A group of Mid-South farmers claims Stine Seed Company purposefully switched seeds to sell black farmers a subpar product last year. The Black Farmers and Agriculturalists Association alleges a distributor switched out certified seed for lesser quality soybean seeds, and that despite above average rainfall, the farmers saw limited soybean yield from the seeds during the 2017 harvest. The seeds …
White House Backs Everglades Reservoir
The White House on Tuesday backed Florida’s effort to secure federal funding for a reservoir intended to move water away from Lake Okeechobee and reduce discharges that residents blame for repeated toxic algae outbreaks spreading on both coasts. The request by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to include funding for the roughly $1.6 billion Everglades Agricultural Area Reservoir, approved …
Trump: No Hurry to Settle NAFTA
President Donald Trump told Fox News he’s not going to rush into a new North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). He thinks the U.S. can get a better deal by waiting until after the dust settles on the midterm elections in the fall. Agriculture groups fall on the other end of the spectrum, wanting a deal done as quickly as …
First Monsanto Cancer Trial Begins
A trial is underway this week in California as witnesses will begin to testify in the first case alleging that Monsanto’s Roundup weed killer causes cancer. Politico says Lee Johnson, a groundskeeper for a California school district, alleges that years of spraying hundreds of gallons of the product caused him to develop non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, a form of cancer. Opening statements …
Cooperative Wants Price Floors on Dairy Products
While low milk prices and a trade war continue to make things difficult for America’s dairy farmers, a northeast U.S. cooperative is asking the government to step in and help boost milk prices. Agri-Mark, which represents over 900 members, sent a letter to Ag Secretary Sonny Perdue asking him to implement price floors for butter, cheese, and nonfat dry milk. …
National Chicken Council Animal Welfare Guidelines Certified
The review process has taken several months, but the National Chicken Council’s broiler and broiler breeder welfare guidelines have been certified by the Professional Animal Auditor Certification Organization. PAACO is a leading authority on animal welfare auditing that provides high-quality training and certification credentials for auditors and audits. Dr. Ashley Peterson is the NCC Senior Vice President of Scientific and …
May Beef Exports Shatter Record While Pork Exports Go Lower
U.S. beef exports set a new value record in May, while also significantly increasing year-over-year in volume. That’s according to new data released by the USDA and compiled by the U.S. Meat Export Federation. May pork exports were lower, although January-May totals for U.S. pork remained ahead of last year’s pace. Beef export volume was 117,871 metric tons in May, …
USDA to Ensure All Have Equal Access to Crop & Livestock Reports
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced new procedures for the release of market-affecting crop and livestock reports from the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) and World Agricultural Outlook Board (WAOB) to ensure that all members of the public have access to the information at the same time. Under current “Lockup” procedures, information is released to the public at 12:00 …
UF/IFAS Tropical Aquaculture Laboratory Director Inducted into Florida Tropical Fish Farms Association Hall of Fame
When Craig Watson, Director of the University of Florida IFAS Tropical Aquaculture Laboratory, got his first aquarium at age 7, he couldn’t have predicted the important role that fishing and aquaculture would play in his life. “My brother and I would spend hours watching the fish, but I had no idea then it would be the beginning of a career.” On June …
USDA Applauds Housing Eligibility for Temporary Farm Workers
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) released internal guidance on changes made to farm labor housing eligibility. The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2018 amended a section of the Housing Act of 1949 to extend the Farm Labor Housing tenant eligibility to agricultural workers legally admitted to the United States and authorized to work in agriculture. Due to this rule change, …