Osceola Soil and Water Conservation District has announced access to a United States Department of Agriculture Easement program for landowners and ranchers in Osceola County. An agricultural conservation easement expert from the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service provided an introduction to the program during a regular meeting of the OSWCD Board of Supervisors at Osceola Heritage Park. The 2014 enacted …
Alabama Fruit Growers Understand Managing Cold Weather
Alabama fruit producers are keeping their eyes on the thermometers, but professionals with the Alabama Cooperative Extension System say producers are used to dealing with cold weather. Dr. Edgar Vinson, an Alabama Extension fruit specialist who works closely with the state’s peach producers, said most are not worried about the frigid weather. “This season’s cold weather has kept peaches and …
Lack of Budget Deal Making Farm Bill Efforts Harder
The lack of a budget deal so far to keep the government open, is frustrating efforts to write a new farm bill–and its would-be authors. Farm bills are never easy to write, and some have taken a couple of years or more to enact. And, this is an election year—never an easy time to do any legislating. But, the ongoing …
Farmers Market Legal Toolkit Launched
Farmers markets now have an online tool that provides the markets with accessible resources to understand legal issues and legal risk. The Center for Agriculture and Food Systems at Vermont Law school, along with the Farmers Market Coalition, and others, have launched the Farmers Market Legal Toolkit online, a free resource created with support from the Department of Agriculture. The …
Native Farm Bill Coalition Formed
More than 30 native American tribes have formed the Native Farm Bill Coalition in an effort to give native American farms a voice at the farm bill table. Minnesota Public Radio reports that the coalition is an outgrowth of programs to improve health and expand access to health food for Native Americans. The coalition says that for decades, Indian Country …
U.S. Top Beef Exporter to South Korea
The United States has reclaimed the title of top beef exporter to South Korea in 2017. The change comes 14 years after a U.S. outbreak of mad cow disease that led to a ban of U.S. beef in South Korea, handing the top spot of the market to Australia, according to Reuters. U.S. beef shipments jumped 13.7 percent last year …
NPPC: Mexico Pork Exports Rule Maintains Good Trade Relationship
The National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) says allowing Mexico to export pork to the U.S. is a sign of good trade relations. The Department of Agriculture last week finalized a regulation allowing Mexican states to export pork to the United States. USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is implementing a science-based risk assessment that determined Mexico is free of …
Speaker Ryan: Canada the Real Problem with NAFTA
U.S. House Speaker Paul Ryan of Wisconsin says the biggest problem with the North American Free Trade Agreement “comes from the North,” referring to Canada. Ryan points to Canadian dairy producers dumping low-cost products on the market to compete with Wisconsin farms, as the real issue with NAFTA. Late last week, the Republican said NAFTA needs updated, but said the …
Senator Ernst Suggests Trump is Softening on NAFTA Threats
U.S. Senator Joni Ernst of Iowa told the Iowa Corn Growers Association this week that President Donald Trump appears to be reassessing his position on the North American Free Trade Agreement. Ernst told farmers Monday that “I think he has doubts,” when it comes to withdrawing from NAFTA. Iowa’s Cedar Rapids Gazette reports that Ernst expects a follow up NAFTA …
Farmers Celebrate 2017 Victories
From tax reform, to the Waters of the U.S. Rule, officials in Washington, D.C., gave farmers and ranchers plenty to cheer about last year. American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall this month told Farm Bureau members at the organization’s Annual Convention that tax reform topped the list. Tax Duvall says the Waters of the U.S. rule was one of …