(NSF/TALLAHASSEE,FL/March 3, 2023) — Environmental groups are raising concerns that legislative proposals would damage land-use planning and run counter to conservation efforts backed by Gov. Ron DeSantis. Representatives of 1000 Friends of Florida, Friends of the Everglades and VoteWater on Thursday targeted numerous bills filed for the upcoming legislative session that could do such things as redefine sprawl, deter citizens …
First 2023 House Agriculture Committee Hearing Focuses on Challenges
The House Agriculture Committee held its first hearing of the new congressional year, titled “Uncertainty, Inflation, Regulations: Challenges for American Agriculture”. Opening statements from the committee leaders were partisan and politically charged. Committee Chair Glenn “G.T.” Thompson (R-PA) listed several recent problems agriculture has faced, such as the rising costs of fuel and inputs, and the problems caused by the …
Biggest U.S. Farms Obtaining More Land
The big are getting bigger. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. USDA’s annual Farms and Land in Farms Report shows the country’s largest farms with sales of $1 million or more operate nearly 26 percent of U.S. farmlands. The agency also says there were 2.003 million farms in the nation during 2022, a drop of 0.5 percentage points …
Ag Outlook Forum Underway
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Ag Outlook Forum is taking place today and tomorrow (Feb. 23-24). Mark Oppold has information about what analysts are expecting for this year’s corn and soybean crops. Sponsored ContentCattle Producers Proud of Efforts Funded Through the Florida Cattle Enhancement BoardMay 29, 2026Florida Cattle Enhancement Board Funding Crucial For Forage DevelopmentMay 22, 2026Florida Cattle Enhancement Board Provides Funding …
FMI Encourages FDA to Refine Healthy Definition
The Food Industry Association (FMI) recently submitted comments to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regarding the agency’s proposed rule to update the definition of the term “healthy.” The FDA is seeking the update when the term is used as a nutrient content claim in labeling. FMI Chief Public Policy Officer Jennifer Hatcher says. “We are concerned the proposal is …
Improvement in Farmer Sentiment Carries Over into 2023
The Purdue University-CME Group Ag Economy Barometer Index rose again in January, to a reading of 130, four points above its 2022 year-end index value. The January survey results also pushed the index 34 percent above its 2022 low point, which occurred last June. The barometer’s modest rise in January was primarily attributable to better expectations for the future as …
Virtual Meeting of Committee for Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production is Thursday
The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is encouraging urban producers, innovative producers and other stakeholders to virtually attend the fourth public meeting of the Federal Advisory Committee for Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production (Committee) on Feb. 23 from 3:30-6pm ET.? The Committee will discuss recommendations it intends to submit to Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack to remove barriers to urban and innovative producers and …
Bills of Interest to Agriculture Moving through Georgia Legislature
During week six of the Georgia State Legislative Session, various bills of interest to agriculture continued moving through the committee process. Georgia Agribusiness Council (GAC) President Will Bentley, explains what bills they have been tracking. More information about the 2023 legislative session is available on the GAC Facebook page. Sponsored ContentCattle Producers Proud of Efforts Funded Through the Florida Cattle Enhancement BoardMay 29, …
Census of Agriculture Accepted by USDA Through Spring
Farmers who missed the deadline can still send in their Census of Agriculture. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. Farmers and ranchers still have time to be counted in the 2022 Census of Agriculture, according to USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS). Although the deadline for submitting the ag census just passed, NASS will continue to accept completed …
EPA Proposes Changes to Agricultural Worker Protection Standard
There could soon be changes to certain agricultural pesticide use rules, as the Biden administration seeks to change some adjustments made in 2020. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a proposed rule that would change the pesticide Application Exclusion Zone (AEZ) requirements under the 2015 Agricultural Worker Protection Standard (WPS). Â In 2015, EPA made significant changes to the …