The USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) has announced the availability of up to $5 million for wetland mitigation banks. This funding, through the Wetland Mitigation Banking Program, is available to help conservation partners develop or establish mitigation banks to help agricultural producers maintain eligibility for USDA programs. “Wetlands are critically important to the health of our natural resources — …
Lawmakers Seek Quick Investigation of Beef Industry
A bipartisan group of U.S. Representatives urges the Department of Agriculture to provide findings of its beef pricing investigation as soon as possible. Following the announcement of the USDA’s Packers and Stockyard Division investigation in August of 2019, Secretary Sonny Perdue extended USDA’s investigation last month to determine the causes of divergence between live beef and box prices during the …
Peanut Meetings to be Held
While some upcoming peanut meetings have been changed to a virtual format, one big event is still planning to be held as normal in July. Tyron Spearman reports registration is now open for the Southern Peanut Growers Conference, which is scheduled for July 16-18 in Panama City Beach, Florida. Sponsored ContentFlorida Cattle Enhancement Board Offers Targeted Research for Florida Cattle …
Cotton and Peanut Planting Update
For the most part, planting progress is comparable to the previous five years. USDA meteorologist Brad Rippey has the latest look at cotton planting numbers across the belt. But Rippey says peanut planting progress is slightly behind the average. In Alabama, 20% of the cotton crop has been planted, which compares to 22% last year, and 21% is the 5-year …
GCA Convention, Beef Expo & Trade Show Cancelled
The Georgia Cattlemen’s Association (GCA) Convention Planning Committee met last week and voted to cancel the annual GCA Convention & Beef Expo and instead, host a virtual Annual Meeting on Thursday, May 28. Additionally, all of the cattle sales usually held during the Beef Expo are being planned to be held together the following day. According to GCA Executive Vice President, …
Cash Receipts for Meat Animals Are Up
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), 2019 production of meat animals (cattle and calves and hogs and pigs) for the U.S. totaled 85.3 billion pounds. This was an increase of 1% from 2018. Production decreased 2% for cattle and calves but increased 5% for hogs and pigs. Total 2019 cash receipts from marketing …
BQA Nominations Due June 5
Nominations for the 14th annual National Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) Awards are being accepted until June 5. The 2020 National BQA Awards recognize five winners in the areas of beef producer, dairy, marketing and education: The beef producer honors include BQA Cow Calf and BQA Feedyard awards, which recognize producers who best demonstrate the implementation of BQA principles as part …
Peterson Will Draft Emergency Plan for Agriculture
Representative Collin Peterson, the Minnesota Democrat who chairs the House Ag Committee, says he will “personally see to it” that the Ag industry doesn’t suffer from a national emergency like COVID-19 again. “I can tell you as chairman of the Ag committee that this is not going to happen again on my watch,” Peterson said during a press conference in …
UGA Entomologist: Thrips Are Our Most Consistent and Predictable Insect Pest of Cotton
By Clint Thompson University of Georgia Cooperative Extension cotton entomologist Phillip Roberts cautions growers about thrips as cotton planting season approaches. “Thrips are our most consistent and predictable insect pest of cotton, infesting nearly 100% of the cotton acres in Georgia every year. Thrips infestations, historically, have been higher on April or early May-planted cotton. More specifically, thrips infestations tend …
Weekly Livestock Market Report Week Ending 05-01-2020
Here are the weekly livestock market reports for Alabama, Florida, and Georgia, for the week ended May 1, 2020, compiled by the Livestock Market News Service for all three states. AL Livestock Market Report: Feeder Steers: Medium and Large Frame 1-2 300-400 lbs####128.00-167.50 400-500 lbs####120.00-150.00 500-600 lbs####118.00-145.00 600-700 lbs####108.00-128.00 Feeder Heifers: Medium and Large Frame 1-2 300-400 lbs####110.00-147.00 400-500 lbs####104.00-138.00 …