(UF/IFAS) — With agriculture and marine industries occupying a large portion of Florida’s economy, the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) wants to better understand how measures to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 are impacting these sectors. Starting today, faculty from the UF/IFAS Food and Resource Economics (FRE) department are deploying surveys to UF/IFAS Extension agents …
Commissioner Nikki Fried & FDACS on Supporting Florida Dairy During COVID-19
(FDACS) — With the COVID-19 pandemic causing market challenges for agriculture producers, Agriculture Commissioner Nicole “Nikki” Fried and the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) are working to support Florida’s dairy farmers and processors. “We’re doing everything we can to support Florida’s dairy farmers and processors during this unprecedented challenge,” said Commissioner Nikki Fried. “With decreases in foodservice demand, we’re asking retailers to …
USDA Addresses Milk Dumping
Authorizes Other Flexibilities To Help Producers Amid Coronavirus Pandemic (USDA/RMA) — USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA) is ensuring that milk producers are not inappropriately penalized if their milk must be dumped because of recent market disruptions caused by the coronavirus pandemic. In addition, RMA is extending inspection deadlines, waiving inspection requirements and authorizing more crop insurance transactions over the phone and …
Dairy Producer: Unsettling Feeling to See Loads and Loads of Milk Going Down the Drain
By Clint Thompson Calvin Moody has been a dairyman for more than two decades and has never experienced what he’s had to go through over the past few weeks. “This is absolutely the first time in my lifetime that we’ve ever had to dump milk. I’ve been in the dairy business for over 20 years and never had to dump …
USDA Working on Aid for Livestock, Dairy, Specialty Crops
(NAFB) — Ag Secretary Sonny Perdue is working on developing aid programs for livestock, dairy, and specialty crop producers ahead of any aid to traditional commodity producers in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak. The Hagstrom Report says House Ag Committee Chair Collin Peterson spoke with Perdue, who told the chairman that he’s trying to develop systems to provide aid …
The Day South Florida Agriculture Changed
Submitted by Gene McAvoy, Regional Vegetable Extension Agent IV Emeritus with UF/IFAS “Up to the end of Feb our growers were having a banner year and it looked like this season would be one of those homeruns that come around every 5-6 years.” Here is a report that I prepared on the state of S Florida ag and shared with …
NMPF Coronavirus Page Adds Resources for Dairy Employers, Veterinarians
(NMPF) — The National Milk Producers Federation’s (NMPF) coronavirus webpage has added new information for farm employers and employees, as well as guidance for veterinarians, to help the dairy community keep up with evolving government and marketplace responses to coronavirus. Key new documents include: An NMPF/FARM Program-created guidance for farmers if an employee tests positive for COVID-19; NMPF’s two-page “What Farm Employers Need to …
Coronavirus Safety Fact Sheets for Workers
Author: E. Vanessa Campoverde, UF/IFAS (UF/IFAS) — I have received several questions regarding what to do if you have employees or work with others during this Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic in agricultural operations and related businesses. While there is plenty of information about how the virus work, how to protect yourself and others, etc. I compiled some information (with images) that can …
Dairy Groups Ask USDA for Food Purchases, Dairy Farmer Relief
(NAFB) — A group of dairy organizations wrote a letter this week to Ag Secretary Sonny Perdue and asked the USDA to help the struggling dairy industry. They want the agency to use its extensive purchasing power given to it by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Security Act, to alleviate at least some of the stress on the U.S. dairy …
Coronavirus Bill Offers Dairy Aid in What May Be a Long Effort
ARLINGTON, VA – A massive coronavirus aid package poised to pass Congress that includes crucial assistance to dairy producers is a critical, but likely not the last, step in assisting sectors hard-hit by economic disruptions, said Paul Bleiberg, NMPF’s vice president for government relations, in an NMPF podcast. “There are absolutely going to be further legislative efforts,” Bleiberg said. “Congress may take …