Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam announced the recipients of the Commissioner’s Agricultural-Environmental Leadership Award, which recognizes the environmentally innovative farming techniques of Florida’s farmers and ranchers. This year’s recipients are Brad and Meghan Austin and Dale and Cindy Eade of Cindale Farms in Marianna; Greg Davis of Speedling Incorporated in Ruskin; and Brittany Lee of Florida Blue Farms, …
USDA Aims to Improve Food and Nutrition Education for Low-Income Communities
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) announced support to develop local and self-reliant food systems, such as farm to table enterprises that bring nutritious food to low-income communities. This funding is available through NIFA’s Community Food Projects Competitive Grant Program, authorized by the 2014 Farm Bill. “This program reaches into neighborhoods across America …
Alabama Receives Funding for Irrigation Efficiency Project
It has been announced that a new, multi-year project in Alabama will help to build vital infrastructure while conserving natural resources through the Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Program. USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Alabama will work with the project’s sponsor, the Alabama Soil and Water Conservation Committee (SWCC) and the Alabama Irrigation Initiative, to address irrigation needs …
Senate Ag Committee Warns Trump Administration on Possible NAFTA “Pullout”
The Chairman of the U.S. Senate Agriculture Committee issued perhaps his most direct public warning yet to the Trump Administration on a possible North American Free Trade Agreement “pullout.” Senate Agriculture Committee Chair Pat Roberts spoke to a U.S. Chamber of Commerce audience in Washington, D.C. on the strategy President Trump and U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer are pursuing on …
Cheerios Ditches Gluten-Free Label in Canada
Cheerios cereal sold in Canada will no longer be labeled “gluten-free.” CBC News of Canada reports that Manufacturer General Mills has confirmed it will voluntarily remove the labels from the cereal boxes sold in Canadian stores “as soon as possible,” even though it says the product contains less than 20 parts per million of gluten, which meets the regulatory standard …
Campbell Soup Company Joins Plant Based Lobbying Group
After dropping out of the Grocery Manufacturers Association earlier this year, Campbell Soup Company is joining the Plant-Based Foods Association or PBFA. Bloomberg calls the move a major gesture by an industry giant acknowledging retreating consumer demand for meat and dairy-heavy food. The company maintains its move to leave the Grocery Manufacturers Association wasn’t in preparation to join PBFA, but …
Trucking Industry Bracing for ELD Mandate
The Electronic Logging Device (ELD) mandate for the trucking industry is expected to go into effect December 18th, causing a predicted impact to the livestock industry. The National Pork Producers Council has asked for an exemption based on what it calls “an incompatibility” between federal hours of operation rules and how the livestock industry actually operates. The request states: “Livestock …
Farm Profitability Still Down, But Improving
A new survey of bankers shows 82 percent of agricultural lenders reported a decline in farm profitability in the last 12 months. However, the pace of the decline has slowed. The survey produced by the American Bankers Association and Farmer Mac shows 51 percent of agricultural lenders noted an increase in the demand for agricultural operating loans, while there was …
Farm Bill Near Ready Status
A lobbyist close to the farm bill effort told the Hagstrom Report this week that the House Agriculture Committee staff is close to being done preparing the bill for consideration. However, the lobbyist says Chairman Mike Conaway will likely keep the bill “under lock and key” until House leadership guarantees floor time for the legislation. That points to the bill …
Rural Entrepreneurship Challenge Provides New Ag Businesses Opportunity
The Rural Entrepreneurship Challenge gives new agriculture businesses a boost in a startup. More than $145,000 of startup funds will be given out during this year’s challenge. Four finalists, recently announced, will compete for $25,000 in January. AFBF rural development director Lisa Benson says even the businesses that won’t be competing in the finals benefit from applying for the challenge. …