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 …
Water Management Workshops for Georgia Producers
USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Georgia wants to make sure producers are aware of the statewide Water Management Workshop Series taking place across the state. The University of Georgia (UGA) and Fort Valley State University (FVSU) extension programs have partnered with NRCS to host these workshops. The next one will be held April 3 at the Houston County Extension …
Vidalia Onions Set to Ship April 22
Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Announces Official Pack Date for 2019 Get those taste buds ready, Vidalia onion lovers, because America’s favorite sweet onion will soon be on the way. The Georgia Department of Agriculture and the Vidalia Onion Committee announced that the pack date for the 2019 Vidalia season is Monday, April 22. “With tremendous consideration after consultation with the Vidalia …
The Georgia Department of Agriculture Kicks Off 2019 Agriculture Awareness Week
Commissioner Gary W. Black and the Georgia Department of Agriculture are excited to kick off a week of celebrating Georgia’s diverse agriculture with their third annual Georgia Agriculture Awareness week. “We should thank our farmers every day for the blessings they give us by providing the most abundant and safe food supply in the world,” Black said. “But this week …
Senate Poised to Support Home Vegetables Gardens
The Senate next week could approve a measure aimed at preventing local governments from regulating homeowners’ vegetable gardens. Senators on Thursday took up the bill (SB 82), sponsored by Sen. Rob Bradley, R-Fleming Island, and positioned it for a vote. The issue stems from a legal dispute between homeowners Hermine Ricketts and Laurence Carroll and the Village of Miami Shores …