By Clint Thompson The Georgia Cotton Commission (GCC) reminds producers about multiple upcoming field days throughout Georgia. Taylor Sills, executive director of the Georgia Cotton Commission, said the field days, coordinated by University of Georgia Cooperative Extension, will be held in August and September. “There’s going to be the annual Midville row-crop field day over at the experiment station in …
Disaster Assistance Available to Georgia Communities Impacted by Tropical Storm Elsa
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently announced they are prepared to help farmers, ranchers and communities recover from damages brought on by Tropical Storm Elsa. Georgia agricultural producers are encouraged to contact their local USDA Service Center to learn about the programs available to help them recover. This includes programs covering crop, land, infrastructure, and livestock losses. Local governments …
Financial Assistance Helps Landowners in Two Florida Watersheds
Florida private landowners in the St. Marks and Aucilla River watersheds can apply until Sept. 1 for financial and technical assistance from USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) for fiscal year 2022 funding. The assistance will help landowners in portions of Leon, Jefferson, Wakulla, Madison, and Taylor counties conduct prescribed burns, remove invasive plants, plant longleaf pine trees, and …
USDA Seeking Partnerships to Restore Wetland Ecosystems
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) wants to remind conservation partners that they will be investing up to $17 million to help protect and restore critical wetlands on agricultural lands through the Wetland Reserve Enhancement Partnership (WREP). USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is prioritizing proposals that focus on assisting historically underserved producers conserving wetlands. But, the deadline for proposals from partners …
Feral Swine Workshop to be Held in South Georgia
For those in South Georgia that have an interest in learning how to manage feral swine on your property, Seven Rivers RC&D and the Satilla S&WCD are teaming up with other partners to host a workshop on August 17. The event will run from 10:00am-1:00pm at the Pierce County Extension Meeting Room in Blackshear, Ga. For registration information call 912-367-7679. …
Vilsack Delivers Statement at Immigrant Farmworkers Hearing
On Wednesday, Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack testified during the “Immigrant Farmworkers are Essential to Feeding America” Judiciary Committee hearing. This was the first-ever appearance by an Agriculture Secretary before the full Senate Judiciary Committee. During his opening statement, Vilsack discussed the important role immigrant farmworkers have in the food and agriculture industry and the overall economy. Vilsack said we …
Apply for Funding from USDA/NRCS to Remove Cogongrass
(GAINESVILLE, Fla., July 21, 2021) — Florida forest landowners in parts of Okaloosa and Santa Rosa counties can apply for financial assistance to manage invasive Cogongrass until Sept. 1 from USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). The U.S. Department of Agriculture will invest $60,000 in fiscal year 2022 to remove the highly invasive Cogongrass in Florida. One of the world’s top-10 worst weeds, …
Sign-up Begins for New Pandemic Livestock Indemnity Program
We told you last week that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) had announced a new program for certain livestock and poultry producers, called the Pandemic Livestock Indemnity Program (PLIP). This was designed to help producers who suffered losses during the Covid-19 pandemic due to insufficient access to processing and the cost of depopulation and disposal of those animals. Signup for this program begins today …
Clarifying the Product of the USA Label
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently announced a top-to-bottom review of the “Product of the USA” label, which will inform a forthcoming rulemaking on this topic. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said “American consumers depend upon accurate, transparent labels to obtain important information about the food they consume. American farmers and ranchers depend upon those same labels to convey information about …
USDA Compost and Food Waste Reduction Applications are Due Friday
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is making available up to $2 million for local governments to host Community Compost and Food Waste Reduction (CCFWR) pilot projects for fiscal year 2021. But the deadline to apply is Friday, July 16. The cooperative agreements support projects that develop and test strategies for planning and implementing municipal compost plans and food waste …