The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) announced nine grants totaling $7.4 million for advanced research to develop more resilient and nutritious crops and food animals. The funding is made possible through NIFA’s Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) program, authorized by the 2014 Farm Bill. “Research helps us accelerate the development of improved …
GIPSA Seeks Comments on U.S. Standards for Beans and Lentils
U.S. Standards for Beans The USDA Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration is seeking comments on a notice proposing to revise the U.S. Standards for Beans published in the Federal Register of May 15, 2017. GIPSA is proposing to establish a class and grade requirement chart for “chickpea,” also known as “garbanzo bean” and establish a new grade determining factor, …
State Milk Regulators Ask FDA for Assistance
State milk regulators requested that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) work with them to enforce the proper use of milk and milk product labeling terms, especially those meant to distinguish between real dairy products and plant-based imitators – a development the National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) hailed as “the strongest statement yet that the abuse of dairy terms …
Cabinet Weighs Highlands Conservation Plan
Gov. Rick Scott and the Florida Cabinet next week will consider a proposal to spend $1.58 million to help conserve about 1,000 acres of land in Highlands County. The proposal involves buying what is known as a “perpetual conservation easement” on 1,034 acres of ranch land owned by S.Y. Hartt & Son, Inc. The Hartt family bought the northern Highlands …
Conaway Welcomes Sec. Perdue to the Agriculture Committee
“These are challenging times in agriculture, but we can rest assured Sec. Perdue will be a fierce advocate for our nation’s farmers and ranchers.” House Agriculture Committee Chairman K. Michael Conaway (TX-11) welcomed newly-confirmed U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Sec. Sonny Perdue to Capitol Hill to testify on the “State of the Rural Economy.” Following the hearing, Chairman Conaway made …
A Healthy Impact: Fruits and Vegetables Boost Alabama’s Economy
While fruits and vegetables are undeniably good for the body, they’re also a major boost for Alabama’s economy, Auburn University and Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station economists found in a recently completed analysis of the industry. “Specialty crops is definitely a potential growth area for Alabama,” said Deacue Fields, chair of the College of Agriculture’s Department of Agricultural Economics and Rural …
Livestock Industry Calls for Relief from EPA’s Overly Burdensome Regulations
The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association and the Public Lands Council filed comments this week to the EPA calling for immediate action on several burdensome regulations the agency put forward under previous Administrations. The groups said that the regulations, “inhibit job creation, are ineffective, are unnecessary, or impose costs that exceed the environmental benefits. Often, these regulations impose federal requirements on …
Dairy Industry Launches Marketing Campaign
The dairy industry has launched a multi-year marketing campaign promoting more than just milk. The Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy, in partnership with America’s Dairy Farm Families and Importers, has launched “Undeniably Dairy,” showcasing the “undeniable taste and enjoyment” that comes from dairy products. A marketing executive at Dairy Management Inc. said in a statement that the campaign “is about …
Farmers Union Confronts the Farm Crisis
The national farm economy is deteriorating, forcing many family farmers and ranchers to make tough financial decisions that will impact their families, communities, and the entire country. In order to provide farmers with the resources and support needed to endure these tough economic conditions, National Farmers Union (NFU) and Farmers Union state divisions have compiled resources, organized listening sessions, and …
USDA Approves Modifications to Margin Protection Plan of Insurance for Crops
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Risk Management Agency this week announced greater crop insurance options for farmers against unexpected decreases in their operating margin. Offered through the federal crop insurance program, margin protection insurance for corn, wheat, rice and soybeans will be available in more states and have updates designed to better clarify the real input costs covered beginning in …