The Georgia Beef Expo committee has announced it has elected to cancel the 2021 Georgia Beef Expo that was scheduled for April 2-3 in Perry, Georgia. The committee explored different options in an attempt to continue the tradition but felt this was the most prudent course of action considering the uncertainty in travel for exhibitors and the recent spike in …
More Farmers Plan to Get COVID-19 Vaccine
A question in the recent Purdue/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer finds more farmers say they will get the COVID-19 vaccine. The Ag Economy Barometer for January, released this week, finds producers’ attitudes about receiving a COVID-19 vaccine have shifted since the fall, with nearly six out of ten producers, 58%, planning to get vaccinated as soon as possible. Just 24% …
Alabama Agriculture, Food Workers Eligible for Covid Vaccine
As the Covid-19 vaccination process continues across the county, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) noted food and agriculture workers were among the 30 million frontline essential workers who should be in line for the vaccine. Over the past few weeks, individual states have begun to include this segment in their vaccination programs and that includes Alabama. According …
Researchers Help Expand Indoor Gardening Trend Triggered by Pandemic
(UF/IFAS) — COVID-19 led many people to start gardening, and it’s no passing fancy. Recent research shows that about 80% of those who took up gardening since the beginning of COVID-19 will continue the pastime in 2021. Growing in the outdoor garden is one thing. Tending to plants indoors at home presents other challenges and opportunities. As they recognized the …
Survey Help Sought from Georgia Producers
The Georgia Foundation for Agriculture, Georgia Farm Bureau and the University of Georgia Center for Agribusiness and Economic Development are jointly offering a survey to Georgia farmers impacted by COVID-19. This most recent survey was issued in December, but the group is allowing additional time for producers to send in their submissions. The deadline to complete the survey is Feb. …
Ag Secretary Designate on Pandemic Lessons-Learned
The Agriculture Secretary-designate recently said responses to the ongoing human pandemic provide basic lessons for dealing with infectious animal disease. Stephanie Ho has the story. During that talk with a coalition of land-grant universities, Ag Secretary-designate Tom Vilsack listed some of the top issues he’s concerned about. Sponsored ContentNuseed Carinata Covers New GroundJuly 15, 2024CIR Agriculture Harvester ProductsJuly 1, 2024TriEst …
South African Farm Labor Exempt from Travel Ban
(AFBF) — The U.S. State Department clarified its ban on non-citizens entering the United States from South Africa. A Biden administration proclamation suspended travel from several countries due to COVID-19 concerns. The State Department clarified that agriculture workers entering the U.S. qualify for national interest exceptions on a case-by-case basis. The American Farm Bureau Federation sent a letter to Secretary …
Contract Poultry Growers Now Eligible for CFAP Funds
(ACES) — Changes to the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP) announced earlier this month is good news for Alabama’s contract poultry growers. “The USDA changes mean that relief funds are available to contract poultry and other contract growers affected by COVID-19 market changes,” said Dennis Brothers, an Alabama Cooperative Extension System agricultural economist. Brothers said contract poultry growers need to understand …
Meatpacking Workers Offered Bonuses to Get COVID-19 Vaccinations
JBS, a meatpacker, and Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation, a chicken company, say they’ll pay $100 to American workers who voluntarily get the COVID-19 vaccine. Yahoo News Dot Com says thousands of U.S. meatpacking workers were infected last year, so the bonus will, hopefully, encourage employees to get the inoculations. COVID outbreaks temporarily halted most meat production in the spring of 2020, …
COVID-19 Impacts Mental Health on the Farm
A strong majority of farmers and farm-workers say the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted their mental health, according to a new American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) poll. The poll also indicates that more than half say they are personally experiencing more mental health challenges than they were a year ago. The survey of rural adults and farmers/farmworkers reveals how the pandemic …