The following may be attributed to American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall: “The Agriculture Department has withdrawn the livestock portion of the GIPSA rule and will continue to work on poultry fair practice issues in a future rulemaking. This is good news for farmers and ranchers. “We thank Secretary Perdue for his diligent efforts on these rules. The livestock …
Alabama NRCS Program Signup Deadline Friday
Alabama landowners are being reminded that this Friday, October 20, is the deadline to sign up for 2018 funding for four conservation programs through USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service. Sponsored ContentWhat Sets Provysol® Fungicide ApartJuly 8, 2025CIR Agriculture Harvester ProductsJuly 1, 2025Nuseed Carinata Covers New GroundOctober 1, 2024
No “Skull and Crossbones” for GMO Apple Labels
The company behind GMO apples hitting the market later this fall says the apples won’t be labeled as containing GMO’s. The arctic variety apples developed by Okanagan Specialty Fruits, an initiative started by an apple farmer, will instead include a QR code, as outlined in the GMO labeling bill that was passed by Congress and signed by then President Barack …
EPA Ending “Sue and Settle”
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Scott Pruitt is touting a directive he signed this week to end the EPA’s so-called “sue and settle” strategy, a practice agriculture groups opposed. Pruitt issued an Agency-wide directive Monday to end the practice, a move he says means “the days of regulation through litigation are over.” Pruitt said the agency would “no longer go …
Initial Progress Made on U.S.-Japan Trade Issues
The U.S. and Japan in a joint statement said the two nations have made “initial progress” on trade issues. The statement comes as Vice President Mike Pence talked with Japan’s Deputy Prime Minister earlier this week. The Joint statement says some “initial progress” on bilateral trade issues such as lifting import restrictions on Japanese persimmons and Idaho potatoes, according to …
NAFTA Commodity Groups Unite to Urge Negotiation Success
U.S. commodity export groups, along with counterparts from Canada and Mexico, are reiterating their support for free trade. The U.S. Grains Council, along with the U.S. Soybean Export Council, National Sorghum Producers, National Corn Growers, and others, met with counterparts from Canada and Mexico last week. As round four of the North American Free Trade Agreement negotiations conclude, the groups …
Canada “Flatly Rejects” U.S. Dairy Proposal
Wrapping up the fourth round of talks on the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), the U.S. proposed a dismantling of Canada’s dairy supply management system. Bloomberg reports Canada “flatly rejects” the proposal by the United States. The proposal would effectively kill Canada’s supply management system by fully eliminating tariffs on supply-managed products over ten years. President Donald Trump earlier …
NCBA on GIPSA Rule Withdrawal: “Victory for Cattle Producers and Consumers”
Colin Woodall, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association’s Senior Vice President, Government Affairs, released the following statement in response to USDA’s decision to withdraw its controversial Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyard Administration (GIPSA) interim final rule: “This is a victory for America’s cattle and beef producers – and it’s a victory for America’s consumers. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue deserves a great …
Mark Wilson Named 2017 Florida Farmer of the Year
The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services announced that Mark Wilson of Greendale Nursery in Homestead, Florida, was recognized as the 2017 Sunbelt Expo Southeastern Florida Farmer of the Year. Since 1990, the Southeastern Ag Expo Farmer of the Year Award has recognized exceptional agricultural practices, innovators, and pioneers from 10 southeastern states, including Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, …
USDA Designates 19 Counties in Florida as Primary Natural Disaster Areas
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has designated 19 counties in Florida as primary natural disaster areas due to losses and damages caused by Hurricane Irma that occurred from Sept. 9, 2017, through Sept.12, 2017. Those counties are: Alachua Gilchrist Indian River Monroe Bradford Glades Lake Osceola Broward Hendry Lee Palm Beach Charlotte Highlands Marion Sumter Collier Hillsborough Miami-Dade Farmers …