CropLife America CEO Jay Vroom will retire at the end of 2018, ending nearly 30 years leading the organization. Vroom announced his retirement plans during the general session at the 2017 CLA Annual Meeting in California this week. During the announcement, he said he is “proud to have represented the industry,” during his tenure as CEO. Vroom will continue to …
Soybean Growers Want Dicamba Damage Answers
The American Soybean Association is demanding more answers regarding dicamba drift damage. ASA President Ron Moore this week addressed dicamba drift in a statement. Moore says the issue “isn’t going away,” and is “only getting worse.” The Association says it is supporting research at land grant universities to find answers. Moore says the independent research is needed, as well as …
Farm Policy Facts Study Addresses Heritage Foundation Suggestions
A study sponsored by seven agriculture groups and released by Farm Policy Facts calls a plan by the Heritage Foundation misleading. Brandon Willis, former Agriculture Department Risk Management Agency administrator, crafted the study “How Heritage Foundation’s U.S. Farm Policy Proposals Would Put America Last.” The Heritage Foundation released a blueprint earlier this year for the 2018 Farm Bill and claims …
Higher Supplies Keeping Consumer Meat Prices Lower
Higher supplies of meat will continue to pressure consumer prices lower, according to a forecast by the Department of Agriculture. The USDA Economic Research Service Food Price Outlook predicts beef and veal prices to decrease one to two percent in 2017 but increase the same amount in 2018. That’s because, in August, the U.S. cattle herd was at its highest …
Environmental Working Group Keeps Eye on Farm Bill Development
The Environmental Working Group is paying close attention to the process of developing the new Farm Bill. Craig Cox, Senior Vice President for Agriculture and Natural Resources, says the conservation provisions of the Farm Bill represent a big opportunity to help farmers deal with the more serious issues they’re going to face regarding the quality of life. The EW G …
Countdown to Census: What You Need To Know
Only eight weeks until producers start to receive the 2017 Census of Agriculture In just a couple months, farmers and ranchers across the nation will start receiving the 2017 Census of Agriculture. Producers can mail in their completed census form, or respond online via the improved web questionnaire. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service has extensively revised …
Heat-Tolerant Broccoli for the Future
Traditionally, broccoli is a cool-weather crop. Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientists are looking to change that by developing new varieties that grow in warm temperatures. ARS plant geneticist Mark Farnham and his team in Charleston, South Carolina, have developed and characterized the genetic sources of broccoli’s heat tolerance. Theoretical and Applied Genetics published these results in March 2017. The team, led by ARS geneticist Sandra …
NMPF Supports Effort to Bring Clarity to EPA’s Waters of the U.S. Regulation
The National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) told the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today that the dairy industry supports a two-step process to roll back the existing Waters of the U.S. (WOTUS) regulation and generate a new policy that provides farmers greater certainty in the future. NMPF has supported efforts by the Trump Administration since January to restart the regulatory …
Signup for NRCS Programs in Alabama Is Underway
USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Alabama has announced that a batching signup is underway for four of its main programs. State conservationist for Alabama, Ben Malone, says that while all of the service’s programs do have continuous signups, October 20 is the signup batching date for 2018 funding. Sponsored ContentWhat Sets Provysol® Fungicide ApartJuly 8, 2025CIR Agriculture Harvester …
Florida NRCS Reminds Producers about Organic Initiative
USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Florida wants to remind producers that the current Farm Bill provides financial and technical assistance to help producers transitioning to organic farming and certified organic producers meet their conservation goals. Monica Jones, a district conservationist in Alachua, Bradford, and Union counties, says the Organic Initiative is through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP). …