Tulare Sales Yard, Tulare, Calif. will host the 2019 World Livestock Auctioneer Championship (WLAC) on June 7 and 8. The event is free and open to the general public. The 56th annual WLAC will take place in conjunction with the Livestock Marketing Association (LMA) Annual Convention. The WLAC competition is composed of two parts: an interview and a live auction. The …
New National Poll Shows Impacts of Rural Economy on Farmer Mental Health
A strong majority of farmers and farmworkers say financial issues, farm or business problems and fear of losing the farm impact farmers’ mental health, according to a new national Morning Consult research poll. Sponsored by the American Farm Bureau Federation in recognition of May as Mental Health Month, the poll surveyed rural adults and farmers/farmworkers to better understand factors affecting the …
Report Released on Rural Broadband and Benefits of Next Generation Precision Agriculture
Reliable, High-Speed Broadband e-Connectivity is Essential to Enhanced Agricultural Production Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue unveiled a groundbreaking report, A Case for Rural Broadband: Insights on Rural Broadband Infrastructure and Next Generation Precision Agriculture Technologies (PDF, 2.5 MB). The report finds that deployment of both broadband e-Connectivity and Next Generation Precision Agriculture Technology on farms and ranches throughout the U.S. could result …
Controlling Bacterial Spot on Tomatoes and Peppers
Alabama Extension wants those growing tomatoes and peppers to be aware of Bacterial Spot, a common disease on the leaves of those two plants. But, there are several steps that growers can take to control and prevent the disease, which involves using multiple management tactics. Controlling the disease with chemicals alone usually results in failure. Steps growers can take include …
Coastal Headwaters Longleaf Forest Project
As part of a multi-year effort to expand longleaf pine forests across the Southeast, last week the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Florida, The Conservation Fund, and Resource Management Service held an event in Pace, Florida, to celebrate the completion of the first phase of the Coastal Headwaters Longleaf Forest project. The 3,719-acre conservation easement will restore …
Conservation Stewardship Program Signup Period Ends May 10
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) wants to remind landowners the signup deadline for Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) applications to be considered for 2019 funding is May 10. The 2018 farm bill made several changes to this conservation program; high ranking applications are now based on dollars rather than acres. NRCS Chief Matt Lohr explains. Lohr …
Congress Returns with Push for USMCA
Lawmakers are returning to Washington this week with a renewed industry push to approve the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). Following the International Trade Commission Report, few steps remain to reach implementation. Vice President Mike Pence touted the deal during a stop in Michigan last week, and a road tour from Farmers for Free Trade crossed the country building support for passage …
Deadline Extended for Producers to Certify 2018 Crop Production for MFP Payments
USDA extended the deadline to May 17 from May 1 for agricultural producers to certify 2018 crop production for payments through the Market Facilitation Program (MFP), which helps producers who have been significantly affected by foreign tariffs, resulting in the loss of traditional exports. USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) extended the deadline because heavy rainfall and snowfall have delayed harvests …
Funding for Backtag RFID Project Proposals Available
Groups developing radio frequency ID backtags for livestock as part of an overall animal disease traceability framework now can submit funding applications to USDA for those projects. Rod Bain has more details. Sarah Tomlinson of USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service discusses some of the technologies developed or in development regarding radio frequency ID tags designed in part for …
Three More Georgia Water Management Workshops
USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Georgia wants to remind producers about the three remaining statewide Water Management Workshops. The University of Georgia (UGA) and Fort Valley State University (FVSU) extension programs have partnered with NRCS to host these workshops. While they are geared towards smaller acreage and new/beginning farmers, they are open to all who wish to attend …