(ACES) — With cotton harvest complete, producers now wait for ginning to wrap up, as preparations begin for another year. Livestock owners, on the other hand, are gearing up to purchase cotton byproducts to supplement minerals and feeds throughout the winter months. Alabama Cooperative Extension System beef specialist, Kim Mullenix, said the Southeast is one of the largest cotton producing regions …
Supreme Court Set to Hear Water Battle
(NSF) — After years of battling between Florida and Georgia, the U.S. Supreme Court next month will again take up a dispute about water in a river system that links the two states. The Supreme Court last week scheduled oral arguments Feb. 22 in the case about divvying up water in the Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint river system, which stretches from northern Georgia …
Secure Options for Signing, Sharing USDA Documents Online
Farmers and ranchers are being reminded when you work with USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) or Farm Service Agency (FSA), you can sign and share documents online with just a few clicks. By using Box or OneSpan, producers can digitally complete business transactions without leaving their homes or agricultural operations. Both services are free, secure and available for multiple …
USDA Designates Alabama Counties as Natural Disaster Areas
Losses resulting from Hurricane Zeta MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries Rick Pate announces that U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has designated 13 Alabama counties as primary disaster areas, due to damage and losses caused by Hurricane Zeta that occurred from October 28 through October 29, 2020. USDA reviewed the Loss Assessment Reports and determined that there were …
Christmas Day is Special on Most Mushroom Farms
On one type of farm, Christmas day is an extra special day, unlike all others. And while your thoughts may lean towards a Christmas tree farm, Gary Crawford has a story about a crop you may not think about. Sponsored ContentCattle Producers Proud of Efforts Funded Through The Florida Cattle Enhancement BoardMay 29, 2026Florida Cattle Enhancement Board Funding Crucial For …
USDA Clears Santa’s Reindeer for Entry into the United States
 (USDA/Washington, D.C., Dec, 23, 2020) — The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) today issued a movement permit to Mr. S. Nicholas Claus of the North Pole, a broker with Worldwide Gifts, Unlimited. The permit will allow reindeer to enter and exit the United States between the hours of 7 p.m. Dec. 24, 2020 and …
Commissioner Fried Grants Santa Claus & Reindeer Animal Movement Permit
(FDACS) — Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried and the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ (FDACS) are issuing a Certificate of Animal Movement to Mr. and Mrs. Claus of the North Pole. The certificate will allow their reindeer – Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen, and Rudolph – to enter and exit all homes, domiciles, encampments, and premises in the state of …
Dr. Carrie Castille Named as New NIFA Director
(USDA) — The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that President Trump has named Dr. Carrie Castille as the new, six year term director of the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). Dr. Castille will start her new role on Monday, January 4, 2021. “Dr. Castille is a trusted leader in economic development and public policy and has more than 20 …
Secretary Perdue Announces Groundbreaking Proposal
Transfer Agricultural Animal Biotechnology Regulatory Framework to USDA (USDA) — U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue announced a significant step in modernizing regulations of agricultural animals modified or produced by genetic engineering. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will be moving forward with an Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPR) to solicit public input and feedback on a contemplated regulatory framework that …
Indoors or Outdoors, Horticulture and Holidays Go Together
(USDA/NASS) — With the holiday season upon us, you may have missed the recent release of the 2019 Census of Horticultural Specialties Report. This 2017 Census of Agriculture special study is the only source of detailed production and sales data for floriculture, nursery, and specialty crops for the entire United States. Although the number of horticulture operations declined 11% from the last …