What is the principal softwood used for lumber in Massachusetts? On what continent are maples most abundant? What is a liquid product of wood that is used in mixing paints?* At the 39th National 4-H Forestry Invitational, a team of four local high school students went head to head with teams from across the country to answer these questions and …
U.S. Close to Proceeding With Mexico-Only Trade Deal
White House Economic Trade Adviser Kevin Hassett says the U.S. is getting very close to having to move forward on its trade deal with Mexico without Canada. The deadline to publish the text of an agreement to update the North American Free Trade Agreement is October first. As the deadline approaches, Hassett says the U.S. and Canada haven’t agreed to …
Assistance Available to Agricultural Producers through CSP
Agricultural producers wanting to enhance current conservation efforts are encouraged to apply for the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP). Through the program, USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) helps private landowners build their business while implementing conservation practices that help ensure the sustainability of their entire operation. Assistance Available to Ag Producers through CSP Sponsored ContentCIR Agriculture Harvester ProductsJuly 1, 2026FL …
UF/IFAS, Communities to Team Up Again for Annual Peanut Butter Challenge
Start spreading the news – and the peanut butter! From Oct. 1 to Nov. 21, you can donate unopened jars of peanut butter to hungry Panhandle families through the Peanut Butter Challenge, a project coordinated by UF/IFAS Extension faculty and volunteers. During those dates, you may drop off jars at your UF/IFAS Extension county office. UF/IFAS Extension works with the …
U.S. Supplying More Than Half of the E.U. Soybeans
The European Commission released a report that says American farmers are now supplying more than half of the European Union’s soybeans. Over a 12-week period from July through mid-September, U.S. soy exports to the EU were 133 percent higher than the same time period in 2017. Politico says the U.S. supplied 25 percent of the EU’s soybeans needs from July …
Bayer Files Appeal to California Glyphosate Ruling
Bayer is increasing efforts to defend Roundup, its flagship weed killer. A Dow Jones report says the effort follows a recent verdict in a California court case alleging that the chemical causes cancer sent shares sharply lower. According to the company’s court filing, Bayer wants a California judge to overturn the jury verdict, order a new trial, or reduce the …
Foreign Market Development Faces Funding Gap
Organizations that use government funds to promote U.S. commodity purchases in foreign countries could face some funding challenges in the near future. The Hagstrom Report says that will likely happen if Congress doesn’t pass a farm bill by September 30. Scott Shearer is a lobbyist who represents the FMD groups, which are called cooperators. “In this time of trade uncertainty …
Rabobank: Global Poultry Prices Under Pressure
A Rabobank report says a historic drop in poultry exports from Brazil is shaking up trade in the commodity around the world. The latest quarterly outlook on the industry says African Swine Fever could also indirectly affect the industry. Global poultry prices dropped by an average of five to 10 percent in the second quarter of this year. African Swine …
USDA Invests in Customer Service, Modernization Projects for SNAP
The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced $5 million of investments in customer service projects to improve and modernize application processing in USDA’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The USDA Process and Technology Improvement Grants (PTIG) awarded to the District of Columbia and state and county agencies in Alabama, Kansas, North Carolina, New Mexico, and New York aim to: Make the …
Signup Batching Deadline Announced for Alabama’s Natural Resources Conservation Service Landscape Initiatives
USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) State Conservationist for Alabama Ben Malone announced that October 19, 2018 is the signup batching date for producers for 2019 program funding for the following national landscape initiatives: Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP)Â which includes only 3 national landscape initiatives identified below. These include: Gopher Tortoise Habitat Improvement:Â includes forestry practices and prescribed burning for pre-commercial thinning. …