Legislators and state leaders sampled fruits of farmers’ labor during the Alabama Farmers Federation’s Taste of Alabama legislative reception in Montgomery March 20. The event highlights commodities grown in Alabama — and the farmers who grow them. At the annual reception, producers mingled with lawmakers and discussed local and agricultural issues. “The Farmers Federation was founded to work on public …
Money Could Flow to Environment, Water Quality
The Florida Senate is topping Gov. Ron DeSantis’ request for environmental funding, despite early concerns about a tight budget and the need to react to Hurricane Michael. The Senate Agriculture, Environment and General Government Appropriations Subcommittee on Wednesday released an initial $5.9 billion budget proposal that includes $656 million for Everglades restoration and water-quality efforts such as trying to reduce …
Honey Bee Colonies More Successful By Foraging on Non-Crop Fields
Honey bee colonies foraging on land with a strong cover of clover species and alfalfa do more than three times as well than if they are put next to crop fields of sunflowers or canola, according to a study just published in Scientific Reports by an Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientist and his colleagues. Managed honey bee colonies placed from May until October next …
DeSantis Environmental Projects Gets House Support
Gov. Ron DeSantis would get nearly all the money he’s requested for environmental projects in an initial House budget proposal for next year. A $3.97 billion proposal for the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, the Department of Environmental Protection and the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission includes $607.4 million for Everglades restoration and water-improvement projects such as combating future …
USDA Continues to Prevent African Swine Fever from Entering the U.S.
Provides New Resources to Raise Awareness of the Deadly Disease Last week, USDA-trained detector dogs played a major role in the seizure of roughly 1 million pounds of pork smuggled from China where there is an outbreak of African swine fever (ASF). The highly contagious and deadly disease affects both domestic and feral (wild) pigs and there is no treatment or vaccine …
USDA Expands Signup for Georgians Affected by Hurricane Michael
State leaders for the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced another signup for Georgia’s farmers, ranchers and forestland owners who suffered damage to working lands due to Hurricane Michael but were not eligible for previous signups. State Executive Director Tas Smith, for the USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA), and State Conservationist Terrance O. Rudolph, for the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), …
Hemp Industry Looking at Establishing a Trade Association
A coalition of hemp farmers, farm service companies, processors, crop insurance agents and lenders, as well as other stakeholders, are looking at possibly establishing a trade association group. The Hagstrom Report says the goal is to have an organization that represents the hemp industry in Washington, D.C. Hemp is currently used to make textiles, paper, paint, oil, biodegradable plastics, and …
Lawmakers say No to Potential EU-U.S. Trade Agreement without Agriculture
A bipartisan group of lawmakers is demanding the Trump Administration force the European Union to include agriculture in upcoming trade talks. A group of 114 lawmakers penned a letter this week to U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer stating, “an agreement with the EU that does not address trade in agriculture would be, in our eyes, unacceptable.” The U.S. and EU …
NRCS Alabama Announces Conservation Easement Signup
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Alabama has announced that eligible producers interested in the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program’s Wetlands Reserve Easements (WRE) and Agricultural Land Easements (ALE) components should apply for program funds by April 15 at their local USDA service center. Under the Wetlands Reserve Easements component, financial assistance is available for landowners …
Florida Ag Land Conservation Easement Signup Underway
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Florida has announced 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 WRE, agricultural landowners and Indian tribes …