Emergency Support to Producers in Surrounding Counties/Border States Also Available (USDA/FSA) — Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue designated four Florida counties as primary natural disaster areas. Producers who suffered losses due to recent weather events may be eligible for U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) emergency loans. These natural disaster designations allow FSA to extend much-needed emergency credit to …
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, …
Organic Program One of Many Excellent Choices for Producers
The House Agriculture Committee’s Biotechnology, Horticulture, and Research Subcommittee held a hearing to review the state of Organic Agriculture from the perspective of producers. After the hearing, Subcommittee Ranking Member Neal Dunn (FL-2) and Committee Ranking Member K. Michael Conaway (TX-11) released the following remarks: “At today’s hearing, we heard directly from farmers who have chosen to use the organic …
USDA Establishes Domestic Hemp Production Program
(USDA) – U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue announced the establishment of the U.S. Domestic Hemp Production Program. This program, as required by the 2018 farm bill, creates a consistent regulatory framework around hemp production throughout the United States. “At USDA, we are always excited when there are new economic opportunities for our farmers, and we hope the ability to …
Florida NRCS to Hold Natural Resource Meeting
USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Florida has announced this meeting is postponed. A rescheduled date will be announced soon, but the State Technical Committee will not be held on November 19th. We will announce the new date once it has been set. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Florida will conduct a State Technical Committee meeting on Nov. …
Georgia’s ‘Yield Behind the Wheel’
During the Sunbelt Ag Expo, Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Gary Black joined others to discuss the risks farmers face when moving equipment and transporting crops and livestock on Georgia roads. During an interview with Southeast AgNet’s Randall Weiseman, Commissioner Black urged all drivers in rural areas to slow down when approaching farm vehicles in the road and only pass when it’s safe …
USDA Invests in Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Improvements in 31 States
Investments will Benefit Nearly 300,000 Rural Residents WASHINGTON (USDA-Oct. 16, 2019) — U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Deputy Under Secretary for Rural Development Donald “DJ” LaVoy announced that USDA is investing $201 million to improve rural water infrastructure in 31 states (PDF). “Modern, reliable and accessible infrastructure is critical to economic development and quality of life,” LaVoy said. “Under the leadership of President …
Two Alabama Counties Designated as Primary Natural Disaster Areas
Emergency Support to Producers in Surrounding Counties Also Available WASHINGTON (USDA/FSA-Oct. 10, 2019) — Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue designated two Alabama counties as primary natural disaster areas. Producers in Chilton and Shelby counties who suffered losses due to recent drought may be eligible for U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) emergency loans. This natural disaster designation allows …
The Reality of the Beef Checkoff
by Greg Hanes, CEO, Cattlemen’s Beef Board (CBB-Oct. 9, 2019) — In the few months since I took the helm as CEO of the Cattlemen’s Beef Board (CBB) – the governing and administrative organization of the Beef Checkoff – there appears to be many misperceptions, false rumors, and misinformation about how the checkoff works and is administered. Let’s look at …
Trump Delivers on a Key Promise to American Farmers
WASHINGTON, (USDA-October 4, 2019) — U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Andrew Wheeler and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Sonny Perdue issued the following statements after President Donald J. Trump successfully negotiated an agreement on the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS): “President Trump’s leadership has led to an agreement that continues to promote domestic ethanol and biodiesel production, supporting our …