Optimism is growing that the U.S. and China could wrap up a trade agreement this month. Trade officials from the U.S. and China concluded talks in Beijing Wednesday with another critical round scheduled for next week in the United States. The Trump administration has appeared to be ready to walk away if an agreement isn’t reached soon. However, Treasury Secretary …
Alabama Extension Offers Insight on Center Pivot Irrigation Costs
Producers face difficult decisions day in and day out. Alabama Cooperative Extension System professionals have compiled information to help farmers consider all options when deciding whether to purchase and install irrigation equipment on the farm. Dr. Brittney Goodrich, an Alabama Extension economist, said irrigation can mitigate one of the largest risks in crop production. Center pivot irrigation investment and operating …
Lawmakers Back Homeowner Vegetable Gardens
The Florida House on Wednesday gave final approval to a measure that would prevent local governments from regulating homeowners’ vegetable gardens. The 93-16 vote will send the bill (SB 82) to Gov. Ron DeSantis. The issue stems from a dispute between homeowners Hermine Ricketts and Laurence Carroll and the village of Miami Shores over an ordinance that banned front-yard vegetable …
CSP Signup Deadline Nearing
Landowners are being reminded the signup deadline for Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) applications to be considered for 2019 funding is May 10. CSP, through USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), is the largest conservation program in the U.S. with more than 70 million acres of productive agricultural and forest land enrolled. Tyron Spearman has more details. Sponsored ContentFlorida Cattle Producers Proactive In …
NCBA Welcomes Legislation Aimed to Help Livestock Haulers
The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) welcomed the introduction of legislation in the U.S. Senate aimed at reforming federal Hours of Service (HOS) rules in a way that ensures animal welfare, highway safety, and the well-being of livestock haulers. S. 1255, the Transporting Livestock Across America Safely Act, was introduced by Senator Ben Sasse (R-NE) with a bipartisan group of …
Peanut Genome Sequenced with Unprecedented Accuracy
Improved pest resistance and drought tolerance are among potential benefits of an international effort in which Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientists and their collaborators have produced the clearest picture yet of the complex genomic history of the cultivated peanut. Scientists undertook this large project to better understand the molecular and cellular mechanisms that underpin the peanut plant’s growth and development, …
Rubio Joins Sasse, Colleagues in Reintroducing Livestock Haulers Legislation
U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) joined Senator Ben Sasse (R-NE) in reintroducing the Transporting Livestock Across America Safely Act. Currently, overly strict trucking regulations from the Department of Transportation require mandatory rest time that put livestock at risk, especially during summer or winter months. This bipartisan legislation would give American agriculture the flexibility to safely transport livestock. “Florida’s livestock and …
Florida Budget Chiefs Finalize State Spending Plan
House and Senate budget chiefs agreed Tuesday to a roughly $90 billion budget deal, but lawmakers will not end the 2019 legislative session on time. The budget needed to be distributed Tuesday to meet the scheduled Friday end of the session. That is because of a mandatory 72-hour “cooling off” period before lawmakers can vote on the budget. But the …
2019 World Livestock Auctioneer Championship to be Hosted in California
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 …