under Secretary Luke Lindberg. In an interview with Southeast AgNet, Lindberg said the administration inherited a projected $50 billion agricultural trade deficit but has already seen significant improvement. “We’re forecasting about …
One of the biggest policy stories affecting agriculture this week is now officially on Capitol Hill. House Agriculture Committee Chairman Glenn “GT” Thompson has introduced the Securing Agriculture’s Workforce Act of 2026, a bipartisan bill aimed at overhauling the H-2A guest worker program that many fruit, vegetable and nursery growers rely on. The legislation has been assigned H.R. 9535 and …
Cotton acreage is on the rise across much of the Southeast this year, according to USDA’s latest Acreage Report. Growers in Georgia, Alabama and Florida all expanded planted acres over last season, reflecting continued optimism despite ongoing market and weather challenges. The new numbers come from the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. Becky Sommer, Chair of the USDA NASS Agricultural …
President Donald Trump is asking Congress to approve more than $11 billion in additional agricultural assistance, including $10 billion in economic aid for producers across the country and another $1.1 billion specifically for Florida farmers recovering from devastating winter storms and freezes. The request is part of a larger supplemental funding package now before Congress. Florida Farm Bureau Federation President …
The U.S. Supreme Court has handed Bayer-owned Monsanto a major legal victory in a decision that could reshape future pesticide litigation in the United States. In a 7-2 ruling, the Court found that federal law prevents states from allowing failure-to-warn lawsuits against pesticide manufacturers when the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has approved a product’s label without requiring additional warnings. …
As the Big Beautiful Bill advances in the U.S. Senate, cattle producers are keeping a close watch. NCBA President Buck Wehrbein shared his optimism, especially regarding estate tax reform—a top priority for the industry. Senator John Thune has emerged as a strong ally, championing efforts to preserve the stepped-up basis and oppose the death tax. Wehrbein emphasized that while no …
The Senate version of the “Big Beautiful Bill” tax package brings mostly positive news for livestock producers. Kent Bacus, NCBA Executive Director of Government Affairs, explained that many provisions from the House version have carried over—most notably, the increase in the estate tax exemption to $15 million per individual ($30 million per couple), adjusted for inflation and made permanent. Other …
U.S. officials are reporting positive developments in the fight against the New World Screw Worm. Once spotted 700 miles from the U.S.-Mexico border, the pest’s northward advance appears to be slowing, thanks in part to intensive surveillance and targeted interventions. USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins recently ordered the border closed to cattle originating from Mexico to prevent the parasite’s spread. Ethan …
The U.S. Department of Agriculture recently announced the development of a sterile fly production facility to combat the New World Screw Worm, a significant threat to livestock. Located at Moore Airfield in Texas, the project will enhance domestic production and support operations in Panama. Ethan Lane, Senior VP of Government Affairs at the NCBA, joined USDA officials on-site and praised …
