Hurricane Michael devastated coastal communities along the Florida Panhandle but the storm also caused significant agricultural crop losses well inland, as shown by a new report from the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS). County-level estimates from the UF/IFAS Economic Impact Analysis Program (EIAP) indicate that none of the four hardest-hit counties – Jackson, Gadsden, Suwannee …
SBA Offers Disaster Assistance to Residents of Alabama Affected by Hurricane Michael
Alabama businesses and residents affected by Hurricane Michael on October 10 – 13, 2018, can apply for low-interest disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), Administrator Linda McMahon announced. Administrator McMahon made the loans available in response to a letter from Gov. Kay Ivey on Nov. 16, 2018, requesting a disaster declaration by the SBA. The declaration covers …
Georgia NRCS Offers More Assistance for Landowners Affected by Michael
State Conservationist Terrance O. Rudolph announced that additional assistance is being made available to Georgia farmers, ranchers and forestland owners who suffered damage to working lands due to Hurricane Michael. This new signup for the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) through the U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) can protect your land from erosion, support disaster recovery …
Signup Announced for EQIP in Alabama
USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) State Conservationist for Alabama Ben Malone announced that January 25, 2019 will be the signup batching deadline for producers for Fiscal Year 2019 for the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) and initiatives offered through the program. In addition to the January 25,, 2019 deadline, Malone announced that a 2nd signup batching date has been set …
Turkey Prices at Ten Year Low
Ahead of Thanksgiving, turkey prices have hit a ten-year low. A report by Purdue University estimates turkey prices this year for Thanksgiving will average $1.45 per pound. Jayson Lusk, a professor and department head of Purdue’s Department of Agricultural Economics, says lower commodity prices, such as corn and soybeans used to make feed for animals, is “one of the drivers.” …
Georgia Ag Commissioner Black Issues Statement on Hurricane Michael Relief Package
“We are extremely thankful for the work of the General Assembly during last week’s special session and appreciate the Governor’s quick signature to the amended budget that provides roughly $270 million towards critical support for our agricultural sector and rural communities after Georgia’s worst natural disaster. Our farmers in Georgia are proud of their contributions to the state’s economy as …
USDA Disaster Designation Assigned for Five Alabama Counties
On November 16, 2018, United States Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue announced that five Alabama counties are under Secretarial Natural Disaster Designation. He announced the declaration during a roundtable discussion with Congresswoman Martha Roby, Commissioner John McMillan and local farmers in Gordon, Alabama. The designation by USDA was prompted by excessive winds and rainfall from Hurricane Michael. The conditions caused …
USDA Invests to Support Military Veterans Pursuing Farming and Ranching Careers
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) announces six awards to help military veterans pursue farming and ranching careers. Grants are made through NIFA’s Enhancing Agricultural Opportunities for Military Veterans Competitive Grants Program (AgVets). Section 760 of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2017 (H.R. 244, 115th Congress) provides funds to NIFA for AgVets to provide grants to …
Farm Bureau Survey: Thanksgiving Dinner Cost Down for Third Straight Year
The American Farm Bureau Federation’s 33rd annual survey of classic items found on the Thanksgiving Day dinner table indicates the average cost of this year’s feast for 10 is $48.90, or less than $5.00 per person. This is a 22-cent decrease from last year’s average of $49.12. “Since 2015, the average cost of Thanksgiving dinner has declined steadily and is …
October Tractor Sales Mostly Flat
Sales of tractors remained mostly flat in October while combine sales declined. According to the Association of Equipment Manufacturer’s October Ag Tractor and Combine Report, overall sales remained positive year-to-date. U.S. sales in October, compared to last year, of four-wheel-drive tractors were flat with a one-percent drop month-over-month. October year-to-date growth was 13.5 percent for four-wheel-drive tractors. Total U.S. sales …