Cattle producers are being reminded that the annual Florida Bull Test Sale will take place January 20, 12:30 PM Central Time at the University of Florida/IFAS North Florida research and Education Center (NFREC) Beef Research Unit, located one mile west of Greenwood, FL on Hwy 162. This year’s auction will include approximately 65 Performance Proven Bulls, ranging from Angus, Brahman, …
Livestock Outlook Positive for 2018
Last year ended on a good note, with the outlook generally positive for livestock and poultry in 2018. That forecast came from James Robb, director and senior agricultural economist with the Livestock Marketing Information Center. However, he says there are some concerns surrounding both industries as uncertainty looms around trade agreements. Robb spoke during a workshop at the American Farm …
Farmers Are Becoming Less Optimistic About the Future
For the second-straight month, the Purdue University/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer dipped lower, coming in with an index of 126 in December. That number was the lowest since March of last year and the second-lowest of 2017. The decline is driven entirely by producers becoming less optimistic about the future. The Future Expectations Index was recently at 137 in October, …
U.S. Crop Prices Forecast to Remain Stable
U.S. grain prices and demand for grain products will likely not change much, if at all. That forecast comes from Dr. Keith Coble, the Agricultural and Economics Department head at Mississippi State University. He spoke to attendees of the American Farm Bureau national convention during a workshop on global crop trends and the U.S. farm policy forecast for the year …
Rural Prosperity Report Released at Farm Bureau Convention
The president’s task force on rural prosperity officially released its report on Monday at the Farm Bureau national convention. Politico says Cabinet officials made a lot of recommendations in the report for improving the quality of life in rural America, including more online connectivity and more training programs. The report says that only 39 percent of rural America is able …
USDA Wants Farmer Input on Government Regulations
Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue spoke to the crowd at the American Farm Bureau’s annual convention on Monday, just ahead of President Trump. According to a DTN article, Perdue told the crowd that the administration will soon present what it wants to see in the new farm bill. Although Congress actually writes the farm bill, the administration will present some …
Kansas Senator Says Keep Pressure on Administration to Finish NAFTA
Kansas Republican Senator Jerry Moran headlined a weekend discussion at the American Farm Bureau national convention titled “What’s the latest on the upcoming Farm Bill?” Moran said it was a great opportunity to speak before Farm Bureau members regarding the upcoming farm bill, the farm safety net, and the importance of protecting the rural way of life across America. “I’ve …
Farm Bureau Re-elects President Zippy Duvall
Sets Agenda for 2018 Delegates to the American Farm Bureau Federation’s 2018 Annual Convention unanimously re-elected AFBF President Zippy Duvall. Delegates also approved measures to help assure a prosperous agricultural and rural economy in the coming year and beyond. Resolutions approved by farmer and rancher delegates from across the nation ran the gamut of issues, from trade to regulatory reform, …
Pork Checkoff Delivers ROI
U.S. pork producers receive a positive return on their Pork Checkoff investment. USDA requires a return-on-investment (ROI) analysis every five years with Cornell University handling the review. National Pork Board vice president of strategic communications Kevin Waetke is gratified with the response. Response The ROI study evaluates all aspects of the Pork Checkoff. Evaluation Waetke says this value message has …
SUDIA Rebrands to Reflect Market-Focused Mission and Innovation
The Dairy Alliance Represents 2,100 Dairy Farmers Across Nine Southeast States The Southeast United Dairy Industry Association (SUDIA) has new leadership, new branding and a new name — The Dairy Alliance. This change represents the new vision and mission of the organization. The Dairy Alliance has an emphasis on market-focused partnerships that proactively promote and protect the interests of 2,100 dairy farm families in the Southeast. The new …