Yellow fever and Asian tiger mosquitoes from Florida and Brazil can transmit an Asian strain of chikungunya virus that’s emerging in North, South and Central America, a University of Florida scientist says. The Asian strain of the virus is not currently circulating in Florida, and Barry Alto, associate professor of entomology at the UF Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, …
Farm Credit Outlook Shows Prices for Grains to Strengthen
An outlook presented to the Farm Credit Administration shows corn and soybean prices are projected to strengthen, boosting profit margins for crop farmers. The report shows profit margins are expected to decline for livestock producers though, as rising grain prices drive up feed costs, and Southwest pasture conditions deteriorate because of severe drought. The quarterly report also notes that uncertainties …
House Faces Friday Deadline to Pass Current Farm Bill
The U.S. House faces a Friday deadline to revote on the current farm bill proposal. As of Monday, the farm bill, passed out of committee with Republican support only, was not on the schedule to be considered on the house floor. However, House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, who publishes the weekly schedule, did include: “Possible consideration of legislation related to …
Secretary Perdue Comments on Canada Dairy Issue
While traveling to Canada last week, Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue and his Canadian counterpart spoke in unison supporting trade. Perdue visited the farm of Canada’s Agriculture Minister Lawrence MacAulay, Friday. Speaking with reporters after the event, Perdue discussed Canada’s Dairy Supply Management System, targeted by the U.S. dairy industry as a priority to address through the North American Free Trade …
Senate Bill Creates Group to Study Trucking Regulations
Legislation introduced last week in the U.S. Senate would revise existing trucking regulations to make the rules more flexible for drivers hauling livestock, according to the National Pork Producers Council. The “Modernizing Agricultural Transportation Act” would establish a working group at the Department of Transportation to examine the federal Hours of Service rules and the Electronic Logging Device regulations. The …
FDA to Hold Fake Meat Public Meeting
The Food and Drug Administration is seeking public comment on fake meat, or foods produced using animal cell culture technology. The FDA will hold a public meeting next month to gather comments. The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association says the organization will participate in the public meeting, and will advocate for Department of Agriculture oversight of lab-grown fake meat products. NCBA …
Perdue to Keynote United Fresh Event
Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue will join United Fresh attendees as the opening keynote speaker next week in Chicago. United Fresh says Perdue will address the key issues facing the produce industry, from immigration reform and the need for a legal workforce to the North American Free Trade Agreement, and the need to retain a fair international trade framework for agriculture. …
NRCS Offering Conservation Client Gateway
USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) wants to remind farmers, ranchers and private landowners that many of the business issues they may need to take care of with NRCS can be done right there from their home or farm office. NRCS offers their secure online portal called Conservation Client Gateway. Through it you can request NRCS technical and financial assistance, review …
ELD Mandates, Excluding Livestock, Effective June 18
The deadline for transporters of agricultural commodities, excluding livestock, to obtain an electronic logging device (ELD) is June 18. According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMSCA), exemptions include those transporting agricultural commodities within 150 air miles. Motor carriers utilizing the agricultural commodities exemption — like other hours of service rule exemptions — are excluded from ELD requirements if they …
Judge Sides with Environmentalists in Land Conservation Dispute
Striking a blow to the Legislature, a Tallahassee judge said state lawmakers failed to comply with a voter-approved constitutional amendment to buy and preserve environmentally sensitive lands. Ruling from the bench Friday, Leon County Circuit Judge Charles Dodson sided with environmental groups in the lawsuit centered on whether lawmakers “defied” the 2014 Florida Water and Land Conservation Initiative by improperly …