(NPPC) — Thanks to continued vigilance by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the Bureau of Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and the U.S. pork industry, the United States has so far prevented an outbreak of African swine fever (ASF), an animal disease affecting only pigs with no human health or food safety risks. To ensure the U.S. swine herd …
USDA and EPA Announce Continued Commitment to Support Rural Water Systems
(USDA) — The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that will help rural water systems face the challenges of aging infrastructure, workforce shortages, increasing costs, limited management capacity and declining rate bases. Through this MOA, USDA and EPA will conduct joint activities to help rural water systems continue …
Secretary Perdue Announces New Innovation Initiative for USDA
The Agriculture Innovation Agenda is a Solution for Farmers, Consumers, and the Environment (USDA) — U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue announced the Agriculture Innovation Agenda, a department-wide initiative to align resources, programs, and research to position American agriculture to better meet future global demands. Specifically, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will stimulate innovation so that American agriculture can …
E-Verify Sponsor Says Change Makes ‘Mockery’
(NSF) — A key Republican lawmaker who is pushing to require all Florida employers to do federal immigration background checks on new hires said Tuesday his bill has become a “mockery” of what the proposal should be. Sen. Tom Lee, R-Thonotosassa, wants his proposal to require all public and private employers in the state to use E-Verify, a federal program …
New Test Identifies Poisonous Mushrooms
(USDA/ARS) — A simple, portable test that can detect the deadliest of the mushroom poisons in minutes has been developed by Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientists and their colleagues. Eating toxic mushrooms causes more than 100 deaths a year, globally, and leaves thousands of people in need of urgent medical assistance. Amanitin is the class of mushroom toxins that cause …
Deadline for Conservation Reserve Program General Signup is Feb. 28
(USDA/FSA) — The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) reminds agricultural producers interested in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) 2020 general signup that there is less than two weeks before the enrollment deadline of February 28, 2020. This signup is available to farmers and private landowners who are either enrolling for the first time or re-enrolling for another 10- to 15-year …
Questions Remain Over Hurricane Timber Money
(NSF) — Florida’s timber industry remains amid tons of strewn trees from Hurricane Michael as talks continue over the distribution of a $380 million federal-recovery grant allocated in November for the 2018 storm. State officials expressed concern Tuesday that more than a quarter of the money may go unused as negotiations continue with the U.S. Department of Agriculture on eligibility …
E-Verify Plan Could Include Agriculture Industry
(NSF) — A Senate proposal that would require Florida employers to do immigration checks on new hires is getting another makeover ahead of its second committee hearing on Tuesday. Sen. Tom Lee, a Thonotosassa Republican sponsoring an E-Verify bill (SB 664), filed an amendment on Monday that would expand a proposed requirement for private businesses to use E-Verify, a federal electronic …
FLSCA Work Group Leader’s Operation Honored by NCBA
(SfL) — Solutions from the Land (SfL) extends its sincere congratulations to Jim Strickland, managing partner of Myakka, Florida’s Blackbeard’s Ranch, which has been honored by the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) as the winner of the group’s 2019 Environmental Stewardship Award Program (ESAP). Presented at the 2020 Cattle Industry Convention and NCBA Trade Show in San Antonio, TX, the …
Facts of the Flow: Lake Okeechobee, 2020 Year-to-Date
(SFWMD) — Here is the latest update on inflows into Lake Okeechobee for the calendar year to date. This data is provided by SFWMD’s DBHYDRO database. There has been no back-pumping into Lake Okeechobee from the Everglades Agricultural Area this year. Source: South Florida Water Management District Sponsored ContentNuseed Carinata Covers New GroundJuly 31, 2024CIR Agriculture Harvester ProductsJuly 1, 2024TriEst …