(NAFB) — The Department of Agriculture predicts farm income will rise in 2019, despite challenges impacting the farm economy. Last week, USDA reported inflation-adjusted U.S. net cash farm income is set to increase $5.8 billion, up 5.4 percent, to $112.6 billion. U.S. net farm income, a broader measure of farm sector profitability that incorporates noncash items including changes in inventories, …
Agricultural Producers Urged to Learn About Irrigating Wisely at Free UF Event
GAINESVILLE, FL (UF/IFAS) — UF/IFAS Extension Alachua County will host a free event highlighting water-saving technologies available to agricultural producers and how this equipment has already aided growers in the area. Irrigating Wisely in Florida’s Agriculture, held at Brown’s Farm in Hawthorne, Florida, on Sept. 17, will share information on best management practices for utilizing water-saving technologies as well as …
U.S., U.K. Trade Talks Could Get Bumpy Around Poultry
(NAFB) — Assuming that trade negotiations ever get going between the United States and the United Kingdom, feathers on both sides could get ruffled over poultry. U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson told U.S. Vice President Mike Pence that, “We’re not to keen on chlorinated chicken.” During a visit to the U.K. last week, Pence did admit that poultry could become …
Heartland Seat on SFWMD Board Draws 13 Applicants
Publisher/Editor Katrina Elsken, of Lake Okeechobee News, gives us a rundown of each of the 13 applicants for the vacant seat for the at-large member for an area that includes Glades, Highlands, Okeechobee, Orange, Osceola and Polk counties. The Heartland seat has been vacant since March on the South Florida Water Management District board. TALLAHASSEE — Thirteen people have submitted …
American Lamb Summit Recommends Industry Changes
(ALB) — Outcomes from the inaugural American Lamb Summit were clear: all segments of the industry need to further improve lamb quality to keep and attract new customers and become more efficient to recapture market share from imported lamb. Yet, it was just as clear that production technologies and product research put industry success within grasp. “I have never been …
UF/IFAS Economist: Hurricane Dorian’s Impact on Florida Agriculture Minimal
GAINESVILLE, FL (UF/IFAS) — One day after Hurricane Dorian crept past Florida’s Atlantic coast, impacts to the state’s agricultural and natural resources-based industries appear to be minimal, according to an economist with the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences. As of Thursday noon, the most notable effects were minor grapefruit losses in the Indian River area, a …
Florida Breathes Easier After Dodging ‘Big One’
“A lot of the ag producers out there are so grateful that we didn’t have a straight-on hit, that they’re starting to coordinate as well through us some of the products we might be able to send down to the Bahamas,” Fried said. TALLAHASSEE (NSF) — Emergency operations slowly started to wind down Wednesday as Hurricane Dorian remained offshore, inching …
Poultry Industry Announces Alliance with OSHA
Washington, D.C. (NCC) –The poultry industry has long recognized the importance of establishing collaborative relationships to promote employee health and safety practices and to develop programs to enhance poultry workplaces. As such, the industry is pleased the U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) has agreed to an alliance to share information, guidance and access to training …
August Ag Economy Barometer Falls
(NAFB) — Farmer concern regarding low prices and the farm economy led to a sharp drop in the August Ag Economy Barometer. The Perdue/CME Group economic measure fell 29 points last month to a reading of 124. The barometer’s decline was attributed to declines in both the Index of Current Conditions, which dropped 19 points, and the Index of Future …
Emergency Watershed Protection Program
With Hurricane Dorian working its way up the Eastern Coast, and the fact we are nearing the peak of the 2019 Hurricane Season, USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) wants to remind landowners should your area suffer damage from a natural disaster, their Emergency Watershed Protection Program (EWP) can help relieve imminent hazards to life and property caused by not …