Florida Agriculture Officials Address USDA New World Screwworm Detection The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services has issued a statement in response to a USDA report involving a New World Screwworm detection at a USDA import facility in south Florida. State officials emphasized that there is no detection of New World Screwworm in any Florida animals and that existing …
American Agriculture History Minute: Originators of the National Western Stock Show
I’m Mark Oppold with an American Agriculture History Minute. In 1906, Elias Ammons was president of the Colorado Cattle and Horse Growers Association, later served as governor of Colorado. George Ballantyne was general manager of the Denver Union Stockyard Company, and Fred Johnson was publisher of the record Stockman. These three men in 1906 put together what would become the …
American Agriculture History Minute: National Western Stock Show Beginning
I’m Mark Oppold with an American Agriculture History Minute. The National Western Stock Show in Denver began in 1906. The horse show now among the largest in the world, more than 18,000 entries. National Western Rodeo, considered one of the largest indoor rodeos and has won honors from the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association and additionally Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame …
Alabama Equine Owners Encouraged To Vaccinate Their Horses
The Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries Commissioner Rick Pate and State Veterinarian Dr. Tony Frazier are encouraging horse owners to vaccinate for Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) and West Nile Virus (WNV). EEE is a mosquito-transmitted disease that is more severe than West Nile Virus with a mortality rate of nearly 90%. West Nile Virus is a significant threat to …
Kentucky Derby Shines a Light on the Equine Industry
The annual Kentucky Derby will take place this Saturday. As Mark Oppold reports, this event helps shine a light on the equine industry in our country and its importance to agriculture. Sponsored ContentFlorida Cattle Enhancement Board Allows Viable Research in the Cattle IndustryFebruary 6, 2026Florida Cattle Enhancement Board Track Record Well Received By LegislatorsJanuary 30, 2026Florida Cattle Enhancement Board Supports Beef …
American Agriculture History Minute: Draft Horses Imported for Farm Work
I’m Mark Oppold with an American Agriculture History Minute. Horses and oxen provided a lot of the power on American farms until the mid -1800s. Oxen were too slow to pull some of the new machinery. Producers were using in the 1850s and 1860s. Most of the horses were fast enough, but they tired quickly. Powerful animals like the draft …
Livestock Shelters Open in Alabama in Preparation for Tropical Storm Helene
(ADAI/MONTGOMERY, AL/Sept. 24, 2024) — In response to Tropical Storm Helene, forecasted to intensify into a major hurricane, the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries (ADAI) has been in contact with our partners to provide temporary sheltering facilities for evacuated livestock including horses and cattle. Animals moving in response to Tropical Storm Helene will be exempt from a certificate of …
USDA Assists Farmers, Ranchers, and Communities Affected by Hurricane Debby
(USDA/WASHINGTON, August 7, 2024)Â — Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has directed the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to aid recovery efforts for farmers, ranchers and residents affected by Hurricane Debby, which continues its track up the East Coast. USDA staff in offices across the country are ready to respond with a variety of program flexibilities and other assistance to producers and …
ADAI Confirms Two Positive Cases of Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) in Horses in Alabama
(ADAI/MONTGOMERY, AL)Â — The Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries (ADAI) confirms two positive cases of Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) detected in horses in Covington and Mobile counties. EEE is a mosquito-transmitted disease that is more severe than West Nile Virus (WNV). The mortality rate in horses from WNV is reported at around 30 percent, while the rate for EEE is …
Nation Watches Anti-Ag Activists in CA
A California farmers’ alliance is asking for help from farmers around the nation in battling animal rights activists. “They are not wrong to be concerned, depending on what happens here. We feel very confidently that this is a steppingstone, that they are seeking out to throw something against the wall and see what sticks. Because if they can make it …









