The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced two weeks ago their intent to repeal and rewrite the definition of the Trump-era Navigable Waters Protection Rule (NWPR), which of course replaced the Obama-era Waters of the U.S. (WOTUS) rule. A review of the rule, requested by President Joe Biden, claims stakeholders are seeing destructive impacts to critical water bodies. Various farm groups …
New USDA Grants to Benefit Meat and Poultry Inspection Operations
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced $55.2 million in competitive funding will be available through the new Meat and Poultry Inspection Readiness Grant (MPIRG) program. The new program is being funded through the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021. “We are building capacity and increasing economic opportunity for small and midsized meat and poultry processors and producers across the …
Florida Beef Council Chairman Promotes Checkoff
When it comes to the Beef Checkoff program, some producers may not be up to date on what it has done over the past few years and what it continues to do today. Florida Beef Council (FBC) Chairman Flint Johns, explains what the overall program is about and what it is doing in the state of Florida. For more information …
Florida DEP Provides Update to Cattlemen
One of the speakers during last week’s Florida Cattlemen’s Association Convention held at Marco Island was Adam Blalock, deputy secretary of ecosystems restoration for the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). Blalock gave producers an update on BMP’s, and also provided information about funding that was earmarked during the recent Florida Legislative Session for environmental programs. Southeast AgNet’s Randall Weiseman talked …
Alabama Cattlemen’s Association Kicks off Regional Cookouts
In an effort to see members across the state, the Alabama Cattlemen’s Association (ACA) has kicked off their Regional Cookouts. The first one was held on June 10th in Atmore and ACA Executive Vice President Erin Beasley says it was nicely attended. For more information about the remaining four ACA Regional Cookouts, go to their website, bamabeef.org. Sponsored ContentFlorida Cattle Enhancement Board …
Research Supports Dairy’s Net Zero Initiative with $10 Million Grant
The Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research recently awarded a $10 million grant supporting U.S. dairy’s Net Zero Initiative. Announced last Thursday, the funding will support a six-year project titled “Dairy Soil and Water Regeneration.” The project focuses on building soil health to reduce greenhouse gases and improving water quality, along with enabling new economic benefits. The research will provide …
Livestock Market Report Week Ending 6-18-2021
Here are the weekly livestock market reports for Alabama, Florida, and Georgia, for the week ended June 18, 2021, compiled by the Livestock Market News Service for all three states. AL Livestock Market Report: At Alabama Livestock Auctions for the week ending June 18, 2021, receipts at 21 markets totaled an estimated 12,800 head compared to 11,984 last week and …
Vilsack Weighs in on PSA Investigator Bill
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack weighed in this week on a bill to create a Packers and Stockyards Act (PSA) investigator at USDA to boost price discovery and transparency in the highly concentrated livestock sector. He says a Packers and Stockyards Act investigator could be part of broader USDA action to deal with unfair market practices harming small independent producers. “I …
Senate Ag Scheduled Hearing on Cattle Markets
Senate Agriculture Committee Chair Debbie Stabenow Thursday announced a hearing titled “Examining Markets, Transparency, and Prices from Cattle Producer to Consumer.” The Michigan Democrat, along with the committee’s ranking Republican John Boozman of Arkansas, scheduled the hearing for the afternoon of Wednesday, June 23. Cattle market transparency is a priority for cattle producers as disruptions in the market, along with …
NCBA President Discusses “Product of the USA” at FCA Convention
The 2021 Florida Cattlemen’s Association Convention has been taking place this week in Marco Island, Florida and one person attending is National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) President, Jerry Bohn. NCBA recently filed a petition with the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) to eliminate the use of “Product of the USA” (POTUSA) and other broad U.S. origin labeling claims for beef products that are …