The National Corn Growers Association “Good Steward” nomination deadline is fast approaching, Monday, August 6th. NCGA is asking for nominations of someone who is “doing a stellar job on their farm of demonstrating the economic and conservation value of soil management.” This year anyone can nominate a candidate for recognition if they are a corn grower member of the association. …
USDA Opens Election Period for Seed Cotton Program
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that seed cotton producers who want to participate in the Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC) programs for the 2018 crop year may now submit applications. The signup period begins today (July 30, 2018) and ends on Dec. 7, 2018. In accordance with changes to ARC and PLC made by …
In Argentina, Perdue Welcomes U.S. Pork Back to Market
Secretary Sonny Perdue celebrates the reintroduction of U.S. pork into the Argentine market, with U.S. Ambassador to Argentina Edward Prado. U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue celebrated the reintroduction of American pork products to the Argentine market after more than 20 years by slicing a ten pound honey baked ham. “The U.S. is the world’s third largest pork producer and …
Signup Now for 2018 Beef Cattle Conference
Cow-calf producers across the Southeast can gain valuable insight on how to overcome challenges in the cattle business during the 2018 Beef Cattle Conference Saturday, August 18th at the Ham Wilson Livestock Arena in Auburn, Alabama. With the theme “It’s what you learn after you know it all that really counts,” the conference will equip cattlemen and cattlewomen with the …
UF/IFAS Scientists Use Fungus to Manage Asian Citrus Psyllid
Fighting plant disease with jet blast sprays is standard practice for citrus growers. But, to spray a fungus to control a single insect that carries a disease-causing pathogen is uncommon. University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences and Florida Research Center for Agricultural Sustainability researchers have begun to test an insect-killing fungus applied with horticultural oil sprays in …
EU Insists Agriculture Not a Part of Trade Truce with Trump
The European Union (EU) says that the proposed trade talks with the United States wouldn’t include farming. The website Business Times Dot Com says this directly contradicts what President Donald Trump says. An EU Commission spokeswoman says they’ve been very clear on that fact. The spokeswoman adds that agriculture is not part of it, only the things that were specifically …
Trump to Approve Year-Round E15 Soon
President Trump says his administration is “very close” to approving the year-round sale of the E15 blend of ethanol very soon. During a trip to Iowa on Thursday, Trump told the audience, “I’m very close to pulling off something that you’ve been looking forward to for many years, and that’s the 12-month E15 waiver. We’re getting very close to doing …
Bankers: Farmers Want Trade Not Handouts
Following the president’s announcement of a $12 billion trade assistance package to farmers, the nation’s bankers echoed farmer sentiments, saying producers want free trade and not handouts. A Farm Journal report quotes ag lender Alan Hoskins as saying it’s far too soon to know how beneficial the aid will be. Hoskins did say one thing is clear; it’s not what …
Lighthizer Testimony: NAFTA Deal Possible in August
During congressional testimony on Thursday, U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer told lawmakers that it’s entirely possible that the three North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) members will reach a deal in August. Lighthizer says that would meet the Mexican objective of having current President Enrique Pena Nieto sign the deal before he leaves office in December. Bloomberg says U.S. trade …
Senate Stalls on Farm Bill Conference
The Senate left Washington on Thursday without voting to move the farm bill forward to conference, or even naming conferees. Politico says those were two goals that Ag Chair Pat Roberts and Ranking Member Debbie Stabenow wanted to get done before Senators left town. Politico says the delay could be a result of a number of different things, including backdoor, …