The Alabama Fruit & Vegetable Growers Association (AFVGA) held its annual conference and trade show in Clanton Nov. 15-16 where 250 attendees heard from industry leaders, elected officials and university & Extension professionals. “It was exciting to see the fruit and vegetable farmers from across Alabama come together for this event,” said AFVGA Executive Director Hunter McBrayer. “It was an …
Turkey Prices at Ten Year Low
Ahead of Thanksgiving, turkey prices have hit a ten-year low. A report by Purdue University estimates turkey prices this year for Thanksgiving will average $1.45 per pound. Jayson Lusk, a professor and department head of Purdue’s Department of Agricultural Economics, says lower commodity prices, such as corn and soybeans used to make feed for animals, is “one of the drivers.” …
EQIP Provides Assistance to Farming Operations
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) wants to remind farmers and ranchers about the Environmental Quality Incentive Program (EQIP). It provides financial and technical assistance to producers in addressing natural resource concerns and delivering environmental benefits like improved water and air quality. NRCS Acting Chief Leonard Jordan knows EQIP is working to help many landowners affected …
Georgia Ag Commissioner Black Issues Statement on Hurricane Michael Relief Package
“We are extremely thankful for the work of the General Assembly during last week’s special session and appreciate the Governor’s quick signature to the amended budget that provides roughly $270 million towards critical support for our agricultural sector and rural communities after Georgia’s worst natural disaster. Our farmers in Georgia are proud of their contributions to the state’s economy as …
USDA Designates Three Alabama Counties Primary Natural Disaster Areas
Three Alabama counties have been designated as primary natural disaster areas from damages caused by Tropical Storm Gordon between Sept. 3-6. The designation, announced by U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue, covers Clarke, Mobile and Washington counties. “Tropical Storm Gordon was a slow-moving storm with strong winds and heavy rain,” said Alabama Farmers Federation President Jimmy Parnell. “Cotton and …
Commissioner Black Testifies to International Trade Commission on NAFTA 2.0 Concerns
Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Gary W. Black traveled to Washington, DC to testify on behalf of the Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association (GFVGA) regarding the damage NAFTA has done to Georgia’s produce industry. The hearing was held for the International Trade Commission to gather information on the likely impact of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) if approved by Congress. This …
Caldwell Concedes Ag Commissioner Race to Fried
Republican Matt Caldwell pointed to a need for political “sanity” and a “peaceful transfer of power” Monday as he conceded the race for Florida agriculture commissioner to Fort Lauderdale lawyer Nikki Fried, the only Democrat to win statewide this year. Caldwell, a real-estate appraiser from North Fort Myers who has served the past eight years in the Florida House, said …
UF/IFAS-led Global Group Seeks Traits for Wheat with More Protein
When consumers buy wheat products, such as bread or pasta, they expect to get protein with their purchase. But in a warming world with high atmospheric carbon dioxide levels, the genes required to keep wheat production high are the same ones that keep grain protein down, a University of Florida scientist says. By breeding wheat with specific traits, scientists can …
Safety Rule Training for Georgia Produce Growers
Registration Deadline: November 30 WHAT:Â This free 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 …
Two Years After Birth, Cows from Heat-Stressed Cattle Produce Less Milk
If lactating dairy cattle get too hot, they don’t produce as much milk, and that can add up to economic losses of more than $1 billion a year in the U.S. alone, University of Florida researchers say. This loss can easily double if dry cows — those in late pregnancy that are not lactating — suffer from heat stress. That …