(NSF) – The six-month hurricane season officially begins June 1st, as the Florida Division of Emergency Management surpasses 450 days responding to the COVID-19 pandemic. The hurricane season is projected to be above average for storms and got off to an early start as Tropical Storm Ana has already formed and dissipated. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration last week …
Latest U.S. Drought Monitor Update
Except for a small part of South Florida and portions of South Carolina and North Carolina, the Southeast has sufficient moisture, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. Georgia and Alabama received enough rainfall this past week to where there are no parts of either state that are abnormally dry. The only part of Florida that is abnormally dry is the …
NPPC Highlights Efficiency Gains, Reduced GHG Footprint in USDA Climate Comments
In comments submitted last week to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) highlighted the efficiency gains made by U.S. pork producers that has brought about significant greenhouse gas reductions and made the sector a global model for environmental sustainability. NPPC wrote, “As it considers federal environmental policies, it is critical that USDA recognize the …
Commissioner Nikki Fried & FDACS Submit Public Comment on USDA Climate-Smart Agriculture Strategy
Tallahassee, Fla. – Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried and the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services submitted formal public comment on the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s implementation of the President’s Executive Order on Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad. As part of the Executive Order, the USDA was directed to collect stakeholder input on a climate-smart agriculture and forestry strategy. Commissioner Fried …
Georgia Awarded RCPP Projects to Help Mitigate Climate Change and Protect Natural Resources
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced the investment into two projects in Georgia designed to help mitigate climate change and protect natural resources. In all, USDA is investing $330 million in 85 locally driven, public-private partnerships across the nation to address climate change, improve the nation’s water quality, combat drought, enhance soil health, support wildlife habitat and protect …
Weather Forecast? Ag Climatologist Hopeful No Drought This Growing Season
What was supposed to be wasn’t with the La Nina weather pattern this winter. Expected warm and dry conditions gave way to cool and wet conditions that lasted through February. Persistent rains this winter provides hope for farmers that they will avoid a drought during the growing season, says Pam Knox, University of Georgia Extension Agricultural Climatologist. “(South Georgia) hasn’t …
More Storms in ‘Average’ Hurricane Season
The U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) will issue its initial seasonal outlook for the 2021 hurricane season in late May. The Atlantic hurricane season officially runs from June 1 through Nov. 30. Beginning with this year’s hurricane season outlooks, NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center (CPC) will use 1991-2020 as the new 30-year period of record. The updated averages for …
U.S. Drought Monitor: Tale of Two Regions
The Western U.S., in the latest Drought Monitor released Thursday, shows much of the region in drought categories, with several areas classified in extreme or exceptional drought, the two most severe categories. Comparatively, the Eastern U.S. is mostly drought-free from the Eastern seaboard to the Central Plains. Drawing a line from the eastern border of Texas to the North is …
Tornado Touchdowns in the Southeast
Preliminary estimates have one dozen tornadoes and a half-dozen fatalities resulting from tornado activity across parts of the Southeast Thursday. Rod Bain has more details. USDA meteorologist Brad Rippey talks about a series of tornadic events that have taken place just in the month of March. Sponsored ContentFlorida Cattle Enhancement Board Provides Significant Support For ResearchDecember 19, 2025Florida Cattle Enhancement …
No Reports of Major Storm Damage to Alabama Agriculture
Areas across the Southeast suffered from severe storms this week, including parts of Alabama. Several confirmed tornadoes caused damage to homes, power lines, and trees. But Alabama Commissioner of Agriculture Rick Pate told Southeast AgNet the Alabama Department of Agriculture & Industries (ADAI) had not received any reports of major damage to farms in the state. Pate noted major crops in the …