The American Sheep Industry Association’s Young and Emerging Entrepreneurs group has received a grant in the amount of $89,580 from the National Sheep Industry Improvement Center to develop a beginning producer education program. The program will incorporate online education, producer workshops and an online forum, according to Cody Chambliss and Kelly Froehlich, Ph.D., of the Young and Emerging Entrepreneurs Steering …
Consequences of No New Farm Bill
The farm bill is already a year late, the stakes are high, and time is running out. The American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) released its Market Intel Analysis of the consequences of not finishing the legislation and adding another extension of the 2018 bill. While crop insurance is a permanent program, it does need improvements to make it more affordable …
ADAI Confirms Two Positive Cases of Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) in Horses in Alabama
(ADAI/MONTGOMERY, AL) — The Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries (ADAI) confirms two positive cases of Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) detected in horses in Covington and Mobile counties. EEE is a mosquito-transmitted disease that is more severe than West Nile Virus (WNV). The mortality rate in horses from WNV is reported at around 30 percent, while the rate for EEE is …
Wetland Mitigation Banks Proposals are Due By August 2
August 2nd is approaching, and that is the deadline for proposals to create a wetland mitigation bank. The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is investing $7 million to support the development of wetland mitigation banks for agricultural producers through the Wetland Mitigation Banking Program (WMBP). Through wetland mitigation banks, wetlands are restored, created or enhanced, generating credits that can be purchased by producers …
Funding Available to Help Florida Landowners Improve Forest Health
The Florida Forest Service, a division of the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS), has announced $2 million is now available to Florida landowners through the Florida’s Future Forests Program. The program, in its fourth year, offers landowners cost-share opportunities to help enhance the capacity of Florida’s forests, which provide clean air, clean water, wildlife habitat, recreation, and thousands of essential products. …
GCC Mid-Year Meeting Attracts Attendees from Across Georgia
By Clint Thompson There is no shortage of issues impacting Georgia cotton production. Whether it is the unpredictable weather that affected planting this spring, insect pests like stink bugs and whiteflies, or the looming farm bill; all have challenged the state’s growers in their quest to be more efficient and sustainable. All were highlighted during the Georgia Cotton Commission’s (GCC) …
Forest and Grazing Questionnaires are Due July 28
For forest and grazing landowners across the Southeast that received a questionnaire concerning conservation practices, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) wants to remind you the completed questionnaires need to be returned by July 28th. The Conservation Practice Adoption Motivations Survey (CPAMS) is a combined effort by the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) and Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). They are looking to gather information to better understand …
North Florida Land Trust Protecting the Natural Environment
We told you a couple of weeks ago how efforts are being made in North Florida to protect our irreplaceable natural environment. North Florida Land Trust (NFLT) has been protecting and preserving the natural landscape and ecosystems in North Florida since 1999. This includes the most ecologically, agriculturally, and historically significant lands. NFLT President and CEO Allison DeFoor explains what it …
Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries Issues Biosecurity Measures for Livestock Shows
(ADAI/MONTGOMERY, AL/July 22, 2024) — The Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries (ADAI) is issuing guidelines to protect animal health in response to the detection of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in dairy cattle in 12 twelve states. Since livestock shows held in conjunction with fairs across Alabama will be starting soon, attendees should abide by these guidelines. “We know livestock …
USDA to Gather Farm Conservation Data from Southeast Farmers
Starting in August, the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), in partnership with the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), will reach out to nearly 400 farmers, ranchers, and agricultural landowners across Alabama, Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina to gather in-depth information about the conservation practices they use. Nearly 12,000 operators nationwide will receive the 2024 Conservation Effects Assessment Project survey. Data obtained will support …