2019 Georgia Grown Executive Chefs Announced

Georgia Department of Agriculture Commissioner Gary W. Black and Georgia Restaurant Association (GRA) CEO Karen Bremer announced six new Georgia Grown Executive Chefs at the 2019 Taste of Georgia Legislative Reception. The Georgia Grown Executive Chef program is a statewide program designed to promote and foster relationships between chefs and farmers while spreading awareness about the quality of locally sourced and …

National Nutrition Month Advice: Eat More Fresh, Fewer Processed Foods

Nutrients from fresh foods give you “more bang for your nutritional buck,” says a registered dietitian with the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences. “For every calorie, there’s also going to be a lot of vitamins, minerals and other nutrients in that food that contribute to our health,” said Laura Acosta, also a lecturer in the UF/IFAS …

Young Farmers Conference Features Farm Tours

Overcast skies couldn’t keep the smiles off nearly 400 faces as they crisscrossed central and east Alabama during the 2019 Young Farmers Conference in Montgomery. The Alabama Farmers Federation’s annual conference was March 1-3. Farm tours, back by popular demand for the third consecutive year, showcased some of the state’s most impressive operations, lending invaluable insight to agriculture’s up-and-coming generation. …

Commissioner Nikki Fried Appoints Steven Hall as General Counsel

Commissioner Nicole “Nikki” Fried on Friday announced that Steven Hall will serve as General Counsel for the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. Hall had previously served as Acting General Counsel under the previous administration, and will now lead the Department’s legal efforts as General Counsel. Hall first began with the Department as a law clerk in 2005 and became Deputy General Counsel in …

Flooding Affecting Nutrition and Diets of Livestock

Flooding and increased rainfall in north and central Alabama are causing major problems for livestock producers. In addition to the obvious affects, producers must also take into consideration the affects the flooding is having on the nutrition and diets of livestock. Landon Marks, an Alabama Extension regional agent of animal science and forages, said flooding in pastures is causing issues …

Training for Farmers and Growers on Produce Safety Rule

This one-day workshop is being offered to produce growers. The training will cover the standardized curriculum designed by the Produce Safety Alliance, which meets the regulatory requirements of the Produce Safety Rule under FSMA (Food Safety Modernization Act). The course will provide a foundation of Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs) and co-management information, FSMA Produce Safety Rule requirements, and details on …

Trump Budget Proposal to Include USDA Cuts

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 …