The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service in Alabama (NRCS-AL) is encouraging agricultural producers and forest landowners in the state to participate in voluntary conservation programs and adopt climate-smart practices in fiscal year 2024. This includes the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) and Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP), which help a wide variety of producers, including urban and organic producers. Alabama State Conservationist Ben Malone …
FFA, 4-H Members Admitted Free to NCBA Trade Show
The next generation of agricultural leaders are invited to attend the NCBA Trade Show at CattleCon24 for free on Friday, February 2 in Orlando, Florida. FFA and 4-H members can get that free admission on Next Gen Ag FFA & 4-H Day, which will include a variety of events and activities for youth and families. Courtesy of Culver’s, the first …
Cost of Thanksgiving Dinner Down Slightly from Record High in 2022
(AFBF/WASHINGTON/November 15, 2023) — Gathering around the table for a Thanksgiving dinner won’t take as much of a toll on your pocketbook this year compared to 2022, but the meal still reflects historically high costs. The American Farm Bureau Federation’s (AFBF) 38th annual survey provides a snapshot of the average cost of this year’s classic holiday feast for 10, which …
A Friendly Reminder from the Florida Beef Council
If you owned cattle in 2023, chances are you will soon receive a letter from the Florida Beef Council (FBC) that beef checkoff assessments are due by the end of the year for any cattle you sold this year. FBC Director of Education & Promotion, DeAnne Maples, has this friendly reminder for producers across the state. For more information, contact the Florida Beef Council in Kissimmee at …
Alabama Cattlemen’s Association to Hold Fall Board Meeting
The Alabama Cattlemen’s Association (ACA) will hold their fall quarterly board meeting on Thursday, November 16th at the ACA office in Montgomery. ACA Executive Vice President, Erin Beasley says they will be working on some association business, which includes the 2024 budgets. Sponsored ContentCIR Agriculture Harvester ProductsNovember 8, 2025Florida Cattle Enhancement Board Plays Critical Role To Extend ResearchNovember 7, 2025Florida Cattle Enhancement …
Concerns Raised Over EPA’s Proposed Wastewater Regulation
Many in the livestock industry are very concerned about a proposed wastewater regulation from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) concerning wastewater from meat and poultry processing facilities. It is expected to require meatpackers and processors to install millions of dollars of upgrades to their wastewater management systems. So, the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) Chief Legal Strategist, Michael Formica, along with representatives from the U.S. Poultry …
Cattle Group Commends New Competition Initiative
The USDA released a package of rules and orders seeking to increase competition in the livestock industry. That package establishes a Chief Competition Officer at USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS). This position will be hired as a career rather than a political appointment. The officer will help elevate and institutionalize competition-related concerns at USDA. After that announcement, U.S. Cattlemen’s Association …
USMEF Held Strategic Planning Conference in New Orleans
Last week, the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) held its Strategic Planning Conference in New Orleans, where a range of topics impacting global demand for U.S. pork, beef and lamb were covered. USMEF Chair Dean Meyer, a livestock and grain producer from Rock Rapids, Iowa, welcomed attendees with a reminder of how the organization brings together diverse sectors of agriculture to work …
NCBA Opposes Beef Imports from Paraguay
The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) opposes the USDA’s decision to allow Paraguayan beef imports starting next month. NCBA has repeatedly raised concerns with USDA over Paraguay’s history of foot-and-mouth disease and the outdated information used to justify Paraguay’s access to the U.S. market. NCBA is concerned that USDA’s failure to use information from recent site visits in the risk …
September Pork Exports Fairly Steady; Beef Exports Trend Lower
According to new data released by USDA and compiled by the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF), September exports of U.S. pork were down slightly from a year ago but did maintain a robust pace. On the other hand, beef exports continued to struggle compared to last year’s record totals but showed increasing strength in the Western Hemisphere markets. Pork exports totaled 221,140 metric …