House Democrat Marcy Kaptur of Ohio has introduced an urban agriculture bill. Kaptur’s Urban Agriculture Production Act is described as a bipartisan bill that would bolster nutritional programs and farmers’ markets and help create the next generation of local, urban farmers and food producers. In a news release, Kaptur says “the federal government needs to step up and improve access …
OTA Files Lawsuit Against USDA Over Organic Livestock Standards
The Organic Trade Association announced a lawsuit against the Department of Agriculture over its failure to advance new organic livestock standards. The suit alleges USDA violated the Organic Foods Production Act, and unlawfully delayed the effective date of the final livestock standards. The trade association further contends that the Trump Administration’s regulatory freeze order issued to federal agencies in January …
Censky, McKinney, Nomination Hearing Scheduled
The Senate Agriculture Committee will hold a hearing on nominees to the Department of Agriculture next week. Committee leaders, Chairman Pat Roberts, and ranking minority member Debbie Stabenow announced plans to hold the hearing for Ted McKinney and Stephen Censky Tuesday, September 19th. Censky, CEO of the American Soybean Association, was nominated by President Trump to serve as Deputy Secretary …
Roberts Wants Farm Bill to Target SNAP Fraud
Senate Agriculture Chairman Pat Roberts has indicated he wants to use the farm bill as a way to target fraud in the food stamp program. Bloomberg makes the interpretation from a statement by Roberts addressing quality control problems within the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, which the Chairman said: “any problems will need to be given a hard look” …
Producers Affected by Hurricanes Granted Extra Time on Claims
Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue today announced special procedures to assist producers who lost crops or livestock or had other damage to their farms or ranches as a result of hurricanes Harvey and Irma. Also, because of the severe and widespread damage caused by the hurricanes, USDA will provide additional flexibility to assist farm loan borrowers. “The impact is shocking and …
Florida Farm Bureau: Farm Families Slowly Recovering
The resilience of Florida’s farmers and ranchers is on full display in the aftermath of Hurricane Irma. They are working to restore food and fiber production for this state and the nation, despite the widespread destruction of crops, buildings, fencing, and other property lost to wind and water damage. Like many other Floridians, farm families are contending with significant failures …
Putnam Says Citrus Industry Hard Hit by Irma
Florida’s already-struggling citrus industry “suffered serious and devastating losses” in Hurricane Irma, Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam said Wednesday after an aerial tour of groves in central and southwest parts of the state. “It’s still too early to know the full extent of the damage to Florida citrus,” Putnam said in a prepared statement. “But after touring groves on foot and …
Peanut Crop Update
Tyron Spearman has this week’s peanut crop update. 09-13-17 Peanut Crop Update Sponsored ContentStrong Relationship Exists Between the Florida Cattle Enhancement Board and UF-IFASApril 17, 2026Florida Cattle Enhancement Board Provides Funding For Quicker Response to Research QuestionsApril 10, 2026Florida Cattle Enhancement Board Provides Opportunities That Spark Research ProjectsApril 3, 2026United Dairy Farmers of Florida Director Encouraged About the FutureMarch 27, …
Update from Georgia Commissioner of Agriculture on Irma
Work continues to assess the damage from Hurricane Irma to crops in parts of Georgia. Southeast Agnet’s Randall Weiseman was able to get an update from Georgia Commissioner of Agriculture Gary Black concerning the damage and also found out that U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue will be in Georgia later this week to tour some of the areas affected. …
NRCS Programs Help with Hurricane Irma Recovery Efforts
For those affected by Hurricane Irma, USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) has programs that provide assistance in the wake of disasters. For declared natural disasters that lead to imminent threats to life and property, NRCS can assist local government sponsors with the cost of implementing recovery efforts like debris removal and streambank stabilization to address natural resource concerns and …