southeast

Southeast Farmers and Landowners Invited to Conservation Conference

Farmers and landowners across the Southeast are being reminded that the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Georgia, in collaboration with McIntosh S.E.E.D., are holding the Southeast Region Farmers and Landowners Conservation and Outreach Conference. This free indoor/outdoor event will be held September 19th in Brunswick, Georgia.  There will be various discussions about renewing forestry and agriculture with climate smart and sustainable …

EQIP

USDA-NRCS Encouraging Participation in EQIP Survey

If you have you participated in the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Environmental Quality Incentive Program (EQIP) in the last three years, then they want to hear from you.  In an effort to continually improve their flagship conservation program, NRCS is asking EQIP customers to participate in the EQIP Program Customer Satisfaction Survey that is open now through September 10, 2024. NRCS is looking for …

USMEF Chair Sees Potential for U.S. Pork in Indonesia

With support from the National Pork Board, U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) Chair Randy Spronk, a pork producer from Minnesota, recently traveled to Indonesia to see the market potential firsthand. While Indonesia is a majority Muslim country, Spronk notes there is strong potential for U.S. pork sales. In fact, though current volumes are small, market share for U.S. pork has increased …

farm conservation data

USDA Gathering Farm Conservation Data

The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), in partnership with the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), is currently gathering farm conservation data from nearly 400 farmers, ranchers, and agricultural landowners across Alabama, Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina.  The 2024 Conservation Effects Assessment Project (CEAP) survey is an effort to gather in-depth information about the conservation practices Southeast farmers and ranchers use. CEAP assessments quantify the environmental …

Florida family farm

Another Florida Family Farm Preserved through RFLPP

It was announced today that another Florida family farm has been preserved through the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ (FDACS) Rural and Family Lands Protection Program (RFLPP).  The Joseph Miller Ranch, a 490-acre cow/calf operation in St. Lucie County, is being preserved through a rural land protection easement for $2,070,000.  The ranch is a 490-acre cow/calf operation located about 14 miles …

ALB Climate-Smart Program Enrollment Opens Soon

As consumers become more interested in where food comes from, how it was raised, and how meat production impacts the environment, the American Lamb Board (ALB) understands that sustainability is a top priority. Through a Climate-Smart Commodities Grant from USDA, ALB seeks to quantify the impacts of targeted sheep grazing in four pilot areas. A grant program has been established …

Peanut Digging

GPC Set to Host Annual Peanut Tour

By Clint Thompson The Georgia Peanut Commission (GPC) reminds growers and industry experts that this year’s Georgia Peanut Tour will be held Sept. 17-19 and be based out of Americus, Georgia. Attendees will be able to observe the many facets of peanut production; from digging the peanuts to harvests, with a visit to a local buying point and trips to …

wetland

Wetland Proposals are Due August 16

The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is accepting proposals until August 16, 2024 for their Wetland Reserve Enhancement Partnership (WREP).  NRCS is investing up to $50 million through WREP to support conservation partners with local projects that help protect, restore and enhance critical wetlands on agricultural lands and help mitigate climate change. The program allows eligible conservation partners to work with local agriculture …

hurricane debby

USDA Assists Farmers, Ranchers, and Communities Affected by Hurricane Debby

(USDA/WASHINGTON, August 7, 2024) — Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has directed the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to aid recovery efforts for farmers, ranchers and residents affected by Hurricane Debby, which continues its track up the East Coast. USDA staff in offices across the country are ready to respond with a variety of program flexibilities and other assistance to producers and …

Deer Problem in Georgia Cotton

By Clint Thompson Deer’s threat to Georgia’s cotton crop is an annual concern for the state’s producers. It’s now a top research priority for Camp Hand, University of Georgia (UGA) Extension cotton agronomist. He talked about deer management in cotton at this year’s Georgia Cotton Commission mid-year meeting in July. “Last year at this meeting, I started to learn about …