Source: National Chicken Council Continuous Improvement Evident During the 2018 National Safety Conference for the Poultry Industry in Destin, Fla., 191 chicken and turkey facilities received safety awards by the Joint Industry Safety and Health Council. The companies were honored in recognition of their outstanding performance through the implementation of innovative and effective employee safety and health programs. “Our industry …
U.S., Mexico, Close to Reaching NAFTA Deal
The U.S. and Mexico are “very, very close” to reaching a deal to update the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). A White House economic adviser said this week the negotiation teams were going through the perceived final details. The U.S. is hopeful a deal with Mexico can be a model for what Canada could accept. Canada remains on the …
Farm Export Prices Post Large Declines
U.S. agriculture export prices fell 5.3 percent last month. Data released by the U.S. Department of Labor shows the decline is the largest drop in farm exports since 2011. The decline in July followed a one percent decrease in June, which followed a 1.6 percent increase in May. The department says a 14.1 percent drop in soybean prices was the …
USDA Partners to Improve Rural Water and Wastewater Infrastructure in 23 States
The Department of Agriculture announced a $124 million investment Tuesday to help rebuild and improve rural water infrastructure in 23 states. Assistant to the Secretary for Rural Development Anne Hazlett made the announcement in Louisiana, which is receiving funding for five projects. USDA is providing the funding through the Water and Waste Disposal Loan and Grant program. It can be …
Florida Orange Crop Bouncing Back Post-Hurricane
Florida orange growers appear to be catching a break this year, following last year’s devastating hurricane season and declines due to citrus greening. The state may harvest 70 million boxes of oranges this year, compared to just 44.9 million last year, which was the smallest crop since 1945. Highlands County Citrus Growers Association executive director Ray Royce told Bloomberg “a …
APHIS Finalizes Conditions for Paying Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Indemnity
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is issuing a final rule outlining the conditions under which USDA will pay indemnity to farms affected by highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI). It includes updates to USDA’s February 2016 interim rule. This final rule does three things: Allows indemnity payments to be split between poultry and egg …
USDA Purchases Milk for Needy Americans
The National Milk Producers Federation welcomed the announcement by the U.S. Department of Agriculture that it will purchase $50 million worth of fluid milk for distribution to domestic food assistance programs – the first time the agency has bought milk for use in this manner. The USDA said Tuesday that it will authorize the expenditure of $50 million in Section …
Peanut Industry Expands Research Dollars with NIFA Matching Funds
The National Peanut Board, along with funding partner USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), announces the awarding of three research grants focusing on genomics-enabled plant breeding. Collaborating with two peanut industry funding partners, the Southeastern Peanut Research Initiative (SPRI) and the Peanut Foundation, the National Peanut Board was able to allocate $542,226. NIFA’s dollar-for-dollar matching funds yielded a …
Deal Protects Highlands County Land from Development
Nearly 2,500 acres of ranch land in Highlands County will be added to a state program that helps limit development of agricultural property. For those navigating property development projects, consulting with property development lawyers can provide essential legal expertise in managing zoning, regulations, and ensuring compliance with state programs like this one. Gov. Rick Scott and the Florida Cabinet agreed …
USDA Adds New Tools, Resources to Farmers.gov to Aid Producers
Agricultural producers have new resources available to them to prepare for and recover from impacts of natural disasters on the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) new website, farmers.gov. The site has updated tools and information to help agricultural producers identify the right programs and make decisions for their operations. “Agriculture is a risky business,” said Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue. “At USDA, …