A new stable fly trap, now on the market, catches more flies than the standard trap, according to a recent Agricultural Research Service (ARS) study. The Knight Stick trap is highly attractive to stable flies, fits in tight places and is very portable, said entomologist Jerry Hogsette, with the Mosquito and Fly Research Unit at the ARS Center for Medical, Agricultural and Veterinary Entomology in …
Florida Ag Producers Invited to Cover Crop Tour
Florida agricultural producers are invited to take part in Cover Crop Tour, April 6 from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. at the NRCS Brooksville Plant Material Center in Brooksville, Florida. USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service in Florida is offering free tour showcases that cover crop species to improve soil health. Florida Ag Producers Invited to Cover Crop Tour Sponsored ContentCIR Agriculture Harvester …
Classic Gully Erosion Initiative Sign-Up in Alabama
USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) State Conservationist for Alabama, Ben Malone, wants to make sure landowners across the state are aware of the new https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/detail/al/newsroom/releases/?cid=NRCSEPRD1388873. It will focus on scenarios where erosion has reached an advanced stage and interferes with farming operations, but sign-up for this program ends April 19, 2018. Classic Gully Erosion Initiative Sign-up in Alabama Sponsored ContentCIR …
Loss Of Foreign Workers Would Hurt Agriculture
Given a tight labor market, particularly in rural areas, the loss of foreign-born workers would lead to a drop in agricultural jobs, according to a study commissioned by the National Pork Producers Council. Economists with Iowa State University (ISU), using a study from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Economic Research Service, determined that a reduction in the foreign-born workforce – …
Tasty Tomatoes and Other Produce
UF/IFAS Expert Urges Scientists to Breed for Flavor For 20 years, Harry Klee, a professor of horticultural sciences at the UF Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, has been using genetics to improve flavors and smells in tomatoes and other produce that induce the consumer to buy more of them. As Florida farmers continue to harvest this year’s tomatoes, Klee …
ITC Vote Levels Playing Field in Biodiesel Trade Dispute
The International Trade Commission agrees with the National Biodiesel Board that the biofuels industry has suffered because of unfairly dumped imports of biodiesel from Argentina and Indonesia. In a vote Tuesday, the Commission voted 4-0 in support of the position by the National Biodiesel Board. The vote on injury is the last remaining procedural hurdle before final antidumping orders can …
GAO Gives USDA Approval to Ditch Organic Livestock Rule
The Government Accountability Office says the Department of Agriculture complied with rulemaking procedures during its withdrawal of The Organic Livestock and Poultry Practices final rule. The office reviewed the USDA Agricultural Marketing Service’s process to withdraw the rule after many groups, including the Humane Society of the United States, filed lawsuits claiming USDA did not follow proper rulemaking procedures. The …
Ag Bankers Report Shows Increase in Lending
Agricultural lending from U.S. banks increased nearly six percent in 2017, according to a new report by the American Bankers Association. Ag lending increased $5.9 billion to $106 billion last year from farm banks, which are defined as banks whose ratio of domestic farm loans to total domestic loans is greater than or equal to the industry average. Total farm …
Ag Economy Barometer Results for March
Farmers are expressing concerns regarding agricultural trade, according to the latest Purdue/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer. The barometer slipped to 135 in March, down five points compared to February, but unchanged from January’s results. The decline was attributed to farmers weakening perceptions of current conditions and a decline in their expectations for the future. The index surveys 400 producers each …
Legislative Session Brings Good News for Farmers, Rural Alabama
Farmers and rural families will benefit from actions during the 2018 Regular Session of the Alabama Legislature, which saw bills pass aimed at improving broadband access, irrigation, agricultural education and the clarity of tax laws. Alabama Farmers Federation President Jimmy Parnell thanked legislators for recognizing the importance of agriculture and forestry — the state’s largest industry. “This was one of …