Emergency Support to Producers in Surrounding Counties/Border States Also Available (USDA/FSA)Â — Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue designated five Florida counties as primary natural disaster areas. Producers in Calhoun, Gadsden, Holmes, Jackson and Washington counties who suffered losses caused by Hurricane Sally, high winds, excessive rains and flooding that occurred from Sept. 14 through Sept. 19, 2020, may be eligible for U.S. …
USDA Seeks Members for Advisory Committee on Urban Agriculture
(USDA/NRCS-FL) — The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is seeking members for a new advisory committee on urban agriculture, part of a broader effort to focus on the needs of urban farmers. The 12-person committee will advise the Secretary of Agriculture on the development of policies and outreach relating to urban, indoor, and other emerging agricultural production practices as well …
USDA Invests $4.6 Million in High-Speed Broadband in Rural Georgia
ReConnect Funding to Connect 1,326 Rural Georgia Households to High-Speed Internet e-Connectivity (USDA) — The Trump Administration announced that the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is investing $4.6 million to provide broadband service in unserved and underserved rural areas in Georgia. This investment is part of the $550 million Congress allocated to the second round of the ReConnect Program. “The …
Turfgrasses Flowers are Something to Buzz About
(USDA/ARS) — Turfgrasses sometimes get a “bad rap” for not giving our bees and other insect pollinators a helping hand on the food front. But Agricultural Research Service (ARS) and University of Georgia (UGA) studies suggest this reputation is unfair—and at least five different genera of bees would agree! In the world, 70 percent of the main crops used for …
UF/IFAS Industrial Hemp Virtual Workshop Available
(UF/IFAS) — The UF/IFAS Industrial Hemp Pilot Program launched a virtual workshop with research and program updates, available online beginning January 11 for $40. The workshop consists of a collection of pre-recorded lectures and prepared documents available for on-demand viewing. In addition to the virtual delivery, there are opportunities to engage with experts from UF/IFAS. As the two-year pilot project …
Members Sought for Advisory Committee on Urban Agriculture
(USDA/FSA) — The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is seeking members for a new advisory committee on urban agriculture, part of a broader effort to focus on the needs of urban farmers. The 12-person committee will advise the Secretary of Agriculture on the development of policies and outreach relating to urban, indoor, and other emerging agricultural production practices as well …
NCBA Rolls Out New Virtual Event for 2021
Cattle Industry Members Invited to 2021 Cattle Industry Convention Winter Reboot Virtual Event Feb. 23-24 (NCBA) – Brand new for 2021, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) is hosting a two-day virtual event for cattlemen and women across the country to come together for industry news, updates, education and networking. The 2021 Cattle Industry Convention Winter Reboot, scheduled for Feb. …
Georgia Ag Commissioner Concerned with Seed Coat Fragments in Cotton
It was announced this week that the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA’s) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is collaborating with the Georgia Department of Agriculture in raising awareness and further examine the significant increase in seed coat fragments in cotton produced in the state. In a phone interview with Southeast Agnet’s Randall Weiseman, Georgia Commissioner of Agriculture Gary Black said in …
COVID-19 Taking Heavy Toll on Farmers’ Mental Health
(AFBF) — A strong majority of farmers/farmworkers say the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted their mental health, and more than half say they are personally experiencing more mental health challenges than they were a year ago, according to a new American Farm Bureau poll. The survey of rural adults and farmers/farmworkers explores how the pandemic has affected their mental health personally and …
Judge Says Trial Needed in Conservation Dispute
(NSF) — A Leon County circuit judge has said a trial is needed in part of a long-running lawsuit about how the Legislature carried out a 2014 constitutional amendment aimed at land and water conservation. Environmental groups in October asked Circuit Judge Charles Dodson to grant summary judgment finding that some state budget items from 2015 and 2016 violated the …