WASHINGTON, August 5, 2020 –The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Risk Management Agency (RMA) announced today it will authorize Approved Insurance Providers (AIPs) to extend deadlines for premium and administrative fee payments, defer the resulting interest accrual and allow other flexibilities to help farmers, ranchers and insurance providers due to the COVID-19 pandemic. “USDA recognizes farmers and ranchers have been …
July Ag Economy Barometer Results
Farmer sentiment in July was virtually unchanged from a month earlier, according to the Purdue University-CME Group Ag Economy Barometer. The index rose just one point to a reading of 118. The small change in the barometer left it 30% below its February 2020 peak and 23% below its level a year ago. Although there was little change in the …
Commissioner Fried to USDA Secretary: Expand CFAP to Include More Commodities
Tallahassee, Fla. – Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried wrote to U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue on Tuesday, once again asking the USDA to expand eligibility for the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP) to include additional agricultural commodities. On July 9, the USDA announced expanded CFAP eligibility that included many impacted Florida crops, but aquaculture and horticulture commodities were not …
Agricultural Fairs Rescue Act Introduced in Congress
The Agricultural Fairs Rescue Act was introduced in Congress late last week to help preserve agricultural fairs across the country. The legislation from Democrat Jimmy Panetta of California and Republican Billy Long of Missouri is also designed to help fairs recover from large financial losses they’ve suffered because of COVID-19. A large number of fairs across the country didn’t take …
NASDA: Senate Coronavirus Aid Falls Short for Agriculture
Negotiations to finalize the next coronavirus relief package in Congress are far from the finish line, and so is aid for agriculture, according to the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA). The Senate Republican proposal includes a second round of $1,200 stimulus payments for individuals, extends additional unemployment payments by $200 a week through September, and includes substantial …
’20 Sunbelt Ag Expo Cancelled
Contact: Becca Turner; (229) 985-1968 x2228; Email: becca@sunbeltexpo.com The Sunbelt Agricultural Exposition Board of Directors voted to cancel the 43rd Annual show scheduled for October 20-22, 2020. North America’s Premier Farm Show, the Sunbelt Ag Expo, has provided a venue for the agricultural industry to conduct business for 42 years. For the first time, since it began in 1978, the …
Senate Seeks $20 Billion for Commodity Credit Corporation
Senate negotiations continue on the next coronavirus relief package. While those close to the talks suggest there will not be a bill ready until sometime next month, there is promise for additional relief to agriculture. Senator Joni Ernst, an Iowa Republican who sits on the Senate Agriculture Committee, told Agri-Pulse this week the package will likely include an additional $20 …
COVID-19 Pandemic Caused Run on Peanut Butter
The Director of Commodities for the J.M. Smucker Company recently confirmed that the COVID-19 Pandemic caused a run on peanut butter that emptied grocery shelves. Tyron Spearman has the story. Sponsored ContentCIR Agriculture Harvester ProductsJuly 1, 2026FL Cattle Enhancement Board Wraps up Funding YearJune 30, 2026Florida Cattle Enhancement Board Awarded Researcher Discusses New World Screwworm OverviewJune 19, 2026Verdant Robotics Offers …
Farmers Concerns With Sales Reps During Pandemic
A survey from Farm Journal found 45% of farmers have reservations about allowing sales representatives back onto their farm. The survey released last week also found in order for input suppliers to be allowed back on the farm, 50% say social distancing would be required. Additionally, 18% want outside vendors to wear proper personal protection equipment, such as masks. However, …
Agriculture Making Big Funding Request
Agriculture is making a big funding request to Congress in an expected final COVID-19 stimulus bill. It will likely be the last major legislation before the November election, and Senate Republicans don’t want the kind of multi-trillion-dollar COVID-stimulus bills still favored by House Democrats. But the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) is asking for a hefty $68 billion in the …