Emergency Support to Producers in Surrounding Counties Also Available United States Department of Agriculture WASHINGTON, Aug. 19, 2020 — Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue designated Toombs County, Georgia, as a primary natural disaster area. Producers who suffered losses due to hail that occurred on April 8, 2020, may be eligible for U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) emergency …
House Lawmakers Introduce Helping America’s Farmers Act
Lawmakers in the House of Representatives this week introduced the Helping America’s Farmers Act. The legislation would create a new economic injury disaster loan program at the Department of Agriculture’s Farm Service Agency. Introduced by Representative Jahana Hayes, a Connecticut Democrat and Antonio Delgado, a New York Democrat, the bill is endorsed by the National Milk Producers Federation and Dairy …
Northey on NRCS Chief Returning to the Farm
It was announced recently that Chief of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA’s) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), Matt Lohr, will be stepping down. USDA Farm Production and Conservation Undersecretary, Bill Northey, told Southeast AgNet that Lohr is headed back to the farm. For more information about NRCS programs that can benefit your operation, contact your local USDA Service Center …
Virtual UGA Cotton, Peanut Field Day Scheduled for Sept. 9
Timely topics and university research will headline a University of Georgia (UGA) Cotton and Peanut Field Day on Sept. 9. The Georgia Cotton Commission and Georgia Peanut Commission want growers to be mindful of the event which will be virtual this year. Interested producers and industry leaders will be able to learn from UGA specialists representing both commodity groups. Details …
Farmers, Ranchers and Landowners Doing Their Part to Improve Water Quality
GAINESVILLE, Fla., Aug. 14, 2020 – Drive across Florida and you will see evidence of USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) work on the landscape. Conservation practices such as riparian forest buffers, restored wetlands, contour strips and fields planted with protective cover are just a few visible signs of the agency’s work in our state. NRCS conservationists in Florida work …
NRCS Chief Promotes Programs
In case you missed the story this week, chief of the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Matt Lohr has announced he is leaving NRCS to head back to the farm. But as chief, he’s promoted all of the programs that NRCS offers, including the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) and the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP). Lohr, a Virginia native …
NCBA Holding Summer Business Meeting
As we all know, various meetings, conventions and other events in the agriculture industry have been cancelled this year due to the COVID-19 Pandemic. But one event that is still taking place as planned is the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) Summer Business Meeting in Colorado. NCBA CEO Colin Woodall says the event this week is an in-person meeting. The …
During Hurricane Season, USDA Offers New and Improved Insurance Options
By Martin R. Barbre, Administrator, Risk Management Agency, USDA The 2020 hurricane season has begun, and many experts have predicted above-normal activity this year. USDA is ready to help you during this hurricane season. USDA Helps Producers Recover From Disasters and Prepare for Future Ones USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA) recently introduced a new crop insurance hurricane endorsement, Hurricane Insurance …
Sunbelt Field Day Yields Positive Results
Thinking outside the box with Thursday’s Sunbelt Ag Expo Field Day yielded positive results, says Chip Blalock, executive director of the Sunbelt Expo in Moultrie, Georgia. It went so good, the new-look drive-thru version may become the new normal. “When you do something for the first time, you really don’t know what to expect,” Blalock said. “But when they were …
Big Trade Surplus in Most Red Meats
Right now, the U.S. is seeing a big trade surplus in most red meat categories. But according to a story from Gary Crawford, that does not include beef. We may actually import more beef this year than we export. USDA Economist Bart Kenner looks at the U.S. red meat import situation during the first eight months of the 2020 fiscal …