Disaster aid for states hit by flooding is more uncertain as Congress nears recess and ag lawmakers seem at odds over what producers need. Politico reports negotiations to pass a disaster relief package have collapsed just as another storm hits the Midwest and Great Plains, prompting blizzard warnings from Colorado to Minnesota. Midwest Senators are pushing for a disaster bill …
Perdue Urges Passage of a Disaster Bill
U.S. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue is urging lawmakers to pass a disaster bill, one that will help farmers who have suffered from the various natural disasters. Gary Crawford has the story. Sponsored ContentFCEB Recurring Funding Provides Opportunity for Longer Term Research ProjectsOctober 10, 2025Florida Cattle Enhancement Board Advances Forage ResearchOctober 3, 2025Florida Cattle Enhancement Board Acts As Catalyst For Timely …
NAP Buy-Up Coverage Now Availability
Changes apply Beginning April 8, 2019 USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) announced that higher levels of coverage will be offered through the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP), a popular safety net program, beginning April 8, 2019. The 2018 Farm Bill also increased service fees and made other changes to the program, including service fee waivers for qualified military veterans …
Ag Economy Barometer Drifts Lower
Farmers are expressing more concerns regarding the future as the monthly Ag Economy Barometer drifts lower. Released this week, the March survey fell to 133 down from 136 a month earlier. Organizers say increasing concerns about future economic conditions drove the barometer lower as the Index of Future Expectations declined to 139 in March compared to an index value of …
Florida Ag Commissioner Urges Support for Fresh From Florida Budget
Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried urges Florida farmers to make their voices heard now during this tough year for agriculture program funding. She says state lawmakers are debating key budget items between House and Senate versions that could leave some department programs woefully underfunded. One area of big concern right now is the popular Fresh From Florida marketing program. In …
Negotiations Continue in Congress on Stalled Disaster Bill
Many involved with agriculture in the Southeast are disappointed Congress has yet to pass a disaster relief package to help those trying to recover from Hurricane Michael. But according to a story from Gary Crawford, lawmakers are continuing negotiations on a supplemental disaster bill. Sponsored ContentFCEB Recurring Funding Provides Opportunity for Longer Term Research ProjectsOctober 10, 2025Florida Cattle Enhancement Board …
Fried, Lawmakers Eye Hurricane Damage
Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried continued Friday to push for state and federal hurricane relief for the Panhandle as she led a bipartisan group of lawmakers and staff members through rural communities still struggling from deadly Hurricane Michael. Saying farmers are “suffering,” Fried said the trip to see Calhoun County timber land, where decades-old slash pines reaching maturity were wiped …
Disappointment with Lack of Disaster Funding
Southeast AgNet recently reported that Georgia leaders, farmers and elected officials had been urging Congress to pass a disaster relief package with funding for Georgia and other states that are recovering from recent hurricanes, wildfires and other natural disasters. But that didn’t happen. The U.S. Senate voted a bill down this week that would have provided relief. Thursday, at the …
USDA Launches New Farmers.gov Features to Help with H2A Applications, Managing Loans
Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) launched two new features on farmers.gov to help customers manage their farm loans and navigate the application process for H2A visas. “Customer service is our top priority at USDA and these new features will help our customers as they manage their farm loans and navigate the H-2A temporary agricultural …
Farmers Need Disaster Relief Now
The following statement concerning congressional efforts to provide disaster assistance for farmers and ranchers may be attributed to American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall: “Farms and ranches across the country have endured an incredibly difficult year in 2018 and the trend continues in 2019 with historic hurricanes, floods, tornadoes and wildfires. Losses total more than $8 billion, and the …