Just hours after the Florida House gave final approval Thursday, a bill that would expand legal protections for farmers was sent to Gov. Ron DeSantis. According to the News Service of Florida, the House voted 110-7 to support expanding the state’s “Right to Farm” law, a top priority of Senate President Wilton Simpson, R-Trilby. The Senate passed the bill (SB …
Registration Open for 2021 Southern Peanut Growers Conference
The 22nd Annual Southern Peanut Growers Conference will be held July 15-17, 2021 at the Edgewater Beach Resort in Panama City Beach, Florida. The three-day event will provide farmers with information about peanut production, legislative issues, marketing and promotions. In addition to the conference sessions, the event will focus on the family by offering a ladies program and a golf tournament. …
Small Decrease Expected in Georgia Peanut Acres
Georgia’s peanut acreage is expected to decrease in 2021. The drop would be small, decreasing from 810,000 in 2020 to about 790,000 this year, according to the USDA Prospective Plantings Report. Georgia Peanut Commission Executive Director Don Koehler said the decrease is necessary to help farmers get their crop rotations in order. “We’re still going to have a lot of …
Weather Hasn’t Been Conducive for Planting Peanuts in Florida
When USDA released its 2021 Planting Intentions Report in March, it noted there will be 2% less acres going to peanuts this year than what we saw in 2020. In Florida, acreage for peanuts was estimated at 180,000 acres, which is actually up 3% from last year. But in a phone conversation with Southeast AgNet’s Randall Weiseman, Florida Peanut Producers Association …
Fertilizer Costs Shape Crop Production Expenses
The Department of Agriculture’s Economic Research Service reports production costs for corn and other major commodities are shaped by fertilizer cost. From 2010 to 2019, fertilizer was a major expense in U.S. corn production, accounting for 33 to 44 percent of operating costs-a category that includes other variable expenses like seed, chemicals, fuel, and repairs. Fertilizer also comprised 16 to …
Produce Union Unhappy with USDA’s Cancellation of Food Box Program
A trade group in the fruit and vegetable industry is unhappy with the USDA’s decision to cancel the Farmers to Families Food Box Distribution Program. United Fresh says millions of Americans gained access to healthy, fresh produce throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, calling the decision by Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack “shortsighted.” The group says comments disparaging the program were a slap …
UGA Extension Peanut Agronomist: Don’t Be in a Rush to Put Peanuts in the Ground
Peanut planting will begin soon in Georgia. University of Georgia (UGA) Extension peanut agronomist Scott Monfort hopes not too soon, however, considering the cool nights still being experienced throughout the state. “The biggest thing is conditions. I know everybody’s chomping at the bit right now to start planting, and we’ve got at least one more week where we’re dropping down …
Georgia Grown Cotton Medical Scrubs
By Ashley Robinson Georgia grown cotton is being used to create 100% cotton medical scrubs crafted entirely in the United States. The initiative, spearheaded by Field to Closet Cotton Therapeutics, is making the concept of American grown, 100% cotton scrubs, a reality. The long-term vision for this initiative is to support the U.S. cotton farmer, increase domestic demand for cotton …
Enrollment Open for Growers to U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol
Enrollment is open for cotton growers to the U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol for the 2021 cotton crop. Existing members will also need to re-enroll their operations. The U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol sets a new standard for more sustainably grown cotton amid greater demand for transparency. Ted Schneider, U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol board member, and a Louisiana cotton producer says enrollment …
Alabama Peanut Acreage High in 2021
Peanut planting in Alabama is expected to commence in the next two weeks. Another high acreage crop is expected, says Jacob Davis, Executive Director of the Alabama Peanut Producers Association. “NASS (National Agricultural Statistics Service) is saying we’re going to have 190,000 acres in Alabama this year. That would be up substantially since we had 182,000 this previous year. Looking …