More than 50,000 Have Been Certified through New, Convenient Process More than 50,000 cattle producers have been certified through the Beef Quality Assurance program’s new online learning system since it was first offered in February 2017. Throughout the country hundreds of thousands have now become BQA-certified through in-person and online training, with an estimated 80 percent of the U.S. fed …
More Women Returning to the Farm in Management Roles
Knowing that women approach business with different priorities can help farm and ranch families maximize their effectiveness in management roles. This was the theme of the “Making Room for Women Managing Family Business” workshop, presented by Jeanne Bernick, principal and market strategist with KCoe Isom, at the American Farm Bureau Federation’s 100th Annual Convention. “We’re seeing more and more women …
Plenty of Agriculture Trade Opportunities for U.S. and Europe
There continues to be abundant opportunities for farm trade between the United States and the European Union despite the omission of agriculture in the European list of negotiating areas on a potential free trade agreement, European agricultural leaders said during a workshop at the American Farm Bureau Federation’s 100th Annual Convention. U.S. farmers and farm state lawmakers have pushed hard …
The News Service Has: Five Questions for Nikki Fried
Nikki Fried was sworn in last week as state agriculture commissioner, becoming the first woman elected to run the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. She also is the only Democrat holding statewide office and the first Democrat on the state Cabinet in eight years. Fried is an attorney from Fort Lauderdale who was a student-body president at the …
Ag Economy Barometer Declines in December
The Purdue University/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer declined moderately in December to 127, seven points below the index’s value one month earlier. The Barometer is a monthly nationwide measure of the health of the U.S. agricultural economy. A rating below 100 is negative, while a rating above 100 indicates positive sentiment regarding the agriculture industry. The December 2018 barometer was …
AAC Unveils New Logo
The Alabama Agribusiness Council (AAC) is excited to share our new logo with you! After many years under the old banner we are retiring that logo and releasing a new logo symbolic of the strength of the Council with a focus on future growth and success for the organization. The Council will mark its 30th anniversary this year making this …
Farm Bureau Gives Agricultural Trade Outlook for 2019
American Farm Bureau Federation policy experts gave an overview of the issues expected to affect farmers and ranchers in 2019 in a workshop at the organization’s 100th Annual Convention. David Salmonsen, senior director of congressional relations for AFBF, said the diverse impacts of tariffs, the outcomes of free trade agreement negotiations and the future of relations with China are all …
Navigating the H-2A Guest Worker Program
U.S. farmers and ranchers discussed the current state of regulations governing the farm labor market and efforts to navigate it, at a workshop during the American Farm Bureau Federation’s 100th Annual Convention. The H-2A visa program has experienced massive growth over the past decade, with the number of visas being issued to temporary workers rising 500 percent. Still, demand is …
Equine Infectious Anemia-Positive Horses Confirmed in Paulding County, Georgia
The Georgia Department of Agriculture’s (GDA) Animal Industry Division has confirmed three positive cases of equine infectious anemia (EIA) in quarter horses at a Paulding County facility. This makes eight confirmed cases in 2018. In compliance with federal guidelines and protocols, the affected horses were humanely euthanized. There is no cure or vaccine for EIA. The remainder of the horses …
Applying Performance Data for Bull Selection
On Tuesday, January 15th Understanding and Applying Performance Data for Bull Selection will be presented at the Washington County Agricultural Center, in Chipley. The primary goal of this class is to help commercial cattlemen decipher all of the performance data available and develop a practical plan for utilizing these resources when selecting bulls for their own operations.The catalog form the Florida Bull Test …