Livestock Producers Pleased with Legislative Fix

Dan Cattle, Environment, Livestock

Many in the livestock industry were pleased to see the omnibus appropriations spending bill passed by Congress and signed by the President, as one of agriculture’s wins in that bill ended the court-ordered reporting of manure air emissions as Superfund events. The measure overrides the courts and exempts farmers from having to report manure air emissions as a Superfund emergency. …

Renewal Options Available for Expiring CSP Contracts

Dan Environment, USDA-NRCS

USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) wants to remind participants with existing Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) contracts that expire on December 31, 2018, you can renew those contracts for an additional five years. But the deadline to renew is April 13. Renewal Options Available for Expiring CSP Contracts Sponsored ContentCIR Agriculture Harvester ProductsJuly 1, 2025Nuseed Carinata Covers New GroundOctober 1, …

Scott Signs Measure Targeting Invasive Species

Dan Environment, Florida, Industry News Release

Gov. Rick Scott has signed a bill aimed at reducing the number of pythons and other invasive species that cause damage in parts of the state, including the Everglades. The bill (SB 168), which Scott signed Friday after it was unanimously approved this month by the Legislature, sets up a pilot program targeting pythons and species such as tegu lizards …

Seven Counties in Alabama Designated as Primary Natural Disaster Areas

Dan Alabama, Drought, Industry News Release

Assistance to Producers in Mississippi The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has designated Bibb, Jefferson, Pickens, St. Clair, Shelby, Tuscaloosa and Walker counties in Alabama as primary natural disaster areas due to losses and damages caused by a recent drought. Farmers and ranchers in the contiguous counties in Alabama also qualify for natural disaster assistance. Those counties are: Blount Etowah Marion Calhoun Fayette Perry Chilton …

Alabama NRCS Announces Classic Gully Erosion Initiative Sign-Up

Dan Alabama, Environment, USDA-NRCS

USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Alabama has announced a new initiative focused on addressing classic gully erosion. The Classic Gully Erosion Initiative will focus on gully erosion scenarios where erosion has reached an advanced stage and interferes with farming operations. Alabama NRCS Announces Classic Gully Erosion Initiative Signup Sponsored ContentCIR Agriculture Harvester ProductsJuly 1, 2025Nuseed Carinata Covers New GroundOctober …

Renewal Options Offered for Expiring CSP Contracts

Dan Environment, Florida, USDA-NRCS

USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) encourages agricultural producers with existing Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) contracts expiring on Dec. 31, 2018 to renew their contract. Participants with contracts expiring later this year can access the benefits of the recent program changes through an option to renew their CSP contracts for an additional five years if they agree to adopt additional …

House Follows Senate, Introduces Emission Reporting Exemption

Dan Environment, Industry News Release

The U.S. House, following Senate action, has introduced a bill to stop an unintended regulation of farms. Introduced this week, ACRE, the Agricultural Certainty for Reporting Emissions Act, would avoid unnecessary environmental reporting for farmers and ranchers. The Senate version of the bill, the Fair Agricultural Reporting Method, or FARM Act, would do the same. Under current regulations, approximately 200,000 …

House Bill Exempts Farms From Reporting Emissions

Dan Cattle, Environment, Industry News Release, Livestock

A bipartisan bill to exempt farmers from reporting to the U.S. Coast Guard emissions from the natural breakdown of manure on their farms yesterday was introduced in the U.S. House. The National Pork Producers Council strongly supports the legislation, which is similar to a bipartisan bill introduced last month in the Senate. Sponsored by Reps. Billy Long, R-Mo., and Jim …

Study Finds Breakthrough in Glyphosate Resistance Research

Dan Environment, Industry News Release, Research

Kansas State University researchers have discovered how weeds develop resistance to glyphosate, which researchers say could have broad future implications in agriculture. Researchers say they found how weeds have evolved resistance to glyphosate over a short period of time. The research shows resistance to glyphosate in Palmer amaranth “appears to have occurred very rapidly.” Researchers say glyphosate-resistant Palmer amaranth plants …

ARS Scientist Leads Consortium to Seek Honey Bee Disease Controls

Dan Industry News Release, Pollinators, Research

Agricultural Research Service (ARS) entomologist Steven Cook will be leading a $1 million funded international consortium of scientists to seek new controls for Varroa mites, honey bees’ number one problem. Cook, with the Bee Research Laboratory, a part of ARS’s Beltsville (Maryland) Agricultural Research Center, will be the principal investigator of a group that will include scientists from the United States, Canada and Spain. ARS is …