(ACES) — Alabama wine grape growers will soon have access to disease-resistant bunch grape varieties as new grape varieties send ripples through the entire wine-making community. For many years, Alabama’s commercial grape producers have been limited to native muscadine, American and French-American hybrid bunch grape cultivars. The limited access is due to heavy bacterial disease pressure that suffocates most European …
Ranchers Applaud Announcement Of New NEPA Rules
(NCBA) — Ranchers across the country hailed an announcement by President Trump that his Administration will promulgate new regulations to implement the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). “Over time, NEPA has evolved into a complex web of onerous processes and bureaucratic red tape,” said fifth-generation Oregon rancher and Public Lands Council President Bob Skinner. “These sensible updates proposed by Council …
USMCA to Face Additional Senate Approvals
(NAFB) — The U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) timeline remains uncertain. However, lawmakers seem certain they will pass the agreement, at the latest, following impeachment hearings. The Senate Finance Committee did approve the agreement earlier this week, but a Senate parliamentarian has determined that eight other Senate committees must offer approval of the agreement. So, depending on how long a further review …
Georgia Submits Revised Industrial Hemp Plan and Rules
In response to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) promulgation of the interim final rule governing the production of hemp under the 2018 farm bill on Oct. 31, 2019, the Georgia Department of Agriculture (GDA) has submitted an updated “Georgia Hemp Plan” to comply with USDA’s requirements. View the plan here. Pursuant to the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, O.C.G.A. …
Five State Peanut Organizations Seek National Peanut Board Nominees
(NPB) — The Alabama Peanut Producers Association, Florida Peanut Producers Association, Mississippi Peanut Growers Association, North Carolina Peanut Growers Association and the Virginia Peanut Growers Association are seeking eligible peanut producers who are interested in serving on the National Peanut Board.  Nominations election meetings will be held to select two nominees each for member and alternate from each area to …
Purdue/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer December
(NAFB) — The December Purdue/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer suggests farmers are optimistic about the future, despite a weakened perception of current conditions. The survey dropped three points in December to a reading of 150, down from 153 in November. The Index of Current Conditions dropped 12 points to 141, down from 153 in November. Meanwhile, the Index of Future …
Deadline Nearing for Public Comments on CSP
USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) has been seeking public comments on its interim final rule for the Conservation Stewardship Program. CSP, the nation’s largest conservation program in terms of participating land, is designed to help farmers have more robust conservation activities. But they want to remind landowners the deadline to make those comments in January 13th. Here’s NRCS Associate Chief, Kevin Norton. And Norton …
DeSantis Likely to Get Environmental Money in Session
(NSF) — Gov. Ron DeSantis appears poised for a victory as he seeks environmental money to combat water-quality problems that plague the state. DeSantis’ $625 million request for the upcoming legislative session includes money for Everglades restoration, fighting toxic algae outbreaks and boosting the Florida Forever land-preservation program, all issues popular among lawmakers and environmentalists. The proposal is the second …
Impossible Pork is Impossible; Violates Labeling Law
(NPPC) — The National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) called Impossible Foods’ naming convention for its plant-based products designed to mimic real pork a brazen violation of labelling law. Citing law that prohibits the use of words that redefine pork as it has been known by consumers for centuries, Dr. Dan Kovich, director of science and technology for the National Pork …
Senate Committee Approves USMCA; Ag Groups Respond
USMCA Action is a Welcome Start to 2020 (AFBF) — The following statement may be attributed to American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall: “We are now one step away from unleashing the competitiveness of America’s farmers and ranchers with our two largest trading partners thanks to today’s Senate Finance Committee vote. The United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement will protect our valuable …