“Stewardship – Catch the Wave” is the theme of the Eighth National Grazing Lands Conference (8NGLC) and you are invited to participate in the conference hosted by the National Grazing Lands Coalition (NatGLC) and other sponsoring organizations. The conference provides an open discussion and exchange of information, technology transfer, identification of research and program needs, marketing of products, services, and other …
Agriculture Included in New COVID-19 Relief Package
The $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief package, known as “The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021” is now official as President Biden signed the bill late last week. We’ve all heard how the package will include $1,400 stimulus checks for qualifying individuals, extends unemployment benefits, and more. But it also increases assistance through USDA’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). And according …
USDA Delays Signup for CRP Grasslands
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced they are postponing the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) Grasslands signup. While the original date to start this signup was mid-March, USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) will announce new signup dates in the coming weeks. The Biden Administration is currently evaluating the program and looking at ways to increase enrollment. CRP Grasslands was …
Native Legume for Improving Pastures in the Southern U.S.
Legumes are plants within the bean family capable of fixing nitrogen. Legumes can enhance conservation tillage systems, improve soil quality, reduce nitrogen requirements on row crops and pasture lands, enhance wildlife habitat, enhance pasture and hay land quality, and reduce soil erosion in cropland and critical areas. Warm and cool-season legume species produce high-quality forage and seed throughout the year …
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 …
Changes Made to SE Hay Contest
It was announced last month that the 2020 Sunbelt Ag Expo in Moultrie, Georgia will not be held this year due to the COVID-19 Pandemic. Every year during that event, winners of the Southeast Hay Contest are announced. Organizers of that event had to make a few changes. According to Marcelo Wallau, Forage Extension Specialist with the University of Florida, …
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 …
Results of the 2019 Southeastern Hay Contest
(Sunbelt Ag Expo-October 15, 2019) — The 2019 Southeastern Hay Contest (SEHC) presented by Massey Ferguson celebrates its 15th edition with a record of 380 entries vying for the top spot. Since 2004, the SEHC, a partnership between Auburn University, Clemson University, The University of Florida and The University of Georgia has been a key tool for promoting hay quality …
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. …