snap

SNAP Battle Top Obstacle for Farm Bill

Dan Industry News Release

House Ag Committee Ranking Member Collin Peterson says the biggest problem facing legislators as they write the new Farm Bill isn’t just funding. Peterson told sugar producers and processors this week that the biggest battle is over what to do with the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Peterson spoke to the International Sweetener Symposium in San Diego, pointing out that …

florida

Farm Labor Shortage May Drive Produce Prices Higher

Dan Industry News Release, Labor and Immigration

Adding guacamole to your favorite foods may soon become more expensive. Food and Wine Dot Com says a package of almonds may become pricier as well. As California farmers welcomed the end of a serious drought this spring, a serious labor shortage is becoming another issue to deal with. California is where the bulk of the nation’s produce is grown …

agriculture

Farm Economy May Be Starting to Stabilize

Dan Economy, Industry News Release

The prolonged downturn in the farm economy continued in the second quarter of 2017. However, data from the Kansas City Fed’s Survey on Agricultural Credit Conditions shows the farm economy may finally be starting to stabilize. While economic conditions did continue to weaken in the second quarter, the pace of that deterioration has slowed. While the farm loan repayment rate …

agricultures

USDA WASDE Report Released

Dan Crop Forecasts, Field Crops, Industry News Release, Livestock

Wheat:  Projected 2017/18 U.S. wheat supplies are decreased this month on lower production, down 21 million bushels to just over 1.7 billion bushels. The August NASS production forecasts for durum and other spring wheat indicated a significant decline compared to last year, primarily due to continued severe drought conditions affecting the Northern Plains. Partially offsetting this decrease is higher winter …

fruit

USDA Calls for Nominations for the Fruit and Vegetable Industry Advisory Committee

Dan Fruits, Industry News Release, Vegetables

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is seeking nominations to fill vacancies expiring in 2017 on the Fruit and Vegetable Industry Advisory Committee (FVIAC). FVIAC, administered by USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service, was established by USDA in 2001. Members of the committee meet up to two times a year to develop recommendations on issues affecting the U.S. produce industry. Committee members represent …

crude oil

USDA Forecasts Record-High Soybean Production in 2017

Dan Crop Forecasts, Industry News Release, Soybeans

U.S. farmers are expected to produce a record-high soybean crop this year, according to the Crop Production report issued by the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service. Up 2 percent from 2016, soybean production is forecast at 4.38 billion bushels, while corn growers are expected to decrease their production by 7 percent from last year, forecast at 14.2 billion bushels. Up 7 percent …

alabama

McMillan Advises Horse Owners to Vaccinate for EEE & West Nile Virus

Dan Alabama, Equine, Industry News Release

Agriculture & Industries Commissioner John McMillan announces that a horse has tested positive for Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) by the department’s diagnostic laboratory in Auburn. The horse was presented for treatment at Auburn University’s College of Veterinary Medicine from the neighboring state of Georgia. In addition, Mobile County Health Department (MCHD) has reported that the sentinel chickens, used to detect …

sign-up

Funding to Help Improve Soil Quality in Alabama

Dan Alabama, USDA-NRCS

August 28 is the deadline for Alabama landowners interested in securing funding to help improve the soil quality on your land, all through a Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) project. This effort is possible thanks to a partnership between USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Alabama and the Alabama Soil and Water Conservation Committee.