NCBA Exposes Relationship of OCM and HSUS

Dan Cattle, Economy, Industry News Release

WASHINGTON (NCBA-Oct. 3, 2017) — The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) Vice President of Government Affairs, Ethan Lane, released the following statement in response to a Nebraska rally demanding government intervention to alleviate price disparities impacting cattle markets: “Yesterday, an HSUS-funded organization called the Organization for Competitive Markets (OCM) held a rally in Omaha, Nebraska entitled the “Rally to Stop …

Scientists Release First Map of Areas Suitable for Spotted Lanternfly Establishment in U.S. and World

Dan Environment, Field Crops, Forestry, Industry News Release, Research, Specialty Crops

WAPATO, WASHINGTON (USDA/ARS-October 3, 2019) — A map identifying the areas suitable for establishment of the spotted lanternfly (SLF) in the United States and other countries has been published in the Journal of Economic Entomology by Agricultural Research Service scientists. Areas in the United States that have been identified as possible spotted lanternfly habitat. The SLF, originally from China, has spread to Korea …

Gov. DeSantis Announces Early Termination of the Florida Crystals Lease on the STA Footprint of Lands Needed for Construction of the EAA Reservoir

Dan Environment, Florida, Industry News Release, Lake Okeechobee, Sugar, Water

Lease Termination is an Important Step in Meeting the Expedited Construction Schedule for the Reservoir Project Tallahassee, FL (Office of FL Gov. Ron DeSantis-Oct. 3, 2019)— Governor Ron DeSantis, the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) announced the early termination of the Florida Crystals Lease for the stormwater treatment area (STA) component …

Commissioner Nikki Fried Unveils Major Energy & Climate Legislative Package

Dan Climate Change, Energy, Environment, Florida, Industry News Release

Tampa, FL (FDACS-Oct. 3, 2019) — Commissioner Nicole “Nikki” Fried unveiled an ambitious legislative package of bills to address energy efficiency, climate change, resiliency, and clean energy research. Speaking at a press conference in Tampa alongside U.S. Representative Kathy Castor, U.S. Representative Charlie Crist, and State Representative Margaret Good, Fried highlighted the urgency with which Florida and the nation must address energy and climate issues. The …

RCPP Partner Portal is Now Open and Accepting Applications

Dan Drought, Environment, Soil, USDA-NRCS, Water

We told you last week that USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) had announced the launch of the updated Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP). Potential partners are encouraged to submit proposals that will improve the nation’s water quality, combat drought, enhance soil health, support wildlife habitat and protect agricultural viability. This week, NRCS put out a reminder that the RCPP Partner Portal is open …

USDA Invests $11M In Research That Will Support Specialty Crop Farmers

Dan Fruits, Hemp, Industry News Release, Pecans, Specialty Crops, Sugar, Vegetables

WASHINGTON (USDA-Oct. 3, 2019) — U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Deputy Under Secretary Scott Hutchins announced that the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) has invested $11 million in research that will support specialty crop farmers. “This collaborative public-private research effort will focus on applying innovative solutions to pest management problems that often are otherwise not available to specialty …

NMPF on U.S. Response to Illegal EU Subsidies Under WTO

Dan Dairy, Exports/Imports, Industry News Release, Trade

ARLINGTON, VA (NMPF-Oct. 3, 2019) — “Subsidies and barriers that handicap U.S. businesses in the global marketplace by violating international trade commitments shouldn’t be tolerated. We strongly support the World Trade Organization’s imposition of $7.5 billion in retaliatory duties on European products, including dairy foods, to prod the EU to uphold its World Trade Organization commitments and reinforce the importance …

UF/IFAS Experts Help Farmers Cope with Mental Stress

Dan Florida, General, Industry News Release

ST. PETERSBURG, FL (UF/IFAS-Oct. 3, 2019) — When some people think of a farmer, they conjure an image of a stoic, tough-as-nails figure – one who can cope with any hardship. But that’s not always the case, particularly when cold, heat, drought, disease or a natural disaster strikes their crop or cattle. Sometimes, when a farmer or rancher’s livelihood is …

Facts of the Flow: Lake Okeechobee, 2019 Year-to-Date

Dan Florida, Industry News Release, Lake Okeechobee, Water

(SFWMD) — Here is the latest update on inflows into Lake Okeechobee for the calendar year to date. This data is provided by SFWMD’s DBHYDRO database. There has been no back-pumping into Lake Okeechobee from the Everglades Agricultural Area this year. Source: South Florida Water Management District Sponsored ContentFlorida Cattle Producers Proactive In Research Efforts Funded by the Florida Cattle …

Farm Bureau Releases Milk Program Recommendations

Dan Dairy, Economy, Industry News Release

(AFBF-Oct. 2, 2019) — The American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) released a proposal for the future of U.S. milk-pricing provisions and marketing-order reform. The recommendations aim to bring more democracy and a more equitable program for all dairy farmers. Although federal milk marketing orders have been a pillar of the dairy industry for more than 80 years, the program has …