It’s time for our weekly “Around the State with Commissioner Rick Pate”. Commissioner, I understand your department, along with USDA-APHIS, this week confirmed H5 Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza in the state. What was the disease found in? The public is urged to call the Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries Division at 334-242-3469 to report a sighting of dead birds. All poultry owners and growers are …
USDA Helping with Credit, Food Production and More
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has a variety of programs, helping producers and consumers across the country in various ways. Tyron Spearman reports USDA provides credit, help with food production and more. Sponsored ContentFlorida Senator Shares Origins of Florida Cattle Enhancement BoardNovember 14, 2025CIR Agriculture Harvester ProductsNovember 8, 2025Florida Cattle Enhancement Board Plays Critical Role To Extend ResearchNovember 7, 2025Florida Cattle …
USMEF Conference Examines Exports, Production, Economic Headwinds
The U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) held their Strategic Planning Conference this week in Oklahoma City. The event attracted farmers, ranchers, processors and exporters from across the nation. During the event, it was noted that while U.S. red meat exports will likely set a value record approaching $20 billion this year, the industry faces an array of obstacles related to the sluggish …
Alabama Laboratory Groundbreaking
The Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries (ADAI) held a groundbreaking for its new Pesticide Residue and Chemical Laboratory on Wednesday in Auburn. The Gilmer-Turnham Building, just down the street from the construction site, has been in use for over 50 years and was retrofitted from an animal diagnostics lab. The construction will set up half of the facility for …
Hurricane Nicole Causes Temporary USDA Office Closures in Florida
Due to Hurricane Nicole moving through parts of Florida, several USDA offices in the state are closed the remainder of this week. Please call ahead to ensure your local USDA Service Center office is open before visiting. Florida FSA Office Locations: http://www.farmers.gov/working-with-us/service-center-locator. The following service centers will be closed at least through Thursday, November 10, 2022: Putnam, Volusia, Lake, Osceola, St. Lucie, …
DMC Enrollment for 2023 Continues
Dairy producers are being reminded you have until December 9th to sign-up for Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) for this coming year. Rod Bain has more details. Sponsored ContentFlorida Senator Shares Origins of Florida Cattle Enhancement BoardNovember 14, 2025CIR Agriculture Harvester ProductsNovember 8, 2025Florida Cattle Enhancement Board Plays Critical Role To Extend ResearchNovember 7, 2025Florida Cattle Enhancement Board Funded Research Impactful for the …
Cow-Calf Operations Vary in Adopting Rotational Grazing
Rotational grazing is a frequently discussed livestock management practice with a wide variety of public and private benefits. Little information has been available on the adoption rate of rotational grazing, so the Economic Research Service at USDA issued a report on the subject. Data shows that 40 percent of cow-calf operations report using rotational grazing. However, just 40 percent of that number …
Mississippi River Grain Shipments Down 78 Percent
Drought continues to cause a major slowdown in shipping. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. The USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) says the number of grain barges being unloaded in New Orleans during September and October dropped significantly. An AMS report says the number of barges is 20-30 percent lower than in recent years. The slowdown coincides with …
EQIP Signup Continues in Alabama
The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Alabama recently announced signup is underway for Fiscal Year 2023 Farm Bill Easement and Financial Assistance Programs. This includes the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) and EQIP Conservation Incentive Contracts. EQIP provides financial and technical assistance to agricultural producers to address natural resource concerns and deliver environmental benefits such as improved water and air quality, conserved ground and surface …
USDA NRCS in Georgia Offers Conservation Funding Opportunities
The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Georgia has several assistance opportunities for agricultural producers and private landowners for key programs. This includes the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP), Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP) and the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP). Through these conservation programs, NRCS provides technical and financial assistance to help producers and landowners make conservation improvements on their land that benefit natural …