The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) today announced $4.2 million in available funding to help eligible veterinarians repay a portion of their veterinary school loans in return for serving in areas of the United States lacking sufficient veterinary resources. Funding is made through NIFA’s Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program (VMLRP), authorized by the …
Long Awaited International Seed Standard is Good News for U.S. Seed Industry
The American Seed Trade Association (ASTA) is praising the passage of a final International Standard for Phytosanitary Measures (ISPM) for Seed. The standard was agreed to yesterday during the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) in Korea. ASTA has been advocating for a seed ISPM for nearly 20 years. The need for a standard has become more apparent, as many National …
Drone Operators on Farms Asked to be Extra Cautious
The National Agricultural Aviation Association wants to remind farmers using drones on their operations this year to remember to keep an eye out for agricultural aircraft flying low over their fields. Agricultural aviators often fly as low as ten feet off the ground, and this year may find themselves in the same airspace as drones that are licensed to fly …
Ag Groups Oppose Air Traffic Control Privatization
The Ag Retailers Association, the National Farmers Union, and a host of other groups sent a letter to Congress opposing the possible privatization of the nation’s air traffic control system. The groups say a proposal to privatize the national air traffic system is being pushed by many of the bigger airlines. The idea would take air traffic control out from …
Six Biotech Giants Dropping to Three by Year’s End
Politico’s Morning Agriculture Report says the European Union’s approval of the ChemChina merger with Syngenta means the ball is likely rolling for the six biggest biotech companies to be whittled down to three by the end of this year. A day before the E.U. approved the deal, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission also okayed the deal as long as certain …
Canada Trade Policies Hurting Rural America
A number of U.S. dairy organizations are asking the Trump Administration to take steps against Canadian trade policies they’re calling “protectionist.” They say Canada is shutting the door on American dairy exports in violation of trade agreements between the two countries. The National Milk Producers Federation, the U.S. Dairy Export Council, and the International Dairy Foods Association want the president …
House Still Not Buying Negron Water Plan
by Jim Turner, News Service of Florida Revamped plans for a deep-water reservoir south of Lake Okeechobee, a priority of the Senate president, have improved the proposal in the eyes of House Speaker Richard Corcoran. But the House still isn’t ready to sign on to Senate President Joe Negron’s proposal, which is designed to reduce polluted water discharges from the …
USDA Offers Renewal Options for Expiring CSP Contracts
USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) has announced that a contract renewal sign-up is underway for the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP). Participants with existing CSP contracts that expire on December 31 can renew their contracts for an additional five years but, but applications are due by May 5. Sponsored ContentStrong Relationship Exists Between the Florida Cattle Enhancement Board and UF-IFASApril …
Bumblebees Boost Blueberry Yield
by Brad Buck, University of Florida/IFAS Bumblebees can boost blueberry yield by 70 percent, good news for Florida growers in the heart of their blueberry season, a University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences study shows. The news also accentuates the need for blueberry pollinators, said Joshua Campbell, a post-doctoral researcher in the UF/IFAS entomology and nematology department. …
Organizations Urge Appropriators to Protect Conservation Funding
More than 220 agriculture, wildlife, and conservation organizations from across the country sent a letter urging the House and Senate Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittees to protect farm bill conservation funding in fiscal year (FY) 2018. The groups, which included the National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD), the National Wildlife Federation (NWF), National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition (NSAC), and the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation …