Alabama congressmen were instrumental in adding $1.9 billion in disaster relief for farmers suffering agricultural losses to the supplemental appropriations bill approved by the U.S. House of Representatives by a 237-187 vote. H.R. 268 originally authorized $1.1 billion for relief. During debate, an amendment co-sponsored by Republican Reps. Robert Aderholt and Martha Roby and Democrat Terri Sewell was adopted, increasing …
USDA to Reopen FSA Offices for Limited Services During Government Shutdown
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue announced that many Farm Service Agency (FSA) offices will reopen temporarily in the coming days to perform certain limited services for farmers and ranchers. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has recalled about 2,500 FSA employees to open offices on Thursday, January 17 and Friday, January 18, in addition to Tuesday, January 22, during normal business hours. The …
Farmers Under Fire: Trial Lawyers’ Attack on Agriculture
Agriculture is in the crosshairs as class-action lawsuits seek huge monetary awards against agricultural producers, said a panel of experts at a workshop at the American Farm Bureau Federation’s 100th Annual Convention. Panelists Andy Curliss, CEO of the North Carolina Pork Council; Harrison Pittman, director of the National Agriculture Law Center and Blake Hurst, president of the Missouri Farm Bureau …
Farmers and Ranchers Digest Information on Alternative Protein Sources
Whether it is called fake meat or clean meat, products containing alternative sources of protein have been appearing in supermarkets and restaurants around the country, and are competing with traditionally raised animal agriculture products. Farmers and ranchers at the American Farm Bureau Federation’s 100th Annual Convention engaged with experts on what alternative sources of protein are, who backs them and …
Checkoff-Funded Beef Quality Assurance Program’s Online Certification Option Reaches Major Milestone
More than 50,000 Have Been Certified through New, Convenient Process More than 50,000 cattle producers have been certified through the Beef Quality Assurance program’s new online learning system since it was first offered in February 2017. Throughout the country hundreds of thousands have now become BQA-certified through in-person and online training, with an estimated 80 percent of the U.S. fed …
More Women Returning to the Farm in Management Roles
Knowing that women approach business with different priorities can help farm and ranch families maximize their effectiveness in management roles. This was the theme of the “Making Room for Women Managing Family Business” workshop, presented by Jeanne Bernick, principal and market strategist with KCoe Isom, at the American Farm Bureau Federation’s 100th Annual Convention. “We’re seeing more and more women …
Plenty of Agriculture Trade Opportunities for U.S. and Europe
There continues to be abundant opportunities for farm trade between the United States and the European Union despite the omission of agriculture in the European list of negotiating areas on a potential free trade agreement, European agricultural leaders said during a workshop at the American Farm Bureau Federation’s 100th Annual Convention. U.S. farmers and farm state lawmakers have pushed hard …
The News Service Has: Five Questions for Nikki Fried
Nikki Fried was sworn in last week as state agriculture commissioner, becoming the first woman elected to run the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. She also is the only Democrat holding statewide office and the first Democrat on the state Cabinet in eight years. Fried is an attorney from Fort Lauderdale who was a student-body president at the …
Ag Economy Barometer Declines in December
The Purdue University/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer declined moderately in December to 127, seven points below the index’s value one month earlier. The Barometer is a monthly nationwide measure of the health of the U.S. agricultural economy. A rating below 100 is negative, while a rating above 100 indicates positive sentiment regarding the agriculture industry. The December 2018 barometer was …
AAC Unveils New Logo
The Alabama Agribusiness Council (AAC) is excited to share our new logo with you! After many years under the old banner we are retiring that logo and releasing a new logo symbolic of the strength of the Council with a focus on future growth and success for the organization. The Council will mark its 30th anniversary this year making this …