This Secretarial natural disaster designation allows the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) to extend much-needed emergency credit to producers recovering from natural disasters through emergency loans. Emergency loans can be used to meet various recovery needs including the replacement of essential items such as equipment or livestock, reorganization of a farming operation or the refinance of …
After Securing State of Emergency Declaration, Florida Ag Commissioner Nikki Fried Advocates for USDA Disaster Designation to Help Florida Producers Hurt by Recent Freeze
(FDACS/Tallahassee, FL/February 9, 2022) — Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried wrote to U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack in support of a Secretarial Disaster Designation to provide additional assistance to Florida producers experiencing losses due to the recent freezing temperatures. This follows the Commissioner’s requests last week for the Governor to declare a state of emergency and for the Florida Department of Transportation to issue an emergency …
Signup Now for Expanded Conservation Program Opportunities
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is offering several new and expanded opportunities for climate-smart agriculture in 2022. This includes availability of the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) Conservation Incentive Contracts option and a Climate Smart Agriculture and Forestry Initiative. These improvements to NRCS’ working lands conservation programs, combined with continued program opportunities across the …
Florida OJ Videos Play in Airports
The Florida Department of Citrus (FDOC) showed its “The Original Wellness Drink” videos about Florida orange juice (OJ) within major airports during the holiday season. These 15- and 30-second videos played throughout multiple markets via airports in Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Detroit, New York, Orlando, Tampa/Sarasota and Washington, D.C. The ads ran from Thanksgiving week through New Year’s Eve, targeting at least six …
Livestock Market Reports for Week Ended 02-4-2022
Here are the weekly livestock market reports for Alabama, Florida, and Georgia for the week ended February 4, 2022, compiled by the Livestock Market News Service for all three states. AL Livestock Market Report: At Alabama Livestock Auctions, for the week ending-February 04, 2022, receipts at 21 markets totaled an estimated 14,000 head compared to 12,378 last week and 9,196 …
Update for Producers Impacted by Freezing Temperatures Provided by Florida Ag Commissioner
Emergency Order Issued as Assessments Continue (Tallahassee, FL/February 4, 2022/FDACS) — The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) had staff in the fields as producers continue to assess damages caused by recent freezing temperatures and work to salvage impacted produce. On Thursday, the Florida Department of Transportation issued an emergency order helping farmers impacted by freezing temperatures to move as …
Florida Lawmakers Discuss Budget Issues Important to Agriculture
Week 4 of the 2022 Florida Legislative Session has wrapped up and in her weekly report Mary Ann Hooks, director of the University of Florida/IFAS (UF/IFAS) Government Affairs, said they are pleased to report that their budget priorities are alive and moving forward. The Senate and the House Appropriations Sub-committees released the first run of the budget numbers, and UF/IFAS looks good in the …
High Input Costs Top of Mind at Alabama-Florida Peanut Trade Show
By Clint Thompson Alabama and Florida peanut producers reunited on Thursday in Dothan, Alabama for their annual trade show event. At the forefront of farmers’ minds ahead of planting this year’s crop are the extremely high input costs. Jacob Davis, executive director of the Alabama Peanut Producers Association said growers are trying to hit a moving target with locking down …
Glad the Alabama-Florida Peanut Trade Show Is Back
Peanut growers from around the Southeast are in Dothan, Alabama today taking part in the Alabama-Florida Peanut Trade Show. The event is hosted by the Florida Peanut Producers Association (FPPA) and Alabama Peanut Producers Association (APPA). Various discussions about products and services are taking place, as growers are able to learn more about what is happening in the industry. APPA President Carl Sanders told …
Florida Beef Council Gathering Information in Houston
Cattlemen and women from Florida are representing the state this week at the 2022 Cattle Industry Convention and NCBA Trade Show in Houston, Texas. Various discussions will take place, which include the latest with the Beef Checkoff. One of those attending is DeAnne Maples, director of education & promotion for the Florida Beef Council (FBC). She says it’s a great opportunity to network …