In the wake of Hurricane Irma, economists with the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) realized that its Extension colleagues needed a better system for reporting damages and losses suffered by producers – something faster, more focused and more standardized. Today, that better system is in place. A team with the UF/IFAS Food and Resource Economics …
Transferring Sorghum’s Weed-Killing Power to Rice
Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientists have transferred a biochemical pathway found in sorghum, which produces a weed-killing compound, into rice plants. The compound sorgoleone, secreted by sorghum, helps the plant combat weeds. It works so well that some other crops struggle to grow in fields where sorghum has been raised, causing problems for growers who want to rotate different crops …
Florida-Grown Foods Part of Rich Tailgating Tradition
Set up the grill; it’s tailgating season. Chicken, burgers, corn, slaw, potato salad, chips – and maybe some fresh fruits and vegetables — are just some staples for the weekly ritual that coincides with football season. Some will win before the games start by eating Florida-grown foods. College football enthusiasts nationwide can take comfort in tips from University of Florida …
U.S./China Trade Talks Draw a Blank
The trade war between China and the United States seems primed to worsen as the governments failed to make progress in two days of discussions. Reuters says the two sides met last week with low expectations of progress and there are no further talks scheduled at this time. A source close to the negotiations told Reuters that Chinese officials have …
Bayer CEO Says Monsanto Merger Still a Win-Win
Werner Baumann, Bayer Chief Executive Officer, tried to soothe the frayed nerves of investors after a recent jury award of $289 million during a trial regarding glyphosate. Baumann says the merger between Bayer and Monsanto still makes sense in spite of the challenges ahead. Baumann told a German newspaper that there is “no reason to break out in nervousness” in …
Memphis Meats, NAMI Want Joint Regulation of Cell-Based Meat
The North American Meat Institute (NAMI) joined up with Memphis Meats, a San Francisco-based company that’s developing cell-based meat to send a letter to the Trump Administration. The Hagstrom Report says they’re asking that the Food and Drug Administration and the Ag Department’s Food Safety and Inspection Service share regulatory responsibilities for cell-based meat. The letter says in the case …
Three More States Enter WOTUS Court Battle
Texas, Louisiana, and Mississippi are asking a federal court to expedite its consideration of a nationwide injunction against the 2015 Waters of the U.S. (WOTUS) Rule. A DTN report says a South Carolina court recently issued a ruling that allows the rule to go back into effect in 26 states. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton filed a motion in the …
Russia Selling 2.5 Million Acres to China for Soybean Production
Soybeans were one of the first major casualties in the ever-escalating trade war between the U.S. and China. Russia is hoping to take advantage of the situation and cut deals with Chinese agribusinesses to make up for lost supply. The Washington Post says the Kremlin will offer roughly 2.5 million acres of arable land to foreign investors. Analysts are describing …
Florida’s Algae Blooms and Red Tide: Consider the Facts
The algae and red tide blooming along Florida’s coastal waterways are concerning to everyone, including those of us in agriculture. It is understandable that many Floridians are upset and are anxious for answers, but misinformation is being circulated by anti-farmer activists that erroneously points to farmers in the Everglades Agricultural Area (EAA), south of Lake Okeechobee, as the cause of …
USDA Payments Expected After Labor Day
The Department of Agriculture (USDA) expects to send payments to farmers after the Labor Day holiday as part of a trade relief package. The $12 billion package is intended for farmers who have been affected by foreign tariffs on U.S. farm products, all in retaliation to President Trump’s trade agenda. A USDA spokesperson confirmed to the Hagstrom Report the department …