He oversees nation’s farm policy and he has bone to pick with UGA trade deal study The University of Georgia (UGA) recently published a study claiming the new United States–Mexico–Canada Agreement (USMCA) would cost some Georgia vegetable and fruit growers revenue and jobs. The sensational assertions are flat wrong. As a proud UGA alumnus, I’m here to tell you USMCA …
Alfalfa Useful In Hay and Pasture Operations
Alfalfa crops are once again returning to the Southeastern agriculture scene. Once a dominant forage, producers saw an elimination of many productive stands because of several factors, including insect pressures and a harsh growing environment. Researchers, working with improved varieties, are incorporating these varieties into mixtures with bermudagrass. Now, these mixtures allow producers to grow alfalfa for both hay and …
Disaster Relief Blocked Again in Congress
A second congressional Republican, arguing for a vote by the full House, blocked an attempt Tuesday to pass long-stalled federal disaster relief funding that would assist Florida’s hurricane-ravaged Panhandle. The latest move came after a group of Panhandle residents targeted — through a full-page ad in the Austin American-Statesman newspaper — a Texas Republican who initially blocked the bill on …
Rubio, Hyde-Smith, Wicker, Cotton Introduce Bill to Help Private Forest Owners Recover From Disasters
A Third of Forest Land in the U.S. is Held by Family Landowners, Who Find Limited Options Following Loss of Timber to Natural Disasters U.S. Senators Marco Rubio (R-FL), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), Roger Wicker (R-MS), and Tom Cotton (R-AR) introduced the Forest Recovery Act (S.1687), which would amend the U.S. tax code to establish a special rule for losses of uncut timber …
Dry Weather, Dry Forecast Worry Wiregrass Corn Producers
Expectations for higher-than-normal May temperatures have Wiregrass corn producers on edge as the spring growing season shapes up to be a dry one. Brandon Dillard, an Alabama Extension regional agent of agronomic crops, said farmers in the area were ahead of the planting schedule earlier in the season. “This was one of the best looking dryland corn crops I’ve seen …
Trump Says Year-Round E-15 Is Coming
President Donald Trump says the summertime ban on higher ethanol blends is a “ridiculous rule.” However, SP Global Dot Com says during a press conference last Thursday, he didn’t give any new timeline for giving consumers year-round access to E-15. The Environmental Protection Agency says it will issue a final rule allowing summertime E-15 sales by June 1, the official …
Commissioner Nikki Fried Continues Israel Trade Mission-Day 4
Today (May 26, 2019) marked the fourth day of Commissioner Nicole “Nikki” Fried’s first trade mission to Israel. Fried has spent several days meeting with government officials, agricultural research groups, and agriculture-related businesses before joining other Florida Cabinet members next week for a Cabinet meeting and business development meetings. Among other events, Commissioner Fried met today with Agriculture Minister Uri …
Marketing Assistance Loan Deadlines Approaching
May 31 Deadline for Feed Grains, Upland Cotton, Soybeans and Minor Oilseeds U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) Administrator Richard Fordyce reminds producers of the May 31 deadline to apply for crop year 2018 marketing assistance loans for feed grains, upland cotton, soybeans and minor oilseeds. “These commodity loans provide short-term financing, allowing producers to meet interim …
Commissioner Nikki Fried Continues Israel Trade Mission
Today (Friday, May 24, 2019) marked day two of Commissioner Nicole “Nikki” Fried’s first trade mission to Israel. Fried will spend several days meeting with government officials, agricultural research groups, and agriculture-related businesses before joining other Florida Cabinet members next week for a Cabinet meeting and business development meetings. Fried made this statement following yesterday’s trade mission kickoff: “I’m thrilled …
Industry Response to Disaster Relief No Vote
Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nicole “Nikki” Fried A $19.1 billion disaster relief bill – set for passage seven months after Category 5 Hurricane Michael devastated the Florida Panhandle – was single-handedly blocked by a lone freshman member of the House of Representatives. Commissioner Nicole “Nikki” Fried offered the following statement: “It’s craven, shameful politics at its worst that a single House member would choose …