Shoe liners that protect from harmful bacteria or bandages that treat wounds are some of the potential uses for a new technology developed by Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientists. ARS materials engineer Sunghyun Nam developed an inexpensive, effective and environmentally friendly method to kill bacteria by creating silver nanoparticles inside cotton fibers. For more than a century, clothing and medical supplies have …
Adam Putnam One of First Individuals Awarded 2017 US Water Prize
Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam was presented with the 2017 US Water Prize in acknowledgment of his leadership on water issues in Florida. The prize was award by the US Water Alliance, a nonprofit organization dedicated to educating the nation about the true value of water and advancing policies and programs that manage water resources to advance a …
Ag Industry Urges Trump to Appoint Full USDA Leadership Team
As President Donald Trump approaches the 200-day mark of his administration, more than a dozen prominent agriculture organizations are urging him to move quickly to fill vacancies within the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). “With a struggling rural economy—which has seen a 55 percent decrease in income over the last three years—we need leaders and decision makers in place to …
Syngenta Announces Goals Following Merger with ChemChina
Syngenta is striving to strengthen its leadership position in crop protection and to become an ambitious number three in the agriculture seeds sector. In a news release this week, the company announced its priorities now that the takeover deal by ChemChina is complete. The company aims to profitably grow market share through organic growth and collaborations and is considering targeted …
Perdue, Branstad, to Celebrate U.S. Beef in China
Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue and U.S. Ambassador to China Terry Branstad will mark the return of U.S. beef to China this week. Friday, the duo will celebrate U.S. beef exports returning to China by traveling to the nation and ceremonially cut a prime rib that originated from Nebraska. Perdue and Branstad will attend events and meet with officials in China …
Farm Groups Give NAFTA Testimony to USTR
Farm groups including the National Corn Growers Association, the American Farm Bureau, and the U.S. Grains Council gave testimony Tuesday during hearings on the North American Free Trade Agreement. The farm groups told the U.S. Trade Representative’s office that concerns over the renegotiation effort have disrupted relationships with U.S. agriculture customers and that a new NAFTA should protect the market …
USDA Launches Reorganization Commission
The U.S. Department of Agriculture is kicking off efforts to reorganize the department. Politico reports that the department has launched a commission to reorganize, modernize and trim the department. The commission will form a plan to reform USDA, which will be based on Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue’s reorganization plan announced in May. The commission is part of a Trump Administration …
EPA Sends WOTUS Repeal to Federal Register
Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt told lawmakers Tuesday that the EPA has sent its repeal of the Waters of the U.S. rule to the federal register, beginning the process of ending the regulation. During a Senate budget hearing Tuesday, Pruitt told lawmakers the measure was being sent to the federal register the same day. The formal withdrawal of the …
Water Management District Offers Online Updates on Reservoir
from News Service of Florida Progress on a controversial reservoir intended to help clean South Florida waterways can now be followed via an interactive map provided by the South Florida Water Management District. The website outlines where the reservoir — about 18,000-acres — will be located within the Everglades Agricultural Area south of Lake Okeechobee. So far, water management officials …
Southern Region Noncitrus Fruit and Nut
Key findings for the Southern Region: Avocados: Florida’s utilized production is down 13 percent from 2015 and the associated value of production is down 7 percent. The Laurel Wilt disease continues to have a negative impact on Florida avocado groves. Blueberries: The value of utilized production for the United States is down 13 percent for 2016. Georgia’s utilized production is …