(FDACS) — For more than eight years, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) have been working cooperatively to eradicate the giant African land snail from Miami-Dade and Broward Counties. During that time, over 168,500 snails have been collected in 32 core areas of Miami-Dade County, and in one area of …
USDA Invites Input on EQIP Rule
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is seeking public comments on its interim rule for the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP). The rule, which is now available on the Federal Register, will take effect upon publication and includes changes to the program prescribed by the 2018 Farm Bill. In a release, NRCS Chief Matthew Lohr said “The …
Senate President Balks at Governor’s E-Verify Proposal
(NSF) — Gov. Ron DeSantis wants all Florida businesses to use a system to prevent undocumented immigrants from getting jobs in the state, but a powerful Republican leader is pushing back against the proposal. Senate President Bill Galvano said this week he does not support a measure that would force Florida’s private employers to use the federal government’s E-Verify system, …
USDA to Make Funding Available in 2020 to Deploy High-Speed Broadband Internet Infrastructure in Rural America
Announcement Made at Round One Investment in Iowa (USDA/RD) — U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue announced the availability of a second round of $550 million in United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Reconnect Pilot Program funding appropriated by Congress. The application window for this round of funding is set to open Jan. 31, 2020. Secretary Perdue made the announcement alongside Iowa …
USDA to Open Signup for Conservation Reserve Program December 9
(USDA/FSA) — Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue announced the U.S. Department of Agriculture is opening signup for the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) on December 9, 2019. The deadline for agricultural producers to sign up for general CRP is February 28, 2020, while signup for continuous CRP is ongoing. Farmers and ranchers who enroll in CRP receive a yearly rental payment for …
USDA Invests in Rural Broadband Infrastructure for Alabama Families
(USDA/RD) — U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Deputy Under Secretary for Rural Development Donald “DJ” LaVoy announced USDA has invested $62.3 million in high-speed broadband infrastructure that will create or improve e-Connectivity for more than 8,000 rural households, 57 farms, 44 businesses, 17 educational facilities, 14 critical community facilities and three health care facilities in rural Alabama. This is one …
November Ag Economy Barometer Released
(NAFB) — The Purdue/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer rose in November for the second month in a row, climbing to 153, 17 points higher than in October when the index stood at 136. This month’s rise in the ag economy sentiment index left the barometer tied with July for the highest reading of 2019. Once again, the rise was driven …
Home Gardeners Continue to Seek Advice on EDIS
(UF/IFAS) — Only one new title joined this year’s top-10 UF/IFAS Extension EDIS publications, and like five others making the list, it appeals to horticulture interests. In all, the Electronic Data Information Source saw 4.6 million visits and more than 18 million pageviews this year. Here are 2019’s 10 most-visited EDIS publications: The “Florida Vegetable Gardening Guide” is a perennial …
24 Georgia Counties Designated as Primary Natural Disaster Areas
Emergency Support to Producers in Surrounding Counties/Border States Also Available (USDA/FSA) — Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue designated 24 Georgia counties as primary natural disaster areas. Producers who suffered losses due to recent drought may be eligible for U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) emergency loans. The Georgia counties with the primary natural disaster designation include Banks, Bartow, Carroll, …
13 Georgia Counties Designated as Primary Natural Disaster Areas
Emergency Support to Producers in Surrounding Counties/Border States Also Available (USDA/FSA) — Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue designated 13 Georgia counties as primary natural disaster areas. Producers in Barrow, Clarke, Dade, Greene, Hancock, Morgan, Oconee, Oglethorpe, Putnam, Taliaferro, Walker, Walton, and Warren, who suffered losses due to recent drought may be eligible for U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency …