The American Farm Bureau (AFBF) Women’s Leadership Program has launched “Women in Ag,” an online survey that aims to gauge the goals, aspirations, achievements and needs of women in American agriculture in a variety of areas. All women who are farmers, ranchers, farm employees, employed in agricultural businesses, pursuing ag-related higher education or supportive of agriculture in other ways are …
Alabama State Conservationist on CSP
USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Alabama wants to remind landowners in the state that the signup batching deadline for Fiscal Year 2019 funding for the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) is April 25, 2019. But Alabama State Conservationist Ben Malone, also encourages landowners wanting to enhance current conservation efforts to apply for the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP). Sponsored ContentUnited Dairy Farmers of Florida …
Dairy Producers Previously Enrolled in the Livestock Gross Margin Program Now Eligible for 2018 Margin Protection Program
Retroactive Enrollment Begins March 25 The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that dairy producers who elected to participate in the Livestock Gross Margin for Dairy Cattle Program (LGM-Dairy) now have the opportunity to participate in the Margin Protection Program for Dairy (MPP-Dairy) for 2018 coverage. Sign-up will take place March 25 through May 10, 2019. Producers enrolled in 2018 LGM-Dairy, administered by USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA), previously were determined by the 2014 Farm …
Conservation Easement Signup Underway in Florida
It was announced last week that applications are now being accepted to fund agricultural easements in Florida. USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) provides financial and technical assistance to conserve working lands and wetlands through two programs: Agricultural Land Easements and Wetland Reserve Easements. You have until April 25, 2019 to apply. Applications are available on the Florida NRCS website, or at your local …
EQIP Signup Continues in Alabama
USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Alabama reminds landowners the signup batching deadline for Fiscal Year 2019 funding through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) is April 25, 2019. Special emphasis participants like socially disadvantaged, limited resource, and beginning farmers and ranchers are eligible for a higher payment rate, plus can receive up to 50 percent advanced payment for …
Vegetable Garden Bill Gets Green Light
In an issue stemming from a legal dispute in South Florida, the Senate on Thursday overwhelmingly approved a bill that would prevent local governments from regulating homeowners’ vegetable gardens. Senators voted 35-5 to support the measure (SB 82), sponsored by Sen. Rob Bradley, R-Fleming Island. Bradley took up the issue after a dispute between homeowners Hermine Ricketts and Laurence Carroll …
USDA Provides Information for Producers and Veterinarians to Help Guard Against ASF
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Chief Veterinary Officer, Dr. Jack Shere is reminding pig producers and veterinarians of the signs and symptoms of a deadly swine disease that could dramatically impact the U.S. pig population.  African swine fever (ASF) is a highly contagious foreign animal disease that affects both domestic and feral (wild) pigs. It does not affect human …
Midwest Flood Damage Total Approaching $1 Billion
The federal government may need to intervene with additional resources to assist states like Nebraska and Iowa in recovering from flood damage, especially considering the urgent need for water restoration services just like the water restoration services queensland. Floodwaters are gradually receding following the devastating impact of the “bomb cyclone” that severely affected Midwest states, leaving extensive destruction in its …
E-Verify Plan a Heavy Lift
Gov. Ron DeSantis’ campaign vow to require Florida businesses to use federal “E-Verify” checks on the immigration status of new hires remains a tougher lift than his call for a sanctuary-city ban, which is speeding through the Legislature. But he’s not giving up, even as he blames a lack of unanimity among Republican lawmakers for slowing the red-meat proposal that …
NRCS Partners with Conservation Districts
While USDA’s Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) is the principal agency for providing conservation technical assistance to private landowners, conservation districts, tribes, and other organizations, they work cooperatively with local Soil and Water Conservation Districts to get conservation on the ground. NRCS Chief, Matt Lohr, says conservation districts are the boots on the ground. Sponsored ContentUnited Dairy Farmers of Florida Director Encouraged …