WASHINGTON DC (USDA/FSA) – The 2018 Farm Bill mandated changes to the treatment of cover crops for U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) programs, which add more flexibility to when cover crops must be terminated while remaining eligible for crop insurance. USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA), Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and Risk Management Agency (RMA) developed new guidelines and policy provisions …
USDA Research is Driving Technological Innovation
USDA scientists and researchers reported 320 new inventions in 2018 (Salinas, California — USDA) – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) released its annual Technology Transfer Report (PDF, 14.9 MB), which highlights innovations from scientists and researchers that are solving problems for farmers, ranchers, foresters, and producers; and creating opportunities for American businesses to thrive. Secretary Perdue discussed the release …
U.S., China Reach Tentative Truce on Tariffs
(NAFB) — The U.S. and China have agreed to forgo the next round of tariffs that President Trump threatened to impose on $300 billion in Chinese goods. That report comes from both Politico and the South China Morning Post. It comes ahead of a meeting between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping this weekend at the G-20 Summit in Osaka, …
Members of Georgia Delegation Urge Timely, Effective Implementation of Disaster Relief Funds
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators David Perdue (R-GA) and Johnny Isakson (R-GA) wrote to U.S. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue to encourage the Trump administration to work with the Georgia Department of Agriculture to ensure that farmers affected by Hurricane Michael receive needed aid as soon as possible. They applauded Secretary Perdue for his support of disaster aid legislation signed into …
Senators Perdue, Merkley Lead Bipartisan Effort To Ease Burdens On Agricultural Trucking
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators David Perdue (R-GA) and Jeff Merkley (D-OR) are leading a bipartisan effort to level the playing field for the transportation of agricultural products. The Agricultural Trucking Relief Act will expand the definition of an “agricultural commodity” to include horticultural and aquacultural products, promote consistency across all federal and state agencies, and ease regulatory burdens on the trucking industry. …
2019 Field Day: New Technology and Research
(Sunbelt Ag Expo) — The 2019 Sunbelt Ag Expo Field Day is July 25, and farmers are invited to come and get practical information from the region’s top agricultural scientists about the newest technologies farmers can use to improve their operations. The half-day event will take place at the 600-acre Darrell Williams Research Farm, located at the Expo show site …
House Passes Ag Appropriations in Minibus Spending Bill
(NAFB) — The U.S. House passed H.R. 3055, a minibus of appropriations that does include the fiscal year 2020 Ag Appropriations Bill. The Hagstrom Report says the final vote was split mostly along party lines. The Ag section of the bill covers the Agriculture Department, as well as the Food and Drug Administration, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, and the …
Perdue Says Farmers Are “A Casualty” in Trade War
(NAFB) — Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue acknowledged in an interview earlier this week that farmers are “casualties” in President Trump’s trade war with China. Perdue told CNN he didn’t think a trade deal was likely this weekend when Trump and Chinese President Xi meet in Japan. He’s now hoping a deal can be reached by the end of this …
USDA Farm Bill Implementation Progress Update
Washington, D.C., – (USDA) — U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue today announced an update on the implementation status of the 2018 Farm Bill. President Trump signed this Farm Bill into law on December 20, 2018, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) promptly began implementing key programs. In addition, USDA held several listening sessions with stakeholders and the public specific to …
Animal Agriculture Alliance Urges Producers to have Vigilance in Hiring Process
(Animal Agriculture Alliance) – Are the employees working on your farm there to help care for your animals? Do their goals align with your business? Unfortunately, it’s a common strategy for some animal rights activist organizations to have individuals go “undercover” on farms to record videos that can be taken out of context, stage scenes of animal mistreatment or encourage abuse to …