USDA Agricultural Research Service A scent that petunias and snapdragons release to attract pollinators may be an environmentally friendly control for pests like the spotted wing drosophila fly (SWD) and the brown marmorated stink bug. Agricultural Research Service (ARS) chemist Aijun Zhang discovered the fragrant chemical methyl benzoate, which is also a popular ingredient approved by the U.S. Food and …
Appeals Court Rejects Caloosahatchee Water Case
by Jim Saunders, News Service of Florida A federal appeals court Monday rejected a lawsuit alleging that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ management of water flowing from Lake Okeechobee into the Caloosahatchee River caused pollution problems in the Southwest Florida waterway. A three-judge panel of the Atlanta-based appeals court — in a case described in one document as a …
Five Counties in Georgia Designated as Primary Natural Disaster Areas with Assistance to Producers in Florida
In response to a request from Dianne Westmoreland, Farm Service Agency’s (FSA) Acting State Executive Director in Georgia, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has designated Baker, Decatur, Grady, Mitchell and Thomas counties in Georgia as primary natural disaster areas due to losses and damages caused by a recent drought. Farmers and ranchers in Brooks, Calhoun, Colquitt, Dougherty, Early, Miller, …
Georgia Receives Conservation Innovation Grants
USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) has announced they will award more than $22.6 million through the Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) program to drive public and private sector innovation in resource conservation. Georgia will receive funding for various projects totaling well over $2 million. Sponsored ContentCIR Agriculture Harvester ProductsJuly 1, 2026FL Cattle Enhancement Board Wraps up Funding YearJune 30, 2026Florida …
Florida Receives Conservation Innovation Grants
USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) has announced they will award more than $22.6 million through the Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) program to drive public and private sector innovation in resource conservation. Florida will receive funding for three projects totaling almost $2 million. Sponsored ContentCIR Agriculture Harvester ProductsJuly 1, 2026FL Cattle Enhancement Board Wraps up Funding YearJune 30, 2026Florida Cattle …
Alabama Receives Conservation Innovation Grants
USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) has announced they will award more than $22.6 million through the Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) program to drive public and private sector innovation in resource conservation. In Alabama, Auburn University was awarded $946,684 to focus on water management. Sponsored ContentCIR Agriculture Harvester ProductsJuly 1, 2026FL Cattle Enhancement Board Wraps up Funding YearJune 30, 2026Florida …
Trump Waterways Commitment Needs Funding
Farm groups are encouraged by President Donald Trump’s infrastructure commitment for waterways, but Politico questions how the President plans to fund the effort. Trump announced his plan with Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue and Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke earlier this week. The American Soybean Association says President Trump’s remarks highlighted the importance of the waterways and the need for infrastructure upgrades, …
Three Counties in Florida Designated as Primary Natural Disaster Areas
In response to a request from Debby Folsom, Farm Service Agency’s (FSA) Acting State Executive Director in Florida, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has designated Hernando, Pasco and Pinellas counties in Florida as primary natural disaster areas due to losses and damages caused by a recent drought. Farmers and ranchers in Citrus, Hillsborough, Polk, and Sumter counties in Florida …
Cover Crop Tour Helps Florida Ag Producers Build Soil Health
USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service in Florida hopes you will mark July 14 on your calendar, as that is the date for the Cover Crop Tour at the NRCS Brooksville Plant Material Center in Brooksville, Florida. Farmers, ranchers, and researchers are invited to take part in a free tour, which will showcase the performance of 17 summer cover crop species in …
Farm Bureau Asks Senate Committee to Advance EPA Nominee Susan Bodine
American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall has asked the leadership of a Senate committee to approve the nomination of Susan Bodine to Assistant Administrator for the Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assistance of the Environmental Protection Agency. Duvall’s letter to Chairman John Barrasso and Ranking Member Tom Carper of the Senate Committee on the Environment and Public Works praised …