DeSantis, Cabinet Back Conservation Deals

Dan Agri-Business, Conservation, Environment, Florida, Funding

(NSF/TALLAHASSEE, FL/Sept. 18, 2023) — Gov. Ron DeSantis and the state Cabinet on Monday quickly approved $141 million in deals that will help preserve land from the Panhandle to Southwest Florida. During a meeting held by telephone, DeSantis and Cabinet members supported three land purchases under the Florida Forever program. They also approved buying three conservation easements, which help preserve …

Secretaries of Education, Agriculture Call on Governors to Equitably Fund Land-Grant HBCUs

Dan Agri-Business, Education, Funding

(USDA/WASHINGTON, September 18, 2023) — U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona and U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Thomas Vilsack today sent letters to 16 governors emphasizing the over $12 billion disparity in funding between land-grant Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and their non-HBCU land-grant peers in their states. The 16 governors receiving the letter are: There are HBCU land-grant institutions in …

APHIS Finalizes Changes to Import Regulations for Horses

Dan Agri-Business, Equine, Exports/Imports, Legislative, Regulation, This Land of Ours, USDA-APHIS

The United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is finalizing amendments to its import regulations for horses. These amendments will better align our regulations with international standards and allow more flexibility for permitted imports, while continuing to mitigate the risk of bringing equine diseases into the United States. The regulations also provide APHIS with …

USDA Announces Projects to Boost Access to Green Space for Millions

Dan Agri-Business, Environment, Forestry, Funding, USDA

Historic funding from President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act will increase urban tree cover, boost equitable access to nature, and improve climate resilience in communities covered by the Justice40 Initiative (USDA/WASHINGTON, Sept. 14, 2023) — Today, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Forest Service is awarding more than $1 billion in competitive grants to plant and maintain …

Alabama NRCS Holds State Technical Committee Meeting

Dan Agri-Business, Alabama, USDA-NRCS

The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service in Alabama (NRCS in AL) recently hosted the FY23 NRCS State Technical Committee meeting for stakeholders and partners. The event took place at the Auburn University, Forestry, Wildlife and Environment building conference hall. This committee serves in an advisory capacity on technical matters related to NRCS program delivery and was the first in-person State Technical Committee …

Unit Sales of Four-Wheel Drive, Row Crop Tractors Continue to See Growth

Dan Agri-Business, Economy

While overall farm tractor unit sales in the U.S. declined in August, heavy duty row crop tractor unit sales continued to increase. This is according to the latest data from the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM). 100+hp 2WD tractors, and 4WD tractors were the only segments to grow year-over-year. Both those segments, along with self-propelled combines remain positive for the year. The biggest …

Farm Bureau Shines Innovation Spotlight on Ag

Dan Agri-Business, American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF), This Land of Ours

Shining a spotlight on innovative startups in ag. That’s coming up on This Land of ours. The American Farm Bureau Federation, in partnership with Farm Credit, is shining a spotlight on start-up companies focused on advancing agricultural innovation by naming the top 10 teams in the 2024 Farm Bureau Ag Innovation Challenge. “The future of American agriculture is bright due …

DeSantis and Florida Cabinet Tee Up Conservation Deals

Dan Agri-Business, Citrus, Conservation, Environment, Florida

(NSF/TALLAHASSEE, FL/Sept. 13, 2023) — Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Florida Cabinet next week could approve spending more than $141 million to conserve 42,000 acres of land from the Panhandle to the Devil’s Garden area southwest of Lake Okeechobee. During a telephone meeting Monday, DeSantis and the Cabinet will consider three land purchases through the Florida Florida program, including a …

Disaster Assistance Provided to Farmers, Livestock Producers in Florida Impacted by Hurricane Idalia

Dan Agri-Business, Cattle, Citrus, Crop Insurance, Economy, Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), Field Crops, Florida, Forestry, Funding, Georgia, USDA-FSA, USDA-NRCS

Florida agricultural operations have been significantly impacted by Hurricane Idalia and related weather events. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has technical and financial assistance available to help farmers and livestock producers recover. (USDA-NRCS/GAINESVILLE, FL/Sept. 12, 2023) — Florida agricultural operations have been significantly impacted by Hurricane Idalia and related weather events. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has technical …