(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 …
USDA Announces Deadline to Submit Wildfire, Hurricane Disaster Assistance Applications
Final Opportunity for 2018 and 2019 Disaster Recovery Assistance (USDA/FSA) — The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced Friday, Oct. 30, 2020, as the deadline to submit applications for the Wildfire and Hurricane Indemnity Program – Plus (WHIP+) for 2018 and 2019 losses. USDA did not originally specify a deadline when the program was announced. “The physical and financial loss experienced …
Groups Request Hearing on Livestock Reporting Rule
The U.S. Cattlemen’s Association, the National Farmers Union, along with 11 other groups sent a letter to the Senate Ag Committee requesting a hearing on livestock mandatory price reporting reauthorization. The Livestock Mandatory Reporting Rule, first established in 1999, mandates price reporting for cattle, boxed beef, swine, and lamb. It’s reauthorized every five years, with the current program expiring on …
UF Surveys to Identify Impact of Pandemic on Florida’s Agriculture and Marine Industries
(UF/IFAS) — With agriculture and marine industries occupying a large portion of Florida’s economy, the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) wants to better understand how measures to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 are impacting these sectors. Starting today, faculty from the UF/IFAS Food and Resource Economics (FRE) department are deploying surveys to UF/IFAS Extension agents …
96,000 Visitors at the Sommet de l’Elevage 2019
The organisers of the Sommet de l’Elevage were smiling broadly on the final evening of the 28th edition of the show. “It was a great honour for us to welcome Emmanuel Macron, the French President to the exhibition,” declared Jacques Chazalet, president of the Sommet de l’Elevage. “His visit was not just a recognition for the show, but also for …
Equine Professionals at Sunbelt Ag Expo
The annual Sunbelt Ag Expo will take place next week in Moultrie, Georgia, and they are proud to host professionals from the equine industry. Becca Turner, vice president of marketing and public relations at Sunbelt Ag Expo, explains who will be on hand for this year’s show. The Sunbelt Ag Expo, October 15-17, opens each day at 8:30am and closes at 5:00pm …
Producers Invited to Attend Education Meetings
The University of Georgia Cooperative Extension agricultural economists and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) will jointly hold producer meetings throughout Georgia October 8-11. The meetings will address three major government support programs including disaster assistance, trade assistance and farm safety-net programs. Tyron Spearman has more details. Below are the meeting dates, times and locations: Oct. …
ADAI Works with ALDOT to Issue No-Cost Hay Hauler Permits
MONTGOMERY, AL (ADAI-Oct. 2, 2019) — As a result of the extreme drought conditions in Alabama, state transportation and agriculture officials are working to issue special hay hauler permits. This no-cost process is a combined effort of the Alabama Department of Agriculture & Industries (ADAI) and the Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT) to provide emergency relief to livestock producers. Drought …
Plan to Use Farm Bill Funding to Support Animal Disease Prevention and Management
(USDA/APHIS) — The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is announcing initial plans to carry out new animal health activities using resources provided by the 2018 Farm Bill. Section 12101 of the 2018 Farm Bill established a three-part program to comprehensively support animal disease prevention and management. The bill included funding to create two …
Commodity Commission Appointments Announced
ATLANTA (GDA) – Recently, the Georgia Agriculture Commodity Commissions ex officio committee confirmed appointments to several commodity commissions. The following appointments were made to serve three-year terms: Beef Commission John Callaway, Coweta County Ernie Ford, Calhoun County Allen Wiggins, Turner County Cotton Commission Steven Meeks, Wayne County Matt Coley, Dooly County Equine Commission Beth Williams, Oconee County Dr. Barbara Kelly, …