Excellent First Half for U.S. Pork Exports; Beef Exports below Record Pace

According to new data released by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and compiled by the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF), U.S. pork exports concluded an excellent first half of 2023 with another strong performance in June. As for beef exports, while well below the record pace established in 2022, June exports topped $900 million in value, pushing first-half export value to …

Georgia Quality Cotton Award Winners Announced

The 2022 Georgia Quality Cotton Awards were presented at the Georgia Cotton Commission’s mid-year meeting on July 26 in Statesboro. Taylor Sills, executive director of the Georgia Cotton Commission, discussed the significance of being able to recognize growers and ginners across the state. “Cotton quality is a big equation of how producers make money off of their cotton. Cotton quality …

Cattle Industry Convention Registration Starts August 15

The 2024 Cattle Industry Convention and NCBA Trade Show will be held January 31 – February 2, 2024 in Orlando, Florida. And the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) is reminding producers that registration for the event will start August 15th at 12:00pm MST. CattleCon24 offers an education package that is designed for cattlemen and women of any age looking to learn, network, and take part …

U.S. Suppliers Meet with Latin American Red Meat Buyers

Red meat buyers from Central and South America and the Caribbean recently met with U.S. suppliers in Cartagena, Colombia, during the 11th edition of the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) Latin American Product Showcase. With 70 U.S. exporting companies exhibiting at the showcase, 220 importers had the opportunity to meet U.S. suppliers and arrange purchases of a wide range of U.S. red …

Florida Ag Commissioner Reminds Local Governments of New Law Prohibiting Special Assessments on Agricultural Land

(FDACS/TALLAHASSEE, FL/August 9, 2023) — Today, Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson addressed a letter to local governments reminding them of the new provision in State Law prohibiting counties from levying special assessments on agricultural lands. Read the letter below and here. August 9, 2023 Greetings, As Florida Commissioner of Agriculture, my top priority is to ensure that Florida agriculture continues …

Mitigating Needle Blight: A Growing Economic Threat to Pine Forests

Pine forests and industrial wood plantations in the Southeast are crucial for the region’s economic sustainability. And due to this, there are many concerns right now with mitigating needle blight. Tim Albritton, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) state staff forester in Alabama explains what they are finding their state. Some easily viewed symptoms may appear as chlorosis (yellowing), brown-red spots/bands, and needle …

Large Pork Producers Don’t Favor Overturning Prop 12

Legislation has been introduced in Congress that would overturn California’s Prop 12. Reuters says some of the country’s biggest pork producers who’ve already spent money to comply with the California requirements don’t favor throwing out Prop 12. The Ending Agricultural Trade Suppression (EATS) Act would curb states’ ability to regulate agricultural products sold within their borders. The bill was introduced …

Busy August for Alabama Cattlemen’s Association

There are a variety of things keeping the staff at the Alabama Cattlemen’s Association (ACA) busy throughout the year. But as ACA Executive Vice President Erin Beasley notes, August started off busy and it continues this week. For more information, contact the ACA office in Montgomery at 334-265-1867. Sponsored ContentCIR Agriculture Harvester ProductsJuly 1, 2026FL Cattle Enhancement Board Wraps up Funding YearJune 30, …

NCBA President Slams Regulatory Onslaught by Biden Agencies

National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) President Todd Wilkinson recently slammed administration overregulation during a recent NCBA Beltway Beef podcast. Wilkinson says Biden agencies from the EPA to the Bureau of Land Management are trying to take away the cattle industry’s freedoms. He cites recent EPA statements that it can make minor changes to its Waters of the U.S. rule after the …

GPC Continues Sponsorship of No. 38 Car

By Clint Thompson The Georgia Peanut Commission’s (GPC) continued sponsorship of NASCAR driver Todd Gilliland and his No. 38 car is a win for Georgia’s peanut industry and race attendees. It has churned up support for Georgia agriculture with Gilliland driving the Georgia peanuts car, but it has also left attendees salivating for more of those tasty peanuts at the …