Agricultural producers and landowners in Florida are encouraged to apply to participate in the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP). The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Florida can provide producers and landowners with financial resources and one-on-one help to plan and implement improvements that address resource concerns. “Using EQIP conservation practices can lead to cleaner water and air, healthier soil and better wildlife …
Beef Variety Meat Exports are at a Record Pace
Record-breaking U.S. beef exports was a hot topic at this week’s Cattle Industry Summer Business Meeting in Reno, Nevada. This includes strong interest in exports of beef variety meat. During a session highlighting checkoff-funded efforts to expand beef demand, U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) Senior Director of Marketing Programs, Scott Reynolds, detailed how international demand for specific beef variety meat items helps …
NCBA Backs Food and Energy Security Act
During this week’s Cattle Industry Summer Business meeting, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) announced it does support the Food and Energy Security Act introduced by Senator John Thune of South Dakota. The bill would require federal regulators to disclose how proposed rules would impact food and energy prices. “The Biden administration proposed a massive climate disclosure rule that will …
NCBA Tracking Efforts on Traceability
The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) staff continues to track a variety of issues being discussed. One of those concerns traceability. NCBA Director of Animal Health and Food Safety Policy, Chase DeCoite, notes a proposed rule is coming sometime this year from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Traceability was one of the topics discussed this week during the Cattle Industry Summer Business Meeting …
Syngenta Opens $15 Million Global Vegetable Seeds Quality Control Lab
It’s the culmination of ten years of plans and $15 million in investments, as Syngenta’s new Global Vegetable Seeds Quality Control Lab debuted this month in Nampa, Idaho. The lab is an expansion of the $30 million Trait Conversion Accelerator that opened at the site in 2019. The new quality lab conducts seed health and quality testing for vegetable seeds …
Cattle Industry Holding Summer Business Meeting
Cattle producers from around the country are in Reno, Nevada this week for the Cattle Industry Summer Business Meeting. Various topics are being discussed including the importance of grassroots policy process. National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) CEO, Colin Woodall, explains the purpose of the Summer Business Meeting. Woodall talks about the issues they are discussing this week. During the event, cattle industry members have …
USDA Starts Issuing Payments for Spot Market Hog Pandemic
The USDA is increasing the amount of funding available for the Spot Market Hog Pandemic Program and expects to issue approximately $62.8 million in assistance payments to producers this week. SMHPP assists eligible producers who sold hogs through a spot market sale between April 16 and September 1 in 2020. “In order to provide more targeted support to hog producers …
Conservation Innovation Grants Available in Florida
The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Florida will invest up to $900,000 for Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) for agricultural resource priorities in the state. Fiscal Year 2022 conservation resource priorities for the NRCS in Florida are: climate resilience, grazing, soil health, and urban agriculture. Grants from $25,000 to $250,000 will be awarded to applicants matching those funds on a dollar-for-dollar basis …
EPA Regional Administrator Visits Urban Agriculture Sites in Metro Atlanta
Last week, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 4 Administrator Daniel Blackman visited two urban agriculture sites, Metro-Atlanta Urban Farm and an urban backyard farm created by the youngest organic farmer of Georgia. This visit highlighted the importance of urban agriculture’s role with the environment and community and showcased successful impact and outreach at all levels. “The contributions of community leaders …
Apply Now for Conservation Innovation Grants On-Farm Trials
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced it will invest $25 million this year for the Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) On-Farm Conservation Innovation Trials program. USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) implements the CIG program, where partners work to address our nation’s water quality, water quantity, air quality, soil health and wildlife habitat challenges, all while improving agricultural operations. The On-Farm …