USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) wants to remind historically underserved producers, who participate in the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), of the advance payment option. NRCS Chief Matthew Lohr explains how this program works. (USDA/NRCS) — USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) reminds historically underserved producers, who are participating in the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), of the advance payment option. …
E-Verify Divides Republican Leaders as Session Starts
(NSF) — Gov. Ron DeSantis’ push for a politically charged immigration proposal has begun to expose a clash between Republicans as this year’s legislative session starts. The governor kicked off the session Tuesday by reminding lawmakers about one of his top priorities: a proposed mandate for all Florida employers to use the federal government’s E-Verify system to check new hires …
Key Senator Files Plan for Everglades, Water Money
(NSF) — The Senate’s top budget writer filed a proposal Monday that would put into law Gov. Ron DeSantis’ push to spend $625 million a year on Everglades and water-quality projects. The proposal (SB 1878), filed by Appropriations Chairman Rob Bradley, R-Fleming Island, would carry out a DeSantis priority to spend $2.5 billion over four years on such projects. The …
Bad News for U.S. Beef/Chicken in Potential U.K. Trade Deal
(NAFB) — The U.S. beef and poultry industries got some bad news through a recent article on BBC Dot Com. Chlorine-washed chicken and hormone-treated beef will be kept out of the United Kingdom under any potential trade deal with the U.S. That comes straight from the UK environmental secretary. Theresa Villiers tells the BBC that the current European Union ban …
Beef Quality Assurance Program Continues Impressive Growth
More than 100,000 Now Certified Online in Beef Checkoff-funded Program (NCBA) – The Beef Quality Assurance program continues to grow significantly, with more than 100,000 cattle producers now certified through its online learning system. The online option was introduced by the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, a contractor to the Beef Checkoff, in early 2017. Since the BQA program was initiated …
American Grown Campaign Launches
Non-Profit Created to Address the growing Financial Crisis in American Farms Launches Campaign The American Grown Campaign launched at the Southeast Regional Fruit and Vegetable Conference on January 11. The non-profit was created by growers to address the growing financial crisis in American farms. American Grown was founded with farmers and growers from Florida, Georgia, and Michigan. “America’s farmers need our support …
Possible E-Verify Compromise Emerges
(NSF) — The Republican-dominated Legislature has long pushed back against requiring employers to conduct immigration background checks for new hires, but a bill filed Friday includes a potential compromise that could hand a win to Gov. Ron DeSantis on the controversial issue. The bill, filed by Rep. Cord Byrd, R-Neptune Beach, would require government employers — such as state agencies …
Production Research Proposals on Agenda for National Peanut Board’s February Meeting
The National Peanut Board will hold its quarterly Board and committee meetings in Atlanta, Ga., Feb. 11-12, 2020. The Board’s Research Committee will consider requests for FY-20 funding for production research from state peanut producer organizations and universities. Funding production research to make America’s peanut farmers more competitive is a core part of the Board’s mission. All meetings take place at …
Alabama Extension, Auburn University Partner with UC Davis in European Grape Studies
(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 …