American Farm Bureau Federation policy experts gave an overview of the issues expected to affect farmers and ranchers in 2019 in a workshop at the organization’s 100th Annual Convention. David Salmonsen, senior director of congressional relations for AFBF, said the diverse impacts of tariffs, the outcomes of free trade agreement negotiations and the future of relations with China are all …
Navigating the H-2A Guest Worker Program
U.S. farmers and ranchers discussed the current state of regulations governing the farm labor market and efforts to navigate it, at a workshop during the American Farm Bureau Federation’s 100th Annual Convention. The H-2A visa program has experienced massive growth over the past decade, with the number of visas being issued to temporary workers rising 500 percent. Still, demand is …
Equine Infectious Anemia-Positive Horses Confirmed in Paulding County, Georgia
The Georgia Department of Agriculture’s (GDA) Animal Industry Division has confirmed three positive cases of equine infectious anemia (EIA) in quarter horses at a Paulding County facility. This makes eight confirmed cases in 2018. In compliance with federal guidelines and protocols, the affected horses were humanely euthanized. There is no cure or vaccine for EIA. The remainder of the horses …
Applying Performance Data for Bull Selection
On Tuesday, January 15th Understanding and Applying Performance Data for Bull Selection will be presented at the Washington County Agricultural Center, in Chipley. The primary goal of this class is to help commercial cattlemen decipher all of the performance data available and develop a practical plan for utilizing these resources when selecting bulls for their own operations.The catalog form the Florida Bull Test …
New Study Shows U.S. Pork’s Long-term Sustainability Progress
A new study from the University of Arkansas confirms that America’s pig farmers are producing a product that has become increasingly sustainable over the past five decades. According to the new study, A Retrospective Assessment of U.S. Pork Production: 1960 to 2015, the inputs needed to produce a pound of pork in the United States became more environmentally friendly over …
Milk Production Dependent on Annual, biological Rhythms
The amount and composition of milk produced by dairy cows appears to be more regulated by internal, annual biological rhythms than by environmental factors. A new study released by Penn State University found peak yield, fat concentration and protein concentration occurred in winter months, when days are shorter, and lowest in summer months, when days are longest. And the amplitude …
Governor Ron DeSantis Calls for Resignations of Governing Board Members of South Florida Water Management District
Governor Ron DeSantis called for the immediate resignations of all governing board members of the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD). The announcement was made during a stop in Stuart to discuss the Governor’s major water policy reforms to protect and improve Florida’s water resources. “One of the recommendations that Congressman Mast has provided to me was that we really …
DeSantis Offers ‘Bold’ Plan to Address Water Woes
Gov. Ron DeSantis, appearing in areas hit hard by outbreaks of toxic algae and red tide, signed an executive order Thursday expanding state efforts to improve Florida’s troubled waters. And while he took shots from environmentalists on the campaign trail last year when arguing that climate change is not a problem for state government to alleviate, DeSantis said Thursday his …
Farm Bureau Welcomes President Trump Back to Address Annual Convention
Donald J. Trump, the 45th president of the United States, will address farm and ranch families from across the nation Monday at the American Farm Bureau Federation’s 100th Annual Convention. This address will mark the second time in as many years that the president has appeared at Farm Bureau’s Annual Convention. This year’s gathering takes place Jan. 11-16 in New …
Corn Producers See Value through Red Meat Exports
The U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) recently received the results of an updated study aimed at quantifying the value delivered to U.S. corn producers through exports of red meat. Joe Schuele reports the original 2016 study, as well as the 2018 follow-up, were conducted by World Perspectives, Inc., a leading agricultural consulting firm. Dave Juday, senior analyst for World Perspectives, explains that …