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 …
Georgia Ag Commissioner Applauds Injunction Blocking Enforcement of ‘WOTUS’ Rule
Agriculture Commissioner Gary W. Black is applauding action recently taken by the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Georgia to grant a preliminary injunction blocking enforcement of the burdensome Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule. “This rule was a blatant overreach of the federal government,” Commissioner Black said. “We are pleased that the courts clearly saw the irreparable …
Brand New Georgia Forage Website
The University of Georgia Forage Extension program has a lot of information on its website, so transitioning their site to a new format has been a major undertaking. But it was recently announced that the final product of months of work have come to fruition. The brand new georgiaforages.com website transition is complete and the new site is up and running. If you spent …
House Farm Bill Prospects Improving
House Republican leadership worked out a deal to bring up two different immigration bills for votes next week. One of the bills is the conservative measure authored by Representative Bob Goodlatte that the Freedom Caucus wanted to be brought up for a vote before they would commit votes to the farm bill. Because that vote was in place, Freedom Caucus …
Ag Groups Want #TradeNotTariffs
Ag groups have spent weeks engaging the Trump Administration for more insight into the future of trade tariffs. Those agricultural producers and related industries that depend on exports are now turning to Congress for help. The White House declared that Friday would be the day it announces the final list of $50 billion in Chinese products that would be charged …
Federal Judge Rules Against California’s Glyphosate Labeling Requirement
The national agriculture coalition fighting against California’s false and misleading Prop 65 labeling requirement for glyphosate picked up another win in court. U.S. District Court Judge William Shubb upheld the preliminary injunction prohibiting the state from enforcing the requirement until the court issues a final ruling on the matter. The California Attorney General had filed a motion to lift the …
NCGA’s Novak Selected as CropLife America CEO
National Corn Growers Association CEO Chris Novak will take the CEO position at CropLife America later this summer. CropLife America announced the selection of Novak Monday, who will take the place of retiring CEO Jay Vroom. Novak will begin full time employment with CLA on August 20, 2018. In a statement, Vroom says Novak “brings great knowledge and energy to …
Farmers Set to Attend the NFU Beginning Farmers Institute
The National Farmers Union says twenty beginning farmers and ranchers from across the United States will participate in the 2018-2019 Beginning Farmers Institute Program. The institute is designed to help the next generation of farmers to succeed by providing mentorship, technical training, as well as leadership development for participants. NFU President Roger Johnson says his group is happy to welcome …
USDA Launches Interactive Map of Opioid Epidemic Resources
The USDA recently launched a new interactive feature on its website to help rural communities combat the opioid epidemic in rural America. There’s a new interactive map available on the rural opioid misuse webpage. The map is designed to help visitors learn more about, access, and replicate actions that other rural leaders are taking in small towns across the country …
Gov. Ivey Signed a Proclamation Encouraging Beef for Father’s Day
Gov. Kay Ivey signed a proclamation Wednesday, May 30 encouraging Alabamians to eat beef for Father’s Day. The Beef for Father’s Day campaign began in 1955 as the first beef promotion effort of the newly-formed Alabama CowBelles Association. A gubernatorial proclamation has been signed each year since along with a presentation of steaks to the governor in office. Pictured L-R …