State leaders for the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced another signup for Georgia’s farmers, ranchers and forestland owners who suffered damage to working lands due to Hurricane Michael but were not eligible for previous signups. State Executive Director Tas Smith, for the USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA), and State Conservationist Terrance O. Rudolph, for the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), …
Ag Equipment Sales Remain Positive in February
The latest data from the Association of Equipment Manufacturers shows U.S. sales of ag tractors and combines remained in the plus column in February. Total two-wheel drive tractor sales grew 17 percent compared to February of last year. That category was led by under-40-horsepower machines, which gained 24 percent over last year, as well as a seven percent gain for …
Trump Budget Includes Crop Insurance Cuts
The fiscal year 2020 budget submitted by President Donald Trump includes a couple of points sure to ignite debate in the budgetary process. The proposal includes imposing work requirements on Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program recipients. The Hagstrom Report says the proposed budget also imposes work requirements on recipients of Medicare and federal housing benefits. The work requirements will likely reduce …
Dairy Help is On the Way
U.S. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue, during a recent stop, said help for dairy farmers is on the way. Stephanie Ho has the story. Sponsored ContentCIR Agriculture Harvester ProductsNovember 1, 2024Nuseed Carinata Covers New GroundOctober 1, 2024TriEst Ag Group: Partners in ProfitabilityApril 1, 2024
Broad Coalition Urges Congress to Protect Farm Bill Program Funding
As farmers, ranchers and rural communities grapple with a devastatingly weak farm economy, nearly 200 organizations, including the American Farm Bureau Federation and several state Farm Bureaus, are urging congressional budget writers to reject calls for additional cuts to farm bill programs. The bipartisan, budget-neutral 2018 farm bill was built upon the previous farm bill, which made a significant contribution …
NASDA Disappointed with Trump Budget Proposal
The National Association of State Departments of Agriculture expressed disappointment this week in the content of President Trump’s budget proposal. NASDA CEO Barbara Glenn says the budget request would “negatively impact agriculture, particularly at a time when many in agriculture are facing a serious economic downturn.” NASDA expects Congress to ensure the programs agriculture needs, including those within the Department …
Florida’s Beef, Dairy and Allied Industries Generated Billions in Revenues in 2017
As Florida approaches the 500-year anniversary of the introduction of cattle to her shores in 1521, a new report from the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) demonstrates just how important beef and dairy production have become to the state’s economy – and shows a recent upswing in Florida cattle industry exports. In 2017, Florida’s combined …
Secretary Perdue Comments on President Trump’s Budget Proposal
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue issued the following statement after President Trump submitted his FY 2020 budget proposal to Congress: “Our economy is booming, and unemployment is the lowest it’s been in decades. While the agriculture community still faces challenges, the Trump economy is creating new opportunities for all Americans to thrive,” said Secretary Perdue. “President Trump’s budget is fiscally …
Senators Roll Out Hurricane Relief Plan
Northwest Florida lawmakers Thursday promoted a $315 million proposal that would make loans available to local governments still reeling from Hurricane Michael. The proposal also would set up a task force to determine additional state assistance for the storm-battered region. The wide-ranging Senate bill (SB 1610) comes after numerous other proposals have been filed in the House and Senate to …
Farmers Helped Protect Crop Insurance During 2018 Farm Bill Debate
Every five years, Congress sets the course for our nation’s agricultural policy with the passage of a Farm Bill. When farm policy critics predictably suggested that Congress use the 2018 Farm Bill to undermine the critical safety net that crop insurance provides, those who depend on crop insurance were quick to tell Capitol Hill to “do no harm” to this important program. …