The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) wants to remind farmers and ranchers that next Tuesday, Dec. 13, is the deadline to submit ballots for the 2016 County Committee Elections. Producers must participate or cooperate in an FSA program to be eligible to vote in the County Committee election. FSA Administrator Val Dolcini says after the ballots have all been counted, …
Discussions on Tightening Estate Tax Rules
The Obama Administration is racing to finalize as many new rules and regulations as it can before January 20th. But one of those that could hang over into the new administration would tighten estate tax rules. The American Farm Bureau Federation, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, and other farm groups argue the Internal Revenue Service proposal would end or reduce discounts …
Dairy Groups Send Letter to Trump Detailing Importance of Dairy Trade
The National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) and the U.S. Dairy Export Council (USDEC) sent a joint letter this week to President-elect Donald Trump outlining the importance of exports to the U.S. dairy sector and seeking further dialogue on ways the organizations can work with the incoming administration on trade policy. NMPF and USDEC said in their letter that expanded agricultural …
Poultry Industry Fears RFS Increase Will Alter Grain Prices
The U.S. poultry industry is concerned the Renewable Fuel Standard targets for 2017 and 2018 will increase feed prices for poultry farmers. Set by the Environmental Protection Agency, the RFS target for ethanol for 2017 was placed at the statute level of 15 billion gallons. The agency set total biofuel levels – including corn-generated ethanol and biodiesel – at Sponsored …
Continuing Resolution Includes FSA Loan Funding
A continuing resolution budget bill to keep the U.S. government funded through April includes language to provide the Department of Agriculture money for farm loans and summer feeding programs. The Further Continuing and Security Assistance Appropriations Act, which covers Sponsored ContentFlorida Cattle Enhancement Board Awarded Researcher Discusses New World Screwworm OverviewJune 19, 2026Verdant Robotics Offers Growers Targeted Application of Herbicides …
Trump Picks Oklahoma’s Pruitt to Lead EPA
President-elect Donald Trump has chosen Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt as his Environmental Protection Agency Administrator. Pruitt has spent much of his energy as attorney general fighting the agency he is being nominated to lead, according to the Washington Post. He is suing the EPA over climate change rules and is vastly opposed to the Waters of the U.S. rule, …
Eufaula Couple Named 2017 Alabama NRCS Small Farmers of the Year
This week, USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Alabama announced that Russell and Jewel Bean of Eufaula, Alabama have been named the Alabama NRCS 2017 Small Farmers of the Year. Download Audio Sponsored ContentFlorida Cattle Enhancement Board Awarded Researcher Discusses New World Screwworm OverviewJune 19, 2026Verdant Robotics Offers Growers Targeted Application of Herbicides or Beneficials through SharpShooter™June 16, 2026Florida …
Producers Encouraged to Attend Cattle Industry Convention
Leading authorities in the cattle industry will be sharing their experience and knowledge in Nashville, Tenn. during the 2017 Cattle Industry Convention and NCBA Trade Show February 1-3. National Cattlemen’s Beef Association’s Executive Director of Producer Education, Josh White encourages Southeast ranchers and producers to attend. Download Audio Sponsored ContentFlorida Cattle Enhancement Board Awarded Researcher Discusses New World Screwworm OverviewJune …
Factors behind Decade-Long Dairy Export Growth
We told you yesterday that the U.S. Department of Agriculture is expecting exports to grow larger by $1 billion in 2017 with dairy exports taking up a big chunk of that growth. American dairy exports actually quadrupled from 2004 to 2014, and USDA economists have been looking into what caused that significant growth. Rod Bain has the story. Download Audio …
Alabama’s Largest Farm Organization Elects Officers, Directors
From the Alabama Farmers Federation: Jimmy Parnell of Stanton in Chilton County was re-elected to a third two-year term as president of Alabama’s largest farm organization during the Alabama Farmers Federation’s 95th annual meeting in Montgomery this week. Five hundred delegates from all 67 counties voted in the business session. Sponsored ContentFlorida Cattle Enhancement Board Awarded Researcher Discusses New World …