New H-2A Labor Wages Effective Dec. 29

A recent issue of the Florida Citrus Mutual Triangle newsletter provided information about the wage that growers must pay H-2A labor, effective Dec. 29. H-2A workers are foreign agricultural workers who are allowed to work in the United States temporarily. In recent years, the vast majority of Florida citrus has been harvested by H-2A workers. The Employment and Training Administration …

Port Problems Plague Producers

The ongoing supply-chain crisis is a big headache to businesses and consumers alike, with no end in sight for the immediate future. Perishable products are particularly at risk, as even a week or two delay can affect product quality. The port delays that caused the supply-chain crisis began on the West Coast with labor shortages due to the pandemic. These …

Challenges When Caring for Livestock in the Winter Time

How to care for Livestock in the winter time.  That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. Winter can present challenges when caring for livestock, when it comes to protection, food, and care. Starting with their water source, you’ll need to regulate water temperatures to avoid freezing. Also, monitor the quality of the water. Is it muddy, dirty, or contaminated? …

APHIS Proposes Amendments to Import Regulations for Horses

The Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA/APHIS) seeks public comments on proposed amendments to its import regulations for horses. The proposed amendments would better align regulations with international standards, according to USDA. The proposal also allows both APHIS and the equine industry more flexibility for permitted imports, while continuing to mitigate the risk of bringing contagious …

National Grazing Lands Conference Starts Saturday

The National Grazing Lands Coalition will hold its 8th National Grazing Lands Conference (8NGLC) at the Embassy Suites Kingston Resorts in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, Dec. 6-9, 2021. More than 500 ranchers, professors, land managers, researchers, public officials, conservationists, and students are expected to attend the conference. They will exchange ideas and information on the latest grazing land issues. Attendees will …

Vilsack and Tai to Meet with USDA Ag Policy Committee

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai will meet with the Agricultural Policy Advisory Committee Friday. Topics include current and new trade deals, trade agreement implementation and concerns within the agreements. The committee, managed by the Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Trade Representative’s office, offers advice on U.S. trade policy. The committee consists of six technical …

Deadline Nearing to Apply for ADAI Relief Program

Back in April, the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries (ADAI) announced they were administering the Alabama Agriculture Relief Program (AARP) to provide USDA relief funds to farmers who suffered losses due to Hurricane Michael in 2018. While the original deadline to apply was June 25th, they want to remind those who experienced necessary expenses related to losses of beef …

NIFA Invests $14 Million in Animal Health and Disease Research

The Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) announced an investment of $14 million in research to protect agricultural animals from disease. The grants are part of NIFA’s Agriculture and Food Research Initiative’s Diseases of Agricultural Animals program area priority. NIFA director Carrie Castille says, “This research will help better understand, diagnose, control and prevent diseases in …

Supreme Court Rejects Petition against California Prop 12

The U.S. Supreme Court Monday denied a petition to review California’s Proposition 12. The denial was included in a batch of announcements by the Supreme Court. Earlier this month, the North American Meat Institute supported its petition, stating the law “provides no benefit to consumers and increases breeding sow mortality.” The Meat Institute file the petition in February, challenging the …