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 ContentUnited Dairy Farmers of Florida …
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 …
USDA Sign Up in Georgia Ends Friday
USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and Farm Service Agency (FSA) in Georgia wants farmers, ranchers and forestland owners who suffered damage to working lands due to Hurricane Michael, the sign up to seek assistance for USDA program funding ends Friday, April 19. Through NRCS, the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) can help producers address natural resource concerns that can result on their own or after a …
Alabama EQIP Signup Deadline is Next Week
USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) State Conservationist for Alabama, Ben Malone, wants to remind landowners in the state that the signup batching deadline for Fiscal Year 2019 for the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) and initiatives offered through the program is April 25. With EQIP programs, eligible producers may receive a payment based on the statewide average cost of the installation …
Florida Conservation Easement Signup Ends Next Week
USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Florida wants to remind landowners that applications to fund agricultural easements in Florida are being accepted until April 25. NRCS provides financial and technical assistance to conserve working lands and wetlands through two programs, the Agricultural Land Easements (ALE) and Wetland Reserve Easements (WRE). Through ALE, NRCS provides financial assistance to conservation partners for …
Lawmakers Look to Hemp as New Industry while Vegetable Gardens Headed to House Floor
With supporters pointing to the potential of a new industry, a House committee Thursday approved a plan for regulating production of hemp. The bill (HB 333), approved by the House State Affairs Committee, would create a regulatory framework that would be administered by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, which is led by Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried, a …
Weak Honey Bee Colonies May Fail From Cold Exposure During Shipping
Cold temperatures inside honey bee colonies may cause colony losses during and after long-distance hauling, according to a preliminary study by Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientists. Every year almost 2 million honey bee colonies—nearly two-thirds of the managed colonies in the United States—are loaded aboard semi-trailers and shipped across the country multiple times to pollinate crops like California almonds. But within days …
Hyde-Smith Bill Would Codify Oversight, Regulation of Cell-based Meats
Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith of Mississippi has introduced a bill that would give the Department of Agriculture responsibility to regulate, inspect, and label cell-cultured meat and poultry. The Cell-Cultured Meat and Poultry Regulation Act of 2019 introduced last week, would codify the responsibilities of the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service and the Food and Drug Administration over food products grown …