Statement Regarding Seed Coat Fragments in Cotton Produced in the Southeast

Dan Cotton, Georgia, Industry News Release, USDA-APHIS

(USDA/AMS) — U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue has directed the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) to collaborate with the Georgia Department of Agriculture to raise awareness and further examine the significant increase in seed coat fragments in cotton produced in the southeast region. Thus far in the 2020 cotton season, the AMS Macon, GA Classing …

USDA Provides Funds to Florida to Support Projects that Protect Agriculture and Natural Resources

Dan Environment, Industry News Release, USDA-APHIS

(USDA/APHIS) — The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is allocating $3.7 million to Florida as part of its effort to strengthen the nation’s infrastructure for pest detection and surveillance, identification, and threat mitigation, and to safeguard the U.S. nursery production system. Overall, USDA is providing more than $70 million in funding this year to support 383 projects in 49 states, …

AgDiscovery Summer Student Program Now Accepting Applications

Dan Education, Industry News Release, USDA-APHIS

(USDA/APHIS) — AgDiscovery is a national summer outreach program designed to introduce students in grades 7-12 to the exciting world of agricultural sciences. The program is a unique opportunity for students to gain a first-hand view of many fascinating career paths available in the agricultural sciences field, including plant and animal health, wildlife management, biotechnology, environmental science, forestry, entomology, food …

Confirmation of COVID-19 in Snow Leopard at a Kentucky Zoo

Dan Beef, Cattle, Dairy, Equine, Industry News Release, Livestock, Pork, Poultry, Sheep-Goats, USDA-APHIS

(USDA/APHIS) — The United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Veterinary Services Laboratories (NVSL) announced the first confirmed case of SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19) infection in a snow leopard at the Louisville Zoo in Kentucky. This is the first snow leopard in the United States to test positive for SARS-CoV-2.  Confirmatory testing is ongoing for two other snow …