From the Produce Marketing Association: Washington, D.C. —Produce Marketing Association (PMA) and United Fresh Produce Association (United Fresh) are collaborating to address produce-specific challenges surrounding Listeria monocytogenes (Lm). While both organizations have been actively working with their respective members on individual projects related to reducing the risk of produce-associated foodborne illnesses from Lm, additional areas exist where a joint effort …
Alabama Fall Crop Outlook
From the Alabama Cooperative Extension System: AUBURN, Ala.—Farming is not for the faint of heart. Many are the varying factors that play a part in good growing seasons and high yields. Producers deal with pest pressures, weed issues, too much—or not enough—rainfall and a plethora of variables on a daily basis during the growing season. There are a number of …
NCC Cites Need for Broad Examination of Global Fiber Markets
From the National Cotton Council: MEMPHIS, Tenn. – National Cotton Council President/CEO Dr. Gary Adams says, “The U.S. decision to pursue a challenge against Chinese agricultural subsidies for grain crops reflects a growing desire in the United States and abroad to address more effectively the range of policies in major developing countries that affect agricultural markets.” He further noted that …
Georgia Peanut Tour Kicks Off this Week
From the Georgia Peanut Commission: The 30th Annual Georgia Peanut Tour has officially kicked off this week in the Tifton, Georgia area. We are excited to have nearly 200 individuals attending the tour this year as we travel to visit various sites to learn more about the effort, care and even passion invested in producing the finest peanut crop in …
RCPP Offers Opportunities in Alabama
The Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP), through USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service in Alabama, promotes coordination between NRCS and its partners to deliver conservation assistance to producers and landowners. NRCS provides assistance to producers through partnership agreements and through program contracts or easement agreements. Steve Musser, assistant state conservationist for programs with Alabama NRCS, encourages folks to learn more about …
Reminder for Florida Landowners about EQIP Signup
USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service in Florida wants to remind landowners that the signup for 2017 funding through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) continues. But Darryl Williams, district conservationist in the Okaloosa County NRCS office, says the deadline is October 21st for those who are eligible. Download Audio Sponsored ContentFlorida Cattle Enhancement Board Offers Unique Opportunity For Applied ResearchOctober …
Challenges to New Water Standards Tossed Out
FROM THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA By JIM SAUNDERS THE CAPITAL, TALLAHASSEE, September 14, 2016………. Siding with the Department of Environmental Protection on procedural grounds, an administrative law judge has rejected a series of challenges to controversial new state water-quality standards. Judge Bram D.E. Canter on Tuesday issued an 11-page ruling that dismissed the challenges filed last month by the …
House Agriculture Committee Advances Three Bills
From the House Committee on Agriculture: Today, the House Agriculture Committee approved H.R. 470, the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest Land Adjustment Act; H.R. 5883, legislation to amend the Packers and Stockyards Act; and H.R. 845, the National Forest System Trails Stewardship Act. “Thank you to my colleagues for advancing these three bipartisan bills. These individual pieces of legislation help prioritize federal …
University of Florida/IFAS Earned Record $140 Million for Research
From the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences: By: Brad Buck GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences tackled many issues, including battling citrus greening, developing improved turfgrass and crops as well as combatting agricultural pests with a record $140 million in the 2015-2016 fiscal year, an 11 percent increase over …
Citrus Land Drop-off Continues across Florida
FROM THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA By JIM TURNER THE CAPITAL, TALLAHASSEE, September 13, 2016……….Coming off their worst harvest in five decades, citrus growers in Florida have fewer acres to work with, as they struggle to maintain the state’s signature crop against an incurable bacterial disease. The citrus industry lost 4 percent of its grove land, 21,275 acres, over the …