Longleaf Pine Initiative for Southeast Landowners

Dan Florida, Forestry, USDA-NRCS

Longleaf pine once covered 90 million acres from Texas to Florida, but today only 3 percent of the habitat remains. So the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) wants to remind landowners about the Longleaf Pine Initiative, which provides financial and technical assistance for conservation practices to help restore longleaf pine forests and enhance existing stands. Leonard …

USDA Offers Renewal Options for Expiring Conservation Stewardship Contracts

Dan Environment, Florida, USDA-NRCS

Agricultural producers wanting to enhance current conservation efforts are encouraged to renew their Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) contract. Through CSP, USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) helps private landowners build their business while implementing conservation practices that help ensure the sustainability of their entire operation. Participants with existing CSP contracts expiring on Dec. 31, 2018 can access the benefits of …

Alabama Regional Beef Ambassador Training Workshop

Dan Alabama, Beef, Industry News Release

The Alabama Regional Beef Ambassador Program (RBAP) Workshop will be held at Upchurch Hall classrooms, Stanley Wilson Beef Teaching Center and other facilities on the Auburn University campus on Saturday, April 7, 2018. But the deadline for workshop registration is March 19th or until spots are filled. The workshop is designed to prepare youth with the foundational skills, coaching and direction needed …

Grain, Dairy Markets Worried About Trade War

Dan Dairy, Industry News Release

Analysts are saying that President Trump’s decision to impose tariffs on steel and aluminum imports could be hard on farmers. Farm Journal’s Ag Web Dot Com points out that, while Trump hasn’t officially imposed the tariffs, the decision doesn’t have the support of his entire Cabinet and has raised eyebrows all over the world. Jeff Harrison of Combest, Sell, and …

NAFTA Round Seven Wrapped Up Monday and Facing More Questions

Dan Industry News Release, Trade

The seventh round of talks to renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) wrapped up Monday in Mexico City. The three countries have taken some incremental steps toward agreements on some of the lower-level issues. However, trade negotiators and almost anyone else interested in the NAFTA negotiations acknowledged that the looming threat of U.S. tariffs on steel and aluminum …

USDA Announces More Local Control for School Meal Operations

Dan Education, Industry News Release

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Deputy Secretary Steve Censky announced two new efforts to provide states and school districts with additional flexibility and support to operate more efficient school meal programs. Censky made the announcement during a speech at the School Nutrition Association Legislative Action Conference in Washington, D.C. Child Nutrition Hiring Flexibility Rule In 2015, USDA established education and …

Paraguay Market Now Open To U.S. Pork

Dan Industry News Release, Pork

Under an export certificate recently negotiated between the two countries, the United States now can ship pork to Paraguay. The National Pork Producers Council welcomed the news. “Paraguay won’t be a huge market for U.S. pork, but given the current trade climate, the U.S. pork industry needs all the new markets it can get,” said NPPC President Jim Heimerl, a …

Georgia Cotton Commission Welcomes Cotton Ginning Cost Share

Dan Cotton, Georgia, Industry News Release

On March 3, at the Mid-South Farm and Gin Show in Memphis, Tennessee, Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue announced a Cotton Ginning Cost Share (CGCS) program for the 2016 crop. This program provides assistance to American cotton producers who were left out of U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) safety net programs during that crop year. The Georgia Cotton Commission welcomes this …