The 2021 planting season is just around the corner for Southeast producers. It is the ideal time for farmers to sample their soils and determine what nutrients need to be applied, said Mike Riffle, Senior Manager, Field Development at Valent U.S.A. LLC. “I think any grower, no matter what they’re growing, should be doing soil testing, probably yearly. Now is …
Vilsack’s First Priority Is Containing the Pandemic
The newly-confirmed Secretary of Agriculture, Tom Vilsack, is already busy trying to help rural areas of the country get through the Covid-19 pandemic. According to a story from Stephanie Ho, Vilsack said his first priority is working to contain the pandemic. Vilsack announced the $42 million will go towards grants to help rural communities, healthcare centers, and schools through their …
CFAP Application Deadline Extended
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced it has extended the deadline to apply for the latest round of the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP). The original deadline was today, Feb. 26. But according to Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, the new deadline will extend 30 days after USDA completes a review of the program. USDA had suspended processing and payments …
AFBF: Farmers Need More Time to Apply for CFAP
The American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) is asking the USDA to extend the deadline to apply for the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP). Last month, an additional $13 billion in assistance was made available to help farmers and ranchers who are suffering losses due to the COVID-19 pandemic. While the current deadline is Friday, Feb. 26, recent severe weather and …
Senate Confirms Vilsack as Secretary of Agriculture
The U.S. Senate finally approved Tom Vilsack to be the next Secretary of Agriculture in a 92-7 vote. A former governor of Iowa, Vilsack also served two terms as Ag Secretary in the Obama Administration. He was the 30th Secretary of Agriculture under President Obama and is now the 32nd after Tuesday’s Senate confirmation. Before the vote, the Senate allowed …
Ag Groups Congratulate Vilsack on Confirmation as Agriculture Secretary
Farm Bureau Congratulates Tom Vilsack on Confirmation (AFBF) — American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall commented on the confirmation of Tom Vilsack as Secretary of Agriculture. “AFBF congratulates Tom Vilsack on his confirmation as the next Secretary of Agriculture. His strong track record of leadership and previous experience at USDA will serve rural America well. “Secretary Vilsack and I have …
Farm Stress Session Offered at Commodity Classic
Like many other agricultural events, the Commodity Classic this year will be virtual. Due to the restrictions brought on by COVID-19, America’s largest farmer-led, farmer-focused agricultural and educational experience will be available to farms across the country in a digital format March 2-5, 2021. And a part of this year’s event tackles stress on the farm. The COVID-19 outbreak and …
Ethanol Production Drops to Lowest Levels in Five Years
During the week ending on Feb. 12, the Energy Information Administration (EIA) announced that ethanol production dropped to its lowest level in five months while stockpiles grew. The EIA report says that ethanol production fell to 911,000 barrels per day, down from 937,000 barrels a day during the prior week. That’s the lowest production level since late September. A Successful …
Fried & FDACS Launch Bilingual Farmworker Vaccine Education Campaign
With the COVID-19 vaccine becoming available for at-risk populations in Florida, Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried and the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services launched a bilingual vaccine education campaign to encourage COVID-19 vaccination among Florida’s farmworkers and agriculture community. A recent study found that food and agricultural workers are among those most at risk of death from COVID-19, facing a 39 percent increase in excess …
USDA, FDA Offer Update on Transmission of COVID-19 Through Food or Food Packaging
The following statement about COVID-19 and its impact through food or food packaging can be attributed to Acting USDA Secretary Kevin Shea and Acting FDA Commission Janet Woodcock: After more than a year since the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak was declared a global health emergency, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, and the U.S. …