The Farm Service Agency restored the previous definitions of terms like “active personal management, significant contribution, and related phrasing” in a rule regarding farm program subsidy eligibility and payment limitations. FSA Administrator Richard Fordyce says the change is more of a “correction.” He says, “These revisions mean that members of a family farm operation are not subject to the more …
Chicken: The No. 1 COVID-19 Protein
As Americans cooked more food in their homes than they had before over the past year, chicken became the top choice for a healthy and convenient protein that the entire family can enjoy. Approximately 75% of Americans who eat chicken say they make it at home at least once a week. During the past nine months of COVID-19, retail chicken …
Farm Equipment Dealers Forecast Growth in 2021
The recent Ag Equipment Intelligence/Farm Equipment 2021 Dealer Business Outlook and Trends survey shows some good news. Dealers not only beat last year’s estimates for profitability in 2020, but they’re now predicting greater revenue growth in 2021 than they did for this year. Farm Equipment magazine says when it examined the results of the survey, it clearly showed that more …
Coronavirus Food Assistance Program 2 for Livestock Producers
USDA’s Coronavirus Food Assistance Program 2 (CFAP 2) continues to provide direct relief to producers who are facing market disruptions and associated costs due to Covid-19. And payments through the program are available for a variety of eligible livestock producers. Payments for beef cattle, hogs and pigs, along with lambs and sheep will be based on the maximum owned inventory of …
Poll Shows Americans’ Unwavering Trust in Farmers
(AFBF) — A majority of U.S. adults have a positive view of farmers’ sustainability practices, and an overwhelming majority trust farmers, according to a new national public opinion poll from the American Farm Bureau Federation. The survey of 2,200 U.S. adults found that more than half (58%) rate the sustainability practices of U.S. farmers positively, with broad agreement from a majority of …
More COVID-19 Tests for Florida Ag Workers
The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services recently announced updates to COVID-19 testing sites in Hendry, Miami-Dade, Collier and St. Lucie counties for farmworkers. The effort to provide access to no-cost testing for farmworkers is part of a partnership with the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, the Florida Division of Emergency Management and county governments. Testing services will continue as …
AFBF Statement on President-Elect Joe Biden’s Victory
(AFBF) — The following statement may be attributed to American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall:“The American Farm Bureau Federation congratulates President-elect Biden on his election, as well as the representatives and senators elected to serve in the 117th Congress. “President-elect Biden will be presented with opportunities to improve the lives of rural Americans and this nation’s farmers and ranchers, who are facing …
AFBF Statement on the National Vote Count
(AFBF) — The following statement may be attributed to American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) President Zippy Duvall: “A record number of Americans turned out to fulfill their civic duty and cast their ballots. We hold the right to vote as the foundation of our democracy. Behind each vote is a voice, and it is crucial that we all be heard this election. …
Senate Control, Ag Committee Makeup May Be Decided in January
Control of the U.S. Senate may not be known until January and could further change the Senate Agriculture Committee’s makeup because of a runoff vote in Georgia. The runoff results from Republican incumbent Kelly Loeffler being appointed earlier this year to take the seat of Republican Johnny Isakson, who resigned at the end of 2019, citing health reasons. Loeffler is …
House Ag Chair Defeated
Agriculture lost decades of experience with the defeat of House Agriculture Committee Chairman Collin Peterson in Tuesday’s election. The Minnesota Democrat lost Tuesday to the Republican Challenger Michelle Fischbach. Fischbach garnered 53% to Peterson’s 39% of votes in Minnesota’s District 7. In a statement, Peterson said, “We ran a strong and positive campaign, but with the President winning this district …