NOTE: This website has reported several inconsistencies and misreporting of facts about Lake Okeechobee, the sugar industry and reporting about algae blooms in estuaries in southeast and southwest this summer. Please find some of these related reports at these links for your perusal: Florida’s Algae Blooms and Red Tide: Consider the Facts Political Event Falls Short on Facts Environmental groups …
U.S. Seeking Trade Agreements with Japan, EU, UK
The U.S. formally announced it will seek trade agreements with Japan, the European Union and the United Kingdom. U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer announced this week that the U.S. will seek to negotiate three separate trade agreements with Japan, the EU and the U.K. The European Union has downplayed the announcement, despite ongoing exploratory talks since this summer. The EU …
Pork Producers Encouraged by Trade Announcement
Representatives of the U.S. pork industry say “we’ve got the momentum on trade headed in the right direction.” National Pork Producers Council President Jim Heimerl stated “pork producers are hurting because of retaliatory tariffs on pork,” but says their patience is starting to pay off. The comments followed the formal announcement that the U.S. is seeking new free trade agreements …
McConnell: No NAFTA 2.0 Vote This Year
As expected, the U.S. Senate will not consider the updated North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), known as the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), in 2018. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell told Bloomberg News a vote on the updated agreement would not happen until after the New Year, saying “My trade advisers say you can’t possibly do it under the various steps …
NRCS Landscape Initiatives Signup in Alabama Ends Friday
USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Alabama wants to remind producers that the signup batching date for 2019 program funding for the national landscape initiatives ends October 19. NRCS Landscape Initiatives Signup in Alabama Ends Friday Sponsored ContentFlorida Cattle Enhancement Board Expands the promotion and educational work of the Florida Beef CouncilNovember 21, 2025Florida Senator Shares Origins of Florida …
EQIP Signup for Florida Landowners Continues
USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Florida reminds farmers, ranchers and forest owners you have until November 2 to apply for financial and technical assistance through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP). Nathan Fikkert, Conservation Programs Specialist for NRCS, explains what this sign-up involves. EQIP Signup for Florida Landowners Continues Sponsored ContentFlorida Cattle Enhancement Board Expands the promotion and educational work of the …
Farm Bill Being Stalled Further Possible
Progress on the farm bill following the November midterm elections could be stalled even further, depending on the need for disaster relief stemming from Hurricane Michael. House Agriculture Committee ranking Democrat Collin Peterson this week speculated congress members from states impacted by the hurricane will pressure lawmakers to “either add something to the farm bill or appropriations,” according to Politico. …
U.S. Now has 6.5 Million Acres of Organic Certified Land
An organic industry data service says the U.S. now has 6.5 million acres of organic certified land. A report from Mercaris reveals that, as of August 2018, there are 17,648 U.S. farms certified as compliant with the USDA National Organic Program standards for organic row crop production. The total represents three percent increase from 2017, or 460 new operations across …
Hurricane Michael Damage to Georgia Agriculture
“Unfortunately, our worst thoughts were realized. We saw months and sometimes years of work just laid over on the ground in a matter of seconds. Georgia has long led in the production of several renowned commodities and now we have the dubious distinction of also leading in the devastation and incredible loss of these prominent crops. These are generational losses …
UF/IFAS-led Study May Lead to More Heat-Tolerant Rice
Rice, the most widely consumed food crop in the world, takes a beating in hot weather. To combat the high temperatures, a global group of scientists, led by a University of Florida researcher, has found the genetic basis to breed a more heat-tolerant rice cultivar. “The productivity of rice, one of the three major cereal grains feeding the world, is …