The time is now for cotton farmers to monitor stink bug populations. But University of Georgia Extension cotton entomologist Phillip Roberts pleads with growers not to apply insecticides if you do not have to. Let beneficial insects do their job, which could also help with the current whitefly outbreak. “If you use an insecticide to kill stink bugs, you’re going …
Appointments Made to Georgia Agriculture Commodity Commission
The Georgia Agriculture Commodity Commission Ex-Officio Committee met on July 30, where it selected new appointees to serve a term of three years on their respective commodity commissions. At the conclusion of this three-year term, they will be eligible to be reappointed for additional terms. The new appointees are as follows: Apple Commission- Janice Hale, David Lillard and Stephen Aaron …
USDA Has Programs to Help Small-Scale Meat Processors
Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, many across the country have looked at what it would take to get meat supplies from those closer to home. According to a story from Stephanie Ho, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) actually has programs that can help small-scale meat processors. USDA’s Undersecretary for Food Safety, Mindy Brashears, says the pandemic has underscored the …
USDA Announces New State Executive Director for Farm Service Agency in Georgia
Athens, Georgia — The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced Rachel McLocklin Santos as the new State Executive Director for the USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) in Georgia, serving as an appointee of President Donald J. Trump. FSA State Executive Directors help implement USDA policies in planning, organizing and administering FSA programs in their respective states. They are also …
Cotton Board Recommends $80 Million Cotton Incorporated Budget to Ag Secretary
(MEMPHIS, Tenn.) – The Cotton Board recently held its 2020 annual meeting. During this virtual meeting, board members serving the Cotton Research and Promotion Program reviewed, analyzed and voted to recommend Cotton Incorporated’s 2021 budget of $80 million to the Secretary of Agriculture. This budget recommendation reflects a decrease of over $8 million from 2020. Even with decreased funding, the …
Rising Crop Production Estimates for Corn and Beans
It was not a question of if but how much corn and soybean crop production estimates increased from the previous year. Rod Bain has the latest corn, soybean and winter wheat numbers from USDA’s August Crop Production reports. Sponsored ContentFlorida Cattle Enhancement Board Awarded Researcher Discusses New World Screwworm OverviewJune 19, 2026Verdant Robotics Offers Growers Targeted Application of Herbicides or …
U.S. Peanut Production Forecast Up 13%
USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) released its 2020 crop production estimates today. Tyron Spearman reports the new forecast shows a 13% increase from last year’s peanut crop. Sponsored ContentFlorida Cattle Enhancement Board Awarded Researcher Discusses New World Screwworm OverviewJune 19, 2026Verdant Robotics Offers Growers Targeted Application of Herbicides or Beneficials through SharpShooter™June 16, 2026Florida Cattle Enhancement Board Provides Resources …
U.S. Cotton Production Down from Last Year
USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service released its August crop reports today and Chris Hawthorn, field crops section head with NASS in Washington D.C., says the U.S. cotton production estimate is down 9% from last year’s crop. All cotton production is forecast at 18.1 million 480-pound bales, down 9% from 2019. All cotton planted area totaled 12.2 million acres, unchanged from …
NAMI Provides Comments to Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee
On behalf of the members of the North American Meat Institute (Meat Institute), Vice President of Regulatory and Scientific Programs Susan Backus provided comments during the U.S. Departments of Agriculture and Health and Human Services’ virtual meeting on the Scientific Report of the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee. “The benefits of meat and poultry consumption as part of healthy, balanced dietary …
EPA Decision This Fall Critical to ’21 Growing Season
While cotton and soybean farmers are no longer allowed to use three important dicamba products – Engenia, Xtendimax and Fexapan – for this season, questions remain on whether the products will be available for use for the 2021 season. University of Georgia Extension weed scientist Stanley Culpepper said the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will determine this fall if these herbicides …