The Cotton Board has hired two new Regional Communication Managers (RCMs). Christi Chadwell will serve as the Southwest RCM, with a territory including central and south Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and California. Shelley Heinrich will serve as the Southern Plains RCM, covering North Texas, Kansas, and Oklahoma. The new RCMs will train under the current Southwest RCM, Bob Stanley, who …
Canada Egg Production Up Nearly 5 Percent This Year
Egg production in Canada is on the rise, increasing 4.4 percent in the last year. Statistics Canada, the nation’s statistics agency, says Canadian egg producers generated 64.5 million dozen eggs from May 2016 to May this year. Placement of hatchery chicks on farms rose four percent to 65.5 million birds from June 2016 to June 2017 and stocks of frozen …
Consumers Have Trouble Reading Food Labels
A new poll finds that many American consumers are having issues with date labels on their food products. The poll, led by the Grocery Manufacturers Association, found 60 percent of 1,000 American consumers surveyed have had discussions in their homes about the exact meaning of such terms as “best by, use by, sell by, use or freeze by” that currently …
Growth Energy Calls Court Decision on RVO’s a Win for Consumers
Growth Energy calls a court ruling against the Environmental Protection Agency a win for consumers. Friday, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia struck down what Growth Energy calls a flawed methodology by the EPA to reduce the 2016 total Renewable Volume Obligations, or RVO’s, under the Renewable Fuel Standard. The court decision was in response to …
South Korea Asks for KORUS Review Delay
South Korea last week requested the Trump administration to postpone any review of the U.S.-Korea Free Trade Agreement until a new trade minister is appointed in South Korea. The request comes after U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer requested a review of the agreement on July 12th in a letter to Korea’s former minister of trade. South Korea suggested that both …
Poultry Producers Comment on NAFTA Renegotiation Plans
U.S. poultry producers say the modernization of the North American Free Trade Agreement could bring trade improvements. The National Chicken Council and the USA Poultry & Egg Export Council together called NAFTA a “bonanza for American Agriculture.” However, the groups say some trade issues could be improved under the renegotiation effort. The National Chicken Council says Canada and the United …
New Leader Picked for South Florida Water Management District
by Jim Turner, News Service of Florida A key player on Everglades issues was elevated Monday to become executive director of the South Florida Water Management District, replacing Pete Antonacci who is leaving to become Gov. Rick Scott’s top business recruiter. The district’s Governing Board unanimously agreed during a teleconference to promote Ernie Marks, district director of Everglades policy and …
Agricultural Chemical Use Survey Results Released
The 2016 Agricultural Chemical Use Survey collected data about pesticide use and pest management practices on acres planted to 28 different vegetable crops. NASS conducted the survey among producers in 19 states, focusing on the states that were major producers of the surveyed crops. (Fig. 1) In California, NASS collected data for 23 crops, the most number of crops selected …
Calving Management Workshops in Gainesville and Okeechobee, Florida
Dr. Ricardo Chebel, UF College of Veterinary Medicine Dairy Health Extension Specialist, will be presenting classroom information and hands-on practice on dairy calving management. He will be covering risk factors for dystocia, the process of normal calving, stages of calving, strategies to correct dystocia. Classroom sessions will be available separately in English and Spanish. Both sessions will combine for lunch …
Wind Power Advancing in U.S.
A new report from the American Wind Energy Association finds 357 megawatts in new wind energy projects were brought online during the second quarter of the year. Nationally, the U.S. now has 84,405 megawatts of installed wind power capacity, with more than 52,000 commercial wind turbines currently operating in 41 states plus Guam and Puerto. Another 25,819 megawatts are under construction …