The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Florida reminds landowners the deadline to apply for funding of agricultural easements in the state is Thursday, April 25. NRCS provides financial and technical assistance to conserve working lands and wetlands through two programs: Agricultural Land Easements (ALE) and Wetland Reserve Easements (WRE). Agricultural landowners and Indian tribes can …
Calling for CIG Proposals in Georgia
State Conservationist Terrance Rudolph, with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Georgia, announced up to $300,000 is available for the Georgia State Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) program. This year’s CIG will help fund innovative conservation projects in three focus areas: grazing lands, urban agriculture and soil health. CIG projects, authorized and funded under the Environmental …
Pork Industry Asking for More Border Inspectors
The U.S. pork industry is asking Congress to fund hundreds of more border inspectors, as the Trump Administration redeploys Customs agents from ports of entry to the open border, forcing inspection slowdowns. Long delays at the border coming north, in some cases five-to-ten hours, is raising concerns Mexico might slow commercial traffic headed south. Here is National Pork Producers’ President …
USDA Announces Enhancements to Livestock and Dairy Insurance Programs
The Department of Agriculture’s Risk Management Agency Monday announced several enhancements to the Dairy Revenue Protection, Livestock Gross Margin and Livestock Risk Protection Programs. Risk Management Agency Administrator Martin Barbre says the changes “strengthen risk management options and provide peace of mind in times of unpredictable market fluctuations.” The Livestock Gross Margin program protects against loss of gross margin or …
Cover Crops That Take the Heat
USDA’s Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) Plant Materials Centers (PMCs) in the Southeast are gathering data on different types of cover crops that landowners can use during the summer months. Many of us may think of cover crops as being planted after a cash crop is harvested in the fall. But there are some cash crops harvested in the spring, …
Commissioner Nikki Fried Releases Hurricane Michael Video: “America’s Forgotten Disaster”
Commissioner Nicole “Nikki” Fried released a new mini-documentary video entitled “America’s Forgotten Disaster,” highlighting the destruction and consequences of Hurricane Michael, with a focus on forestry and timber. The video documents Commissioner Fried’s tours of Panhandle communities devastated by Hurricane Michael, features visually powerful reminders of the damage to forests and timber farms and the looming threat of wildfire, and includes …
Farm Groups Ask President, Congress for Disaster Relief
A group of 135 farm organizations and banks that supply seasonal loans to farms and ranches today called on President Trump and Congress to put aside political differences and supply urgently needed relief in the wake of weather-related disasters in 2018 and 2019. The organizations highlighted the year’s unprecedented destruction in the letter. Farmers and ranchers are especially anxious for …
Meet Chuck, the Virtual Beef Assistant
The beef industry is going high-tech when it comes to promoting its products. The “Beef. It’s What’s for Dinner” brand is launching what it calls a “beef virtual assistant.” Chuck Knows Beef is powered by Google artificial intelligence and brings together a rancher’s knowledge, a chef’s expertise, and the humor of the average dad into kitchens across the country. The …
CSP Signup Period Continues
Landowners are being reminded the signup for Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) applications to be considered for 2019 funding runs until May 10. USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is now enrolling eligible, high ranking applications based on dollars rather than acres. NRCS Deputy Chief Jimmy Bramblett says this program originally was known as the Conservation Security Program. Sponsored ContentFlorida Senator Shares Origins of …
ADAI Licenses Growers, Processors, and Universities into the Alabama Industrial Hemp Pilot Program
Commissioner Rick Pate announced the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries (ADAI) has licensed 152 growers, 59 processors, and 5 universities to grow, cultivate, process, and research industrial hemp in 2019. Each list is available at http://www.agi.alabama.gov/s/industrial-hemp—home—w-o. “We have had a significant interest in the Alabama Industrial Hemp Pilot Program from potential growers and processors since the availability of applications was …