The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) wants to remind landowners that NRCS can provide financial and technical assistance to conserve working lands and wetlands through its Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP). There are two components to this program, Agricultural Land Easements and Wetland Reserve Easements. NRCS Acting Chief Leonard Jordan says ACEP offers a lot of opportunities. Conserving Working Lands and …
Pork Producers Respond to Mexican Retaliation
Mexico levied punitive tariffs – 10 percent effective today (June 5, 2018), escalating to 20 percent on July 5 – on unprocessed pork (not including variety meats) in retaliation for tariffs on its metal exports to the United States. Mexico’s decision follows similar retaliation in early April by China, which imposed additional 25 percent tariffs on U.S. pork, reducing live …
FDACS Begins Efforts to Eradicate Oriental Fruit Fly
The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) has positively identified the presence of three Oriental fruit flies, Bactrocera dorsalis, in south Miami-Dade County. The initial fly was discovered during routine trapping, and additional flies were discovered during expanded trapping activities. The department, along with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, monitors more than 56,000 fruit fly traps statewide as an …
Georgia Governor Signs Agribusiness Legislation into Law
With a long list of legislation impacting agribusiness, Georgia Governor Deal never hesitated in signing every one of them. We are grateful for the legislators and Governor Deal for their support of our state’s ag and forestry interests. Here’s the quick summary of new ag laws starting July 1, 2018: GATE: Much needed changes to the GATE program are included in HB …
China Says U.S. Tariffs Will Negate Current Trade Talks
China says any tariffs implemented on the nation by the United States will dampen the ongoing trade talks between the two. The Chinese government in a statement said: “All economic and trade outcomes of the talks will not take effect if the U.S. side imposes any trade sanctions including raising tariffs,” according to Politico. China stressed that the outcome of …
Bayer-Monsanto Deal to Close This Week
Bayer announced it will complete its acquisition of Monsanto on June 7. The closure of the acquisition will follow the receipt of all required approvals from regulatory authorities, according to a company news release. The closure comes two years after Bayer announced the intention to acquire Monsanto. As part of the $63 billion agreement, Bayer will remain the company name, …
Deere Files Copyright Infringement Lawsuit Against Precision Planting, AGCO
Deere & Company announced it has taken legal action against Precision Planting LLC and AGCO Corporation, claiming that the companies have infringed on 12 John Deere patents. The Deere patents, according to a company news release, relate to several of the “unique and inventive” aspects of John Deere planting equipment, many of which are “embodied in the state-of-the-art technology” Deere …
Ag Aviation Association Asks Drone Operators to Be Cautious of Ag Aircraft
The National Agriculture Aviation Association is reminding UAV, or drone users to be aware of agricultural aircraft throughout the growing season. Agricultural aviators fly as low as ten feet off the ground, meaning they share airspace with UAVs that are limited to flying no more than 400 feet above ground level. For this reason, the National Agricultural Aviation Association is …
Census of Agriculture Deadline Looming
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service is wrapping up data collection for the 2017 Census of Agriculture. To stay on track for data release in February 2019, the deadline for submitting the paper questionnaire is June 15, 2018. Farmers and ranchers who have not responded by June 15, 2018, still have until the end of July to …
NMPF Thanks USDA for Extending Margin Protection Program Sign-up Window
The National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) expressed thanks to Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue for his department’s decision to give dairy farmers additional time to review their 2018 coverage options in the dairy Margin Protection Program (MPP). The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) said Monday it is extending the June 1 sign-up deadline to Friday, June 8. NMPF, along with key …