After serving nearly 10 years as the senior vice president for agriculture and natural resources with the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS), Jack Payne announced he will retire next year. His last day with UF/IFAS will be July 1, 2020. Payne has overseen Extension offices across Florida and its 12 research and education centers since …
CDC Reports 200 More Illnesses Related to Backyard Poultry Flocks
More people are getting sick from backyard poultry flocks. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says an additional 227 people have become ill from Salmonella in backyard poultry flocks since May. The ongoing investigation has overall confirmed 279 illnesses in 41 states. People who got sick reported getting chicks and ducklings from places such as agricultural stores, websites …
Farmers Preparing for Drought Conditions
While recent rains were welcome, more than 34 percent of Alabama still faces abnormally dry or moderate drought conditions. This has many livestock producers worried about providing their animals with enough to eat and drink. Landon Marks, an Alabama Extension animal science regional agent, said some northeastern Alabama areas are starting to see effects of the abnormally dry weather. “Water …
House to Vote on Spending Bills
The U.S. House plans to vote soon on a large package of spending bills, including the fiscal 2020 agriculture appropriations bill. The House Appropriations Committee recently sent the ag spending bill to the full House on a party-line vote. House Ag Appropriations Subcommittee chair, Sanford Bishop of Georgia, talks about the bill’s $24.3 billion in discretionary spending. “The bill provides …
Bees Required to Create an Excellent Blueberry Crop
BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA, (USDA/ARS)—Getting an excellent rabbiteye blueberry harvest requires helpful pollinators—particularly native southeastern blueberry bees—although growers can bring in managed honey bees to do the job, according to Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientists. This is especially true for commercial rabbiteye blueberry producers in Mississippi and Louisiana. With sufficient pollinators, they have been able to increase the percentage of flowers …
Plant Bugs Put Heavy Pressure on Cotton
AUBURN UNIVERSITY, Ala. (ACES.edu)—The season’s early onset of drought-like conditions has several insects on the move early. Plant bugs and stink bugs are moving from their wild host plants into cotton earlier than farmers usually expect. Alabama Cooperative Extension System entomologist Ron Smith said the plant bug situation is not one producers are unfamiliar with, but earlier action will be required to keep …
Farm Bureau Leader: UF/IFAS Analysis Shows the Destructive Effects of Mexican Farm Imports
Gainesville, Fla. (FFBF) – A new economic analysis conducted by a University of Florida/Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) team has confirmed that Mexican imports have significantly harmed fruit and vegetable producers in the Sunshine State. A steadily increasing surge of Mexican products has entered the U.S. domestic market during Florida’s peak winter seasons since the North American Free Trade …
Fried Rallies Support for Hemp Industry
TALLAHASSEE (NSF) — Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried on Friday encouraged supporters of a new state hemp industry to tell Gov. Ron DeSantis to sign a bill that would lead to a regulatory framework for the crop. Fried said an envisioned hemp “revolution” needs the governor’s signature on the bill (SB 1020), which would create a hemp program within the Department …
U.S. Sugar Executive Re-Appointed to National Agricultural Trade Advisory Committee
Clewiston, FL (U. S. Sugar) – U.S. Sugar is proud to announce that Judy Clayton Sanchez, Senior Director for Corporate Communications and Public Affairs, was re-appointed to the Agricultural Technical Advisory Committee for Trade (ATAC) in Sweeteners and Sweetener Products by U.S. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue and United States Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer. Sanchez is serving her third term, which …
Trump on China Trade Talks and Mexico Immigration Deal
(NAFB) President Trump says in a hopeful sign for renewed trade talks with China, that he expects to meet with President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of a G20 summit in Japan later this month. Trump, speaking to reporters in the Oval Office during a meeting with Poland’s president, now says he plans to meet with China’s Xi Jinping this …