(NAFB) — Certain industrial hemp growers will be able to obtain insurance coverage under the Whole-Farm Revenue Protection program for crop year 2020. The Department of Agriculture’s Risk Management Agency Tuesday announced coverage for hemp grown for fiber, flower or seeds. The coverage will be available to producers who are in areas covered by USDA-approved hemp plans or who are …
Work Starts on Toll Road Plans
TALLAHASSEE (NSF) — Task forces that will study and make recommendations about three major toll-road proposals will be committed to protecting farmland and natural springs in the western side of the state, members were told Tuesday as they formally kicked off the work. Still, critics who fought the projects during this year’s legislative session because of concerns about sprawl and …
SoilWeb 2.0 App Update Available
USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) wants to remind producers about their recent release of the iOS and Android SoilWeb app, version 2.0. The app now has a cleaner and more modern interface with GPS-location-based links to access detailed digital soil survey data (SSURGO) published by the NRCS for most of the U.S. The SoilWeb app provides users with information relating …
Trump Signs Family Farmer Relief Act
(NAFB) — President Trump last week signed the Family Farmer Relief Act of 2019. The law raises the Chapter 12 debt limit from $4.1 million to $10 million. The bipartisan bill “will help family farmers reorganize after falling on hard times,” according to American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall. The law allows more farmers the opportunity to qualify under …
Ag Groups Celebrate Trade Agreement With Japan
The United States and Japan have agreed in principle to a trade deal. In a report from Gary Crawford, President Donald Trump talks about the new agreement. Secretary Perdue on Japan Agreement WU.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue issued the following statement regarding the new trade agreement between the United States and Japan: “Japan is a significant market for United …
ADAI Accepting Applications for USDA Organic Cost-Share Reimbursement Program
MONTGOMERY, AL (ADAI) – Alabama growers and handlers of organic agricultural products can recover part of the cost associated with their USDA certification. The reimbursement covers 75% of certification costs, up to a maximum of $750. The cost-share program makes it easier for certified organic businesses throughout the supply chain by recouping the costs associated with USDA organic certification. The …
Another China Tariff Announcement Signals More Trouble
(AFBF) — The following may be attributed to American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall: “China’s announcement of imposing additional tariffs on $75 billion of U.S. imports signals more trouble for American agriculture. Farm Bureau is currently assessing the details of this announcement, but we know continued retaliation only adds to the difficulties farm and ranch families are facing and …
NPPC Prevails Against HSUS Attack on Animal Agriculture
WASHINGTON, D.C. (NPPC) – The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit today ruled in favor of the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) in its appeal to dismiss a lawsuit brought by the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS). The court rejected HSUS’s attempt to advance an anti-meat activist agenda through an unwarranted suit designed to hurt …
American Soybean Association on Chinese Tariff Escalation
Washington, D.C. (ASA) — China has announced it will impose an extra 5% tariff on U.S. soybeans starting Sept. 1 and an additional 10% duties on other major U.S. crops also grown by many soybean farmers starting mid-December. These latest details come after China vowed earlier this week that it will retaliate if the U.S. goes through with its plan …
USDA Details Trade Damage Estimate Calculations
Washington, D.C. (USDA) – U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Office of the Chief Economist has published a detailed accounting of how estimated damage from trade disruptions was calculated for its support package for farmers announced on July 25, 2019. USDA’s Office of the Chief Economist developed an estimate of gross trade …