The Trump 2020 budget proposal will include “big cuts” to the Department of Agriculture, according to Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue. The budget request will propose cutting non-defense programs by five percent. However, Politico reports USDA is likely to face steeper budget cuts. Perdue noted that Congress usually disregards the president’s budget request, which in recent years has unsuccessfully called for …
Coalition Asks Congress to Safeguard Crop Insurance
A coalition of more than 50 farm groups is asking lawmakers to safeguard crop insurance. The organizations, including the American Farm Bureau Federation, warned in a letter to top-ranking House and Senate budget leaders this week that “An overreliance on budget savings from the agriculture community and from crop insurance will unquestionably undermine rural economies.” 2018 farm profitability is expected …
Florida Land Deals Approved
Gov. Ron DeSantis and the state Cabinet agreed Tuesday to spend $2.54 million from the Florida Forever conservation program to preserve land in Lake and Hamilton counties. The deals, approved with little comment, will pay $540,000 to Brian A. Richards for 83.4 acres in rapidly growing Lake County and $2 million to the owners of River Error Farms for 316 …
Bipartisan Senators Introduce Major Disaster Relief Package
President Trump Drives Effort For Disaster Relief Funding U.S. Senators David Perdue (R-GA), Johnny Isakson (R-GA), Doug Jones (D-AL), Marco Rubio (R-FL), Rick Scott (R-FL), Tim Scott (R-SC), Thom Tillis (R-NC), and Dan Sullivan (R-AK) introduced a bipartisan disaster relief package with the backing of President Donald J. Trump. President Trump, working with this bipartisan group of senators, has confirmed …
10 Big Issues to Watch During the 2019 Florida Legislative Session
Florida lawmakers will gather March 5 in the House chamber to hear Gov. Ron DeSantis give his first State of the State address, the traditional start of the 60-day legislative session. Led by Senate President Bill Galvano, R-Bradenton, and House Speaker Jose Oliva, R-Miami Lakes, lawmakers this year will deal with myriad issues, ranging from passing a state budget to …
Milk Producers File Petition over Label Issue
The National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) last week filed a citizen petition with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, outlining a labeling solution to the use of dairy terms on non-dairy products as the agency considers public input from a recently concluded comment period. The petition reinforces current FDA labeling regulations, with some additional clarification, to show how marketplace transparency …
NCBA Applauds Dietary Guidelines Committee Appointees
The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) applauds the appointments to the 2020 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee. NCBA President Jennifer Houston says the committee members and the process is “firmly grounded in the best available science and will ultimately result in nutritional policy that can measurably improve the health of Americans.” Houston notes members of the committee are “leading experts in …
Florida Agricultural Conservation Easement Program Workshop
USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service in Florida invites landowners to attend an Agricultural Conservation Easement Program Workshop in Live Oak on March 15th. At the event, you will be able to learn how conservation easements can help your ag operation. This free event will be held at the John Hale Park Community Center in Live Oak starting at 9:00am. For …
Oyster Farming App Reaching Producers Nationwide
The Alabama Cooperative Extension System (ACES) is excited to announce a product that will be a handy tool in oyster production operations across the country. The Oyster Farming app is the newest free mobile app from Alabama Extension. The app will be a tool for commercial oyster farmers to input, store and share harvest information. Creating the App Bill Walton, an …
USDA Expects Exports to Fall In 2019
The Department of Agriculture is projecting a $1.9 billion drop in exports this year, led by a decline in trade with China. While talks remain ongoing between China and the United States, USDA during its 95th annual Agricultural Outlook Forum Thursday predicted 2019 fiscal year exports at $141.5 billion. USDA Chief Economist Robert Johansson told attendees China is expected to …