When USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) released its 2020 Planting Intentions Report Tuesday, it noted growers intend to plant 13.7 million acres of cotton this year, which is down less than 1% from last year. USDA Chief Economist, Rob Johansson, talked about what the new report says about possible cotton acreage for 2020. Key findings for crops here in …
Commissioner Nikki Fried Letter to USDA Secretary Perdue: Ensure Farmers Are “Not Left Behind”
(FDACS) — Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nicole “Nikki” Fried sent a letter to U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue requesting flexibility to help move Florida perishable crops quickly to food banks, school meal programs, and other federal food purchase programs. With many restaurants and food service establishments closed, Florida agricultural producers are facing a sudden market decline for fresh commodities ready to be harvested such …
Peanut Acreage Expected to Increase
USDA’s 2020 Planting Intentions Report indicates more acres will be going to peanuts this year than what we saw in 2019. Tyron Spearman has look at those numbers, along with an update on some other crops. According to the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), corn planted area for all purposes in 2020 is estimated at 97.0 million acres, up 8% …
Planting Intentions Indicate Slightly Less Cotton in 2020
USDA released its 2020 Planting Intentions Report today, and according to the numbers, there will be slightly less acres of cotton this year compared to last year. Chris Singh with USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) has the details. Cotton growers intend to plant 13.7 million acres in 2020, down less than 1% from last year. Upland area is expected …
Educating Florida Students About the Beef Industry
The Masters of Beef Advocacy (MBA) program is designed to be a strong advocate for the beef community. And the free, self-guided online course is now helping to provide Florida agricultural educators with material for their students taking classes at home. Florida Beef Council (FBC) Director of Education & Promotion, DeAnne Maples, says this is just a way to help …
UF Plant and Soil Diagnostic Labs Essential to Florida Agriculture, Economy During COVID-19
(UF/IFAS) — In the time of COVID-19, plants still get sick, and the soil that nourishes them needs care. The health of plants and soil is critical to agriculture, an industry designated an essential service in response to the pandemic. That’s why, when many American universities have transitioned to online-only and their employees adapt to working from home, scientists at …
Florida Forestry Keeps the Toilet Paper Rolling
(UF/IFAS) — Forest products contribute to a large and valuable industry for the state of Florida – altogether comprising the state’s largest agricultural commodity. This includes primary and secondary product industries that range from lumber to, you guessed it, toilet paper. With stores struggling to maintain supply in toilet paper aisles and many Floridians now under stay-at-home orders, shoppers can …
COVID-19 Update for Growers and Packers
(UF/IFAS) — The CDC, FDA and USDA all agree “Currently, there is no evidence of food or food packaging being associated with transmission of COVID-19”, including imported foods and materials. FDA has issued guidance that if an employee tests positive for COVID-19 they “do not anticipate that food products would need to be recalled or be withdrawn from the market”. Citrus growers, harvesters, packers, …
Weekly Livestock Market Report Week Ending 03-27-2020
Here are the weekly livestock market reports for Alabama, Florida, and Georgia, for the week ended March 27, 2020, compiled by the Livestock Market News Service for all three states. AL Livestock Market Report: At Alabama Livestock Auctions for the Week ended-March 27, 2020, receipts at 21 markets totaled an estimated 5,500 head compared to 5,104 last week and 14,320 …
Commissioner Fried Advising Farmers to Utilize New Flexibilities on Crop Insurance Due to COVID-19
(FDACS) — Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried and the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) is advising farmers to utilize new flexibilities for crop insurance announced by the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Risk Management Agency (RMA). “Our team has been in constant communication with agriculture producers, industry leaders, and the USDA throughout the coronavirus outbreak — we have relayed concerns and challenges facing the …