Backyard Chicken Coop Considerations

Continuing her series on raising backyard chickens, Cathy Isom gives you some important things to consider for your backyard chicken coop. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. Backyard Chicken Coop Considerations For anyone who decided to take the plunge and bring home those cute baby chicks, after about six weeks you’ll need housing for them that’s a little …

Analyst: Labor Shortages and Volatile Feed Prices Ahead for Meat Industry

A Rabobank analyst says the U.S. could be on the tail end of the second longest expansion of its economy in history. Rabobank Analyst Don Close told the North American Meat Institute this week there are implications for the meat industry, including a pending labor shortage and possible volatile commodity prices ahead, according to meat industry publication Meatingplace. Close warns …

If It’s Meat, It’s USDA’s Responsibility to Make Sure It’s Safe

If a food product is labeled “meat,” Ag Secretary Sonny Perdue says it is USDA’s responsibility to ensure its safety for consumers. Stephanie Ho has the story. If It’s Meat, Its USDA’s Responsibility Sponsored ContentCIR Agriculture Harvester ProductsJuly 1, 2026FL Cattle Enhancement Board Wraps up Funding YearJune 30, 2026Florida Cattle Enhancement Board Awarded Researcher Discusses New World Screwworm OverviewJune 19, …

USDA Seeks Feedback from Growers about 2018 Crops, Stocks, Livestock Inventories and Values

During the next several weeks, U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) will conduct two major mid-year surveys, the June Agricultural Survey and the June Area Survey. The agency will contact nearly 700 producers across Florida to determine crop acreage and stock levels as of June 1, 2018. “Two of the most important and well-known surveys NASS …

Raising Chicks to Backyard Chickens

You are thinking about raising your own chickens for eggs and meat. Cathy Isom has some tips for raising chicks to backyard chickens. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. Raising Chicks to Backyard Chickens If this is your year to try your hand at raising chicks into backyard chickens, here are some tips to help you get started. …

FMD Vaccine Development A Restrictive Process

Last week, Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue authorized the movement of a live, non-infectious, genetically modified strain of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) virus to the mainland U.S. for continued vaccine research and development. But according to a story from Rod Bain, this approval comes with restrictions to assure safety. FMD Vaccine Development A Restrictive Process But according to a story …

Livestock, Milk Production and Income-Southern Region

Cash Receipts for Meat Animals Up/Milk Production Increased Total 2017 production of meat animals (cattle and calves and hogs and pigs) for the United States totaled 81.7 billion pounds, up 4 percent from 2016. Production increased 4 percent for cattle and calves and 3 percent for hogs and pigs. Total 2017 cash receipts from marketings of meat animals increased 7 percent to …

Perdue To Allow Modified FMD Virus Onto US Mainland

Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue has authorized the movement of a modified, non-infectious version of the Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) virus from the Plum Island Animal Disease Center to the U.S. mainland for the purposes of continued vaccine development and study.   While modified FMD virus is unable to cause disease and presents no risk of transmitting the disease, it …