covid coronavirus

SNAP Benefits Increase Through COVID Bill

Clint Thompson Coronavirus

While Congress did pass the $900 billion pandemic relief bill that includes a variety of benefits and direct cash payments, President Trump urged congressional leaders on Tuesday to make several changes to the bill including increasing direct payments for Americans. But a story from Tyron Spearman notes the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), a program through the 2018 Farm Bill, will …

covid coronavirus

More Assistance for Farmers and Ranchers

Clint Thompson Coronavirus, Legislative

Congress voted Monday to approve the $900 billion Covid relief package that will deliver much-needed aid to small businesses hit hard by the pandemic. According to a story from Tyron Spearman, that includes farmers and ranchers. The White House has said that President Donald Trump will sign the legislation.

Food and Ag Provisions in COVID Relief Package

Clint Thompson Coronavirus, Legislative

Tax extenders and a $26 billion infusion for agriculture and nutrition programs are part of the massive $908 billion virus relief and $1.4 billion agency funding package that Congress overwhelmingly passed late Monday night. When it comes to agriculture, the long-awaited relief adds $13 billion each to agriculture and nutrition aid and includes support for those who were left out …

Meat, Poultry, Farm Workers High Priority for Vaccine

Clint Thompson Coronavirus, Pork, Poultry

Federal guidance suggests essential workers should be next to receive a COVID-19 vaccine, including meat packers and farm workers. A Centers for Disease Control advisory committee voted in favor of a blueprint for essential workers and people older than 75 as recipients of the vaccine in the next phase. In a news release, North American Meat Institute President and CEO …

New COVID Package Helps Farmers Previously Left Out of Aid

Clint Thompson Coronavirus

WASHINGTON, December 21, 2020 – Congress agreed on a $900 billion COVID stimulus package, which will include up to $13 billion in funding that directly benefits agriculture. Nearly $1 billion will support a dairy donation program and supplemental Dairy Margin Coverage payments for small and medium-sized producers. More help will be made available to specialty and non-specialty crop growers, and …

Farm Sector Income

Coronavirus Stimulus Package Helps FL Farmers

Dan Coronavirus, Economy, Florida, Industry News Release

(FDACS) — Congressional leaders agreed upon a $900 billion coronavirus relief bill. As the COVID-19 pandemic continues setting new case records, the bill will provide some direct assistance to families and additional funding for food production and distribution, among other priorities. On the bill, Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried offered the following statement: “For more than nine months, COVID-19 has upended the lives …

cfap

CoBank: 2021 Year Ahead Report on U.S. Rural Economy

Clint Thompson Coronavirus, Economy

The speed of the economic recovery will largely hinge on the availability, dissemination and reach of COVID-19 vaccines, pushing a pent-up consumer demand to later in 2021. That’s according to a comprehensive year-ahead outlook report just issued from CoBank’s Knowledge Exchange Division. “The coming year will be a recovery year for most Americans and the businesses that make up the …

georgia

Georgia Ag Forecast to be Held Online Jan. 29

Dan Coronavirus, Education, Georgia, Industry News Release

(CAES) — Economists from the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CAES) will discuss the effects of COVID-19 on farming, highlight agritourism impacts in the state, and give a forecast of top commodities for the next year during the annual Georgia Ag Forecast. The live seminar will take place via Zoom webinar Friday, Jan. 29, beginning at …

conservation

Conservation Efforts Continue on Florida’s Farms, Ranches Amid Pandemic

Dan Conservation, Coronavirus, Farm Bill, Florida, Industry News Release, Irrigation, Soil, Water

(USDA/NRCS/FL) — USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service in Florida continued its conservation work across the state despite a year marked with a pandemic and natural disasters. The agency helped farmers, ranchers and forest landowners implement conservation practices to help conserve natural resources and boost their bottom lines. Additionally, NRCS launched new online tools that increased the efficiency, effectiveness and delivery of crucial …

farm computer

Pandemic Fuels some of 2020’s Most-Searched UF/IFAS Extension Information

Dan Coronavirus, Florida, Industry News Release

(UF/IFAS) — The coronavirus pandemic occupied space in everyone’s minds this year, prompting online searches about any variety of topics related to it. The year’s most popular UF/IFAS Extension EDIS publications were no exception, with two of the top 10 being brand-new documents related to food safety and the coronavirus. In all, the Electronic Data Information Source, which hosts peer-reviewed …