Next week, the city of Indianapolis will transform into a sea of blue jackets when the National FFA Convention & Expo kicks off for the ninety-first time. This time-honored tradition, where innovators and leaders of tomorrow come together, will be held in the Circle City Oct. 24-27, 2018. More than 65,000 FFA members and guests from across the U.S., representing …
Assistance Available for Hurricane Damaged Ag Land through NRCS
Georgia farmers and ranchers who suffered damage to working lands and livestock mortality because of Hurricane Michael are encouraged to sign up for the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) through the U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). A series of special sign-ups for agricultural livestock mortality and carcass disposal is being conducted for the 6 counties designated under …
Senators Perdue, Isakson Tour Hurricane Michael Devastation With Vice President Pence
Senators Thank President Trump For Visiting Georgia Following President Donald Trump’s visit to Middle Georgia, U.S. Senators David Perdue (R-GA) and Johnny Isakson (R-GA) joined Vice President Mike Pence and Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue in Bainbridge, Moultrie, and Albany, Georgia to visit farmers and producers who have been devastated by Hurricane Michael. They were also joined by Georgia Governor Nathan …
USDA Announces Deregulation of GE Low-Gossypol Cotton
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) announces the deregulation of Texas A&M’s cotton variety genetically engineered to have ultra-low levels of gossypol in its seed. Gossypol is a naturally occurring compound in the pigment of cotton plants and protects them from pests and diseases. This GE variety maintains protective levels of gossypol in …
World Food Day: Farmers Committed to Decreasing Global Hunger
The following statement regarding 2018 World Food Day can be attributed to American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall. “Farm Bureau joins the world in commemorating 2018 World Food Day. America’s farmers and ranchers are committed to doing everything in their power to decrease global hunger and malnutrition. Advances in modern agricultural technology, from seed science to precision agriculture tools, …
UF Gives Update on Crop Damage in Florida
As of Oct. 15, economists with the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) have begun gathering information they need to develop formal estimates of damages and crop losses Hurricane Michael inflicted upon agricultural and natural resources industries operating in Florida’s Panhandle. Dollar figures aren’t ready yet, but they’re on the way, said Alan Hodges, director of …
Caldwell, Fried Square Off to Replace Putnam
A state lawmaker from North Fort Myers who is a real-estate appraiser and an attorney from Fort Lauderdale who lobbies for the medical-marijuana industry are competing in next month’s election to replace term-limited Florida Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam. Unlike candidates in races for other Cabinet seats, Republican state Rep. Matt Caldwell and Democrat Nikki Fried haven’t completely avoided each other …
International Trade Commission to Review USMCA
The U.S. International Trade Commission will review the U.S.,-Mexico-Canada Agreement next month. The Commission is scheduled to meet November 15th for an economic review of the trade agreement that will replace the North American Free Trade Agreement. Politico reports that the ITC probe, which is required by Congress, formally launched Friday. The Commission has until mid-March to complete its report, …
Rising Output Compressing Ag Margins
Strong growth in both the U.S. and global economies will support increased demand in domestic and export markets through the end of the year. However, U.S. competitiveness is currently constrained by trade uncertainties and the high value of the U.S. dollar, further placing pressure on the agricultural economy as output in most industries rises. The latest Quarterly Rural Economic Review …
Another African Swine Fever Outbreak Reported in China
China reports new outbreaks of African swine fever as fear of a global spread of the disease rises. Four reports were announced last week, and Monday, China reported a new case of the disease at a farm with nearly 20,000 pigs, the largest farm to report an outbreak. The new case, one many reported in the region recently, according to …