Significant investment was recently made through the Small Business Innovation Research Program from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) is investing more than $2.3 million dollars in projects through the program. A total of $812,939 has been granted to eight projects to improve plant production and protection. Eight awards totaling $797,602 will …
Livestock Organizations Discuss Challenges in Cattle Markets
On Monday, May 10, 2021, member leaders of American Farm Bureau Federation, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, National Farmers Union, R-CALF USA, and the United States Cattlemen’s Association met in Phoenix, Arizona. These groups convened at the request of Livestock Marketing Association to discuss challenges involved in the marketing of finished cattle with the ultimate goal of bringing about a more …
Livestock Insurance Policy Updates
Last week, the USDA Risk Management Agency (RMA) announced updates to the Livestock Gross Margin (LGM) and Dairy Revenue Protection (DRP) policies. RMA Acting Administrator Richard Flournoy first runs through the updates scheduled to take effect next year for the LGM program. And Flournoy describes the updates to RMA’s Dairy Revenue Protection program. RMA is updating the livestock insurance policies to improve options …
NIFA Invests Millions in Critical Research and Extension to Address Urgent Needs in Agriculture
Two southern universities were recipients of funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). It recently awarded more than $8.5 million in funding for 29 research and Extension grants that will advance solutions to critically important problems in U.S. agriculture. These grants, which are part of NIFA’s Agriculture and Food Research Initiative, include some …
Florida Forever Funding Defended by Environmental Chief
(NSF) — State Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Noah Valenstein on Wednesday defended Gov. Ron DeSantis for not asking to issue bonds for the Florida Forever Land Conservation Program, as the financing method has been proposed to cover Everglade’s work and a new program to fight rising sea levels. Valenstein told members of the House Agriculture & Natural Resources Appropriations …
Fried Releases FDACS & Biden Administration Partnership Plan
(FDACS) — Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried, an independently-elected member of the Florida Cabinet, hosted a press conference announcing the release of the FDACS Biden-Harris Administration Partnership Plan: Keeping Florida & America Growing, a state-federal partnership plan. The plan outlines areas of future collaboration between the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, The White House, and federal agencies including the U.S. Departments …
DeSantis, Cabinet Back North Florida Land Deals
(NSF) — Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Florida Cabinet on Tuesday approved proposals to spend about $5.3 million to conserve more than 2,500 acres of land in Santa Rosa and Jefferson counties. The deals include paying $4.3 million to conserve 1,786 acres in Santa Rosa County that is used for hunting and to grow timber. The land, owned by Kingfisher Timber, …
DeSantis Plan Would Address Climate Impacts
(NSF) — Gov. Ron DeSantis wants to spend $25 million next year and more in the coming years to set up a program that would help address coastal flooding and other climate-change impacts across the state. Money for the proposed Resilient Florida grant program would be in addition to $625 million that DeSantis is seeking from lawmakers to continue Everglades …
Contract Poultry Growers Now Eligible for CFAP Funds
(ACES) — Changes to the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP) announced earlier this month is good news for Alabama’s contract poultry growers. “The USDA changes mean that relief funds are available to contract poultry and other contract growers affected by COVID-19 market changes,” said Dennis Brothers, an Alabama Cooperative Extension System agricultural economist. Brothers said contract poultry growers need to understand …
DeSantis, Cabinet to Take Up Land Deals
(NSF) — Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Florida Cabinet next week will consider paying $4.3 million to conserve 1,786 acres in Santa Rosa County and $1 million for about 729 acres in Jefferson County. Both projects are on acquisition lists for the Florida Forever program. The Santa Rosa County land, owned by Kingfisher Timber, LLC, is used for hunting and …