Another poll released this week shows optimism is decreasing in farm country. DTN-The Progressive Farmers released its August Agricultural Confidence Index this week. The survey finds that while farmers are more optimistic than August 2016, the strong optimism they started the year with is waning. The overall index for August fell more than 26 points, to a moderate 104.3, compared …
Displaced Horses Continue to Find Shelter at Florida Agriculture Center & Horse Park
The Florida Agricultural Center & Horse Park (FHP) located in Ocala, Florida is currently providing shelter and boarding for 126 horses displaced due to the imminent threat of Hurricane Irma. After receiving the initial inquiry last week, FHP immediately began to accept evacuees. The facility can host up to 160 horses at capacity and encourages those seeking lodging for their …
Georgia Department of Agriculture Responding to Threat of Hurricane Irma
With expectations of the extremely powerful Hurricane Irma to impact south Florida this weekend, the Georgia Department of Agriculture (GDA) is working with all of our state, federal and industry partners to support the safety and comfort of Georgia citizens, their animals and our Florida neighbors fleeing the storm. To assist those evacuating with animals, GDA has temporarily suspended …
Farmers Looking for Relief in Tax Reform
Congress is back in session with a promise to work on tax reform this month. American Farm Bureau Federation tax specialist Pat Wolff says farmers need overall tax relief from Congress in any tax reform package. Wolff says there is a lot of talk about lowering corporate tax rates but says business structures vary for farms, most of which …
Vietnam Reopens Market to U.S. DDGS Exports
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) announced that the government of Vietnam has notified the U.S. that it will resume imports of American distillers dried grains (DDGS). In December 2016, Vietnam suspended imports of U.S. DDGS after reported detections of quarantine pests in U.S. shipments. Prior to the suspension, Vietnam was …
Jimmy Osceola Wins Florida NRCS Native Art Competition
Story by Beverly Bidney, The Seminole Tribune An oil painting created by artist Jimmy Osceola depicting Seminoles at Lake Okeechobee won the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service poster contest in August. The theme of the competition was “Water is the Essential Element.” Osceola’s painting, titled “Big Water of Life”, will be printed on posters and distributed to the United States …
Grassley Weighs in on Latest Threats to Withdraw From Trade Agreements
A key U.S. ag senator has weighed in on President Trump’s latest threats to withdraw from trade agreements, including one with strategically important South Korea, the KORUS agreement. Longtime Senate Ag Republican Chuck Grassley doesn’t think ditching a trade deal with one of America’s biggest trading partners in ag and manufacturing, South Korea, makes much sense But like NAFTA, now …
EPA Considering Dicamba Limits
The Environmental protection Agency is considering establishing limits to dicamba-based herbicides next year. Agriculture officials from several states that are advising the EPA on dicamba tell Reuters that the EPA is considering banning the use of dicamba after a cutoff date, likely in early 2018. The initiative is similar to rules being considered in Arkansas, which would ban the use …
Trump Announces USDA Nominations over Labor Day Weekend
President Donald Trump over the weekend announced three nominations to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Trump has nominated current Iowa Agriculture Secretary Bill Northey to serve as the undersecretary for farm production and conservation, a post created by Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue earlier this year. Trump also nominated Nebraska Department of Agriculture Director Greg Ibach (eye-bah) to serve as undersecretary …
Lower Commodity Prices Dragging Farm Optimism
Lower commodity prices in August pushed farm economy optimism lower, according to the Purdue-CME Group Ag Economy Barometer released this week. The barometer drifted lower in August to 132 points, down seven points from July, but still stronger than the year ago level of 96. A reading over 100 indicates optimism regarding the farm economy, while a reading below indicates …