Lawmakers are continuing to work on restocking Florida Forever, the state’s once-prized land preservation program. However, Florida Forever spending is shaping up to be a big part of the environmental budget differences the House and Senate will have to settle in the coming weeks. The House Agriculture & Natural Resources Appropriations Subcommittee on Tuesday unanimously backed a wide-ranging proposal (HB …
Turkey Growers Seeking to Close Gap with Consumers
A new video series seeks to close the gap from farm to fork by America’s turkey farmers. The National Turkey Federation has prepared a new series of videos and resources that the group says “offers common-sense answers about raising healthy turkey flocks on family farms.” Featuring a series of videos introducing consumers to turkeys raised on corn and soybeans …
Perdue Applauds Trump’s USDA Rural Utility Services Administrator Selection
Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue offered his applause to President Trump’s intent to appoint Kenneth Johnson to be the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Utility Service Administrator. Perdue says Johnson ‘s experience with rural utilities, including expanding access to high-speed Internet, “will serve us well as we strive to increase prosperity across rural America.” Johnson serves as general manager and CEO …
New U.K. Trade Commissioner to Focus on North America
The United Kingdom has hired a trade commissioner to focus specifically on North America. Ramping up efforts to prepare for post-Brexit trade negotiations, the U.K. hired two regionally focused trade commissioners that leadership says will lead trade relations with “key markets of the future.” Antony Phillipson, the current director-general of international trade in North America, has been tapped to serve …
January Ag Economy Barometer Results
The Purdue University-CME Group Ag Economy Barometer turned higher for January, showing some optimism among farmers and ranchers. After trending lower in late 2017, the monthly survey of 400 agricultural producers from across the U.S. indicated that the measure of producer sentiment climbed to 135 points at the beginning of 2018, up nine points from December’s 126. Organizers say the …
Rural Mainstreet Index Declines
The Creighton University Rural Mainstreet Index declined slightly in January from December’s weak reading, remaining below growth neutral. However, organizers say the monthly survey of rural bank CEO’s in the Midwest is significantly higher than the reading for January 2017. The index, like all indices in the survey, ranges between zero and 100 with 50 representing growth neutral, fell to …
AFIA Calls FDA to Streamline Animal Feed Regulations
The American Feed Industry Association (AFIA) is calling upon the Food and Drug Administration to consider streamlining or removing several federal regulations and recordkeeping requirements that are unclear, duplicative, antiquated or do nothing to enhance the safety of America’s animal food supply at the great expense of small and large animal food manufacturers. AFIA submitted formal comments to the agency late yesterday …
UF/IFAS Researchers Blame Cold for Fish Kills, Offer Suggestions
Cold weather is killing fish in northern and Central Florida counties, according to University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences researchers, who are also offering some solutions. “In an aquaculture operation, farmers can cover their ponds with a frame covered with plastic, as ornamental fish farmers do in the Tampa area to protect their fish from the cold,” …
Georgia Blueberry Growers to Vote on Continuation of Assessment for Market Order
Starting March 1, Georgia blueberry growers will have the opportunity to vote on renewing the grower assessment, which funds the Georgia Agriculture Commodity Commission for Blueberries. The Commission is charged by law with providing programs of research, promotion and education on behalf of Georgia blueberry growers. Most of the funds received by the Georgia Agriculture Commodity Commission for Blueberries are …
Issues with Implementing Air Emissions Reporting
A federal court did grant the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) another extension of a livestock emissions reporting deadline. The delay in reporting air emissions from animal waste will now last until May 1st. Last April, the D.C. U.S. Court of Appeals rejected an exemption for farm reporting of “hazardous” emissions under federal emergency response laws. But National Pork Producers Council …