hurricane

Hurricane Season Begins

Dan Florida, Industry News Release, USDA-NRCS, Weather

Program Funding Helps in Aftermath Forecasters are predicting another busy hurricane season this year, while Florida is still recovering from Hurricane Irma and Harvey. USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) funded $93 million for 133 projects in 27 Florida counties damaged by Hurricane Irma and $570,000 for one project in one county from Hurricane Harvey. Projects will remove debris and stabilize stream-banks to …

farm bill

Tentative Next Steps for House Farm Bill

Dan Farm Bill, Industry News Release, Labor and Immigration, Legislative

The House Farm Bill will get another vote on June 22 after a separate vote on a conservative immigration bill. House Majority Whip Steve Scalise announced the schedule on Monday. The conservative immigration bill is sponsored by House Judiciary Chair Bob Goodlatte of Virginia and Homeland Security Chair Michael McCaul of Texas. Roll Call reports the bill contains border wall …

agricultural

What’s Next for China-U.S. Trade?

Dan Industry News Release, Trade

Politico says the preliminary trade agreement between China and the U.S. announced over the weekend raises more questions than it answers. No one knows how soon it comes together and things start to happen. While China agreed to buy significantly more American agricultural products, there aren’t any hard numbers attached to that promise yet. U.S. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross will …

international

Farmers for Free Trade Suggestions on Improving China/U.S. Trade Relations

Dan Exports/Imports, Industry News Release, Trade

Farmers for Free Trade call the framework of a trade agreement between the U.S. and China as a good first step toward ending tensions that have hurt American agriculture. The group applauds the Trump Administration’s focus on supporting U.S. agricultural exports. However, they do note that there’s still a lot of work to do in order to put a solid …

ethanol

Farmers Union Wants Immediate Action on E15 Waiver

Dan Energy, Industry News Release

The Environmental Protection Agency’s delay in allowing year-round use of E15 gasoline threatens to harm markets for family farmers. National Farmers Union President Roger Johnson wrote a letter to EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt, urging the EPA to immediately institute a waiver for summertime sales of E15. Johnson says the year-round use of E15 would have significant benefits for farmers, the …

pork

House Members Want Thailand Ban of U.S. Pork Ended

Dan Exports/Imports, Industry News Release, Pork

Members of the House of Representatives sent a letter to Taiwan’s Ambassador to the U.S. asking for the removal of import restrictions on American agricultural products, including pork. The bipartisan letter was signed by 44 House members and sponsored by Republican David Young of Iowa and Wisconsin Democrat Ron Kind. The letter calls for the U.S. to suspend trade benefits …

organic farmers

Organic Farmers Association Applauds Organic Checkoff Withdrawal

Dan Industry News Release, Organic

The Organic Farmers Association is happy the U.S. Department of Agriculture took action to terminate the rulemaking process to establish a mandatory national research and promotion program for organic. The proposed program was causing divisions among the organic community. Checkoff programs must have the support of an entire industry to be implemented, which this didn’t have. The proposed Organic Research …

trump

Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue: “Trump Administration Stands Behind Ag Producers”

Dan Economy, Industry News Release

“My message to rural America is always the same: President Trump hears you and is working to make your life better.” Trump Administration Stands Behind Ag Producers By Secretary Sonny Perdue Omaha World-Herald May 20, 2018 … Throughout my travels, I’ve heard from the people living in rural America about what they want out of this administration: a boost in …

southern pine beetle

Florida Forest Service Accepting Applications to Help Landowners Combat Devastating Southern Pine Beetle

Dan Florida, Forestry, Industry News Release

To help combat the invasive Southern Pine Beetle, which is currently present in 52 infestation sites throughout six Florida counties, the Florida Forest Service is accepting applications for the 2018 Southern Pine Beetle Assistance and Prevention Program from non-industrial, private forest landowners through June 29, 2018.  The program is limited to 44 northern Florida counties, the known range of the …

ifas

UF/IFAS Student from Union County Awarded First Roland T. Stern Scholarship Award

Dan Education, Florida, Forestry, Industry News Release

Chad Nolan Ward, Jr. hails from a long line of forestry workers. The Union County resident and University of Florida student says the profession is in his blood. “My father is a third-generation logger and owns the family business, Chad Ward Enterprises,” Ward said. “I knew as a small child that I wanted to continue the family legacy.” Now his …