Third Round of Farmers to Families Food Box Program Purchases

(Washington, D.C., July 24, 2020) – U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue announced on Friday the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will launch a third round of Farmers to Families Food Box Program purchases with distributions to occur beginning by September 1 with completion by October 31, 2020. The purchases will spend the balance of $3 billion authorized for the …

Emphasis Placed on Food Safety in Florida

(NSF) – Amid the coronavirus pandemic, studies are showing more people are now concerned about food safety. While the risk of contracting COVID-19 through food is very low, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) points to a recent survey that says 55% of consumers are worried about the safety of their food. Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried’s agency …

House Passes Ag Appropriations Bill Despite White House Opposition

Last Friday, July 24, the House of Representatives passed a minibus of fiscal year 2021 appropriations bills, which included the agriculture bill. However, the Hagstrom Report says the White House is opposed to the overall bill and cited some specific provisions as the reason for its opposition. The final vote was 224-189. Seven Democrats, including House Ag Chair Collin Peterson, …

Weekly Livestock Market Report Week Ending 07-24-2020

Here are the weekly livestock market reports for Alabama, Florida, and Georgia, for the week ended July 24, 2020, compiled by the Livestock Market News Service for all three states. AL Livestock Market Report: At Alabama Livestock Auctions receipts at 21 markets totaled an estimated 10,000 head compared to 12,698 last week and 12,242 year ago. Compared to one week …

Questions About Peanut Supply if Pandemic Continues

There are questions about the supply of peanuts if the COVID-19 Pandemic continues for a period of time. Tyron Spearman has the story. Sponsored ContentCIR Agriculture Harvester ProductsJuly 1, 2026FL Cattle Enhancement Board Wraps up Funding YearJune 30, 2026Florida Cattle Enhancement Board Awarded Researcher Discusses New World Screwworm OverviewJune 19, 2026Verdant Robotics Offers Growers Targeted Application of Herbicides or Beneficials …

’20 Sunbelt Ag Expo Cancelled

Contact: Becca Turner; (229) 985-1968 x2228; Email: becca@sunbeltexpo.com The Sunbelt Agricultural Exposition Board of Directors voted to cancel the 43rd Annual show scheduled for October 20-22, 2020. North America’s Premier Farm Show, the Sunbelt Ag Expo, has provided a venue for the agricultural industry to conduct business for 42 years. For the first time, since it began in 1978, the …

Commissioner Fried Encourages Farmers to Comment, Testify on Unfair Trade Hearings

Tallahassee, Fla. – The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) and Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried are encouraging producers to submit comments in the coming week to the upcoming U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) field hearings on unfair produce trade with Mexico. The USTR recently announced that field hearings scheduled in April will now take place on August 13 and …

Scott, Conaway: Bipartisanship Crucial as Energy Policy Conversations Continue

Washington, D.C. – Today, the House Agriculture Committee’s Commodity Exchanges, Energy and Credit Subcommittee held a hearing to examine the impacts of farm energy production on farm income and rural communities. After the hearing, Subcommittee Ranking Member Austin Scott (GA-8) and Committee Ranking Member K. Michael Conaway (TX-11) released the following remarks: “As conversations about the future of U.S. energy …

COVID-19 Pandemic Caused Run on Peanut Butter

The Director of Commodities for the J.M. Smucker Company recently confirmed that the COVID-19 Pandemic caused a run on peanut butter that emptied grocery shelves. Tyron Spearman has the story. Sponsored ContentCIR Agriculture Harvester ProductsJuly 1, 2026FL Cattle Enhancement Board Wraps up Funding YearJune 30, 2026Florida Cattle Enhancement Board Awarded Researcher Discusses New World Screwworm OverviewJune 19, 2026Verdant Robotics Offers …

USDA Making Improvements to Livestock Gross Margin Insurance Program

USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA) has announced changes to the Livestock Gross Margin (LGM) insurance program for cattle and swine beginning in the 2021 crop year. Changes include adding premium subsidies to assist producers and moving premium due dates to the end of the endorsement period for cattle. According to a story from Gary Crawford, the changes may make it …