(ALFA) — Alabama farmers will plant more corn and wheat this year, but less cotton, peanuts and soybeans, according to the March Agricultural Survey released by the U.S. Department of Agriculture today. Farmers decisions are greatly influenced by the economy, said the Alabama Farmers Federation’s Carla Hornady. Fluctuating markets, weather, unstable foreign trade, and in some cases erratic buying habits …
Survey Reveals Crucial Data on Fusarium Head Blight
(USDA/ARS) — A national U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) survey, published recently in Plant Disease, provides the first large-scale, systematic insight into how wheat and barley growers manage Fusarium head blight (FHB), also known as scab, and where they get information on how to control this destructive disease. FHB can reduce a farmer’s yield and affect quality, lowering the price of …
Brazil’s Implementation of Tariff Rate Quota for Wheat a Win for American Farmers
(USDA) — U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue welcome Brazil’s implementation of an annual duty-free tariff rate quota (TRQ) of 750,000 metric tons (MT) of wheat imports. For many years, Brazil failed to implement its obligation under the WTO to establish a TRQ for wheat. Brazil’s implementation of this TRQ fulfills a commitment made …
Research Probe Ways to Increase Yields of Grain Crops
(USDA/ARS) — Scientists with USDA’s Agricultural Research Service (ARS) and Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL) are working on field trials and genetic studies that could one day double the yields of sorghum, which is one of the world’s most important sources of food, animal feed and biofuel. The efforts follow recent discoveries by ARS scientist Zhanguo Xin, who is based in …
Producers Invited to Attend Education Meetings
The University of Georgia Cooperative Extension agricultural economists and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) will jointly hold producer meetings throughout Georgia October 8-11. The meetings will address three major government support programs including disaster assistance, trade assistance and farm safety-net programs. Tyron Spearman has more details. Below are the meeting dates, times and locations: Oct. …
Former Agriculture Secretaries Announce Support for USMCA
All former U.S. secretaries of agriculture since President Reagan’s administration announced support for the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). In a letter to Congressional leaders, former Secretaries John Block (Reagan), Mike Espy (Clinton), Dan Glickman (Clinton), Ann Veneman (W. Bush), Mike Johanns (W. Bush), Ed Shafer (W. Bush), and Tom Vilsack (Obama) underscored the importance of passing USMCA saying, “We need …
Crop Insurance Deadline Nears in Florida
Oats, Potato, Sugarcane, and Wheat Growers Need to Make Insurance Decisions Soon Tallahassee, FL (FDACS) – The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Risk Management Agency (USDA RMA) reminds Florida oats, potato, sugarcane, and wheat growers that September 30 is the final date to apply for crop insurance coverage for the 2020 …
USDA to Measure Small Grain Production
ATHENS, GA (USDA/NASS) – During the first two weeks of September, growers of small grains around the country will receive survey forms from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS). The agency is taking a comprehensive look into the 2019 production and supply of small grains, which include wheat, oats, and rye. “The small grains industry is …
Crops Covered Under Market Facilitation Program
On Thursday, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced further details of the $16 billion package to help American ag producers affected by trade tariffs. This includes direct payments to farmers through the Market Facilitation Program (MFP). USDA Chief Economist Rob Johansson looks at what is covered under MFP. MFP signup starts Monday at local Farm Service Agency offices. For …
ARS Efforts Should Help Ensure Our Wheat Supply
Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientists and their partners published a study that should boost efforts to develop new varieties of wheat that are better equipped to resist a fungal disease that threatens global wheat production each year. The report in Nature Genetics, by Guihua Bai and his colleagues identifies a key gene that could be used as an important genetic resource by wheat …