Gainesville, Fla. – In an effort to assist agricultural producers in meeting their land management goals while protecting our natural resources, the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) will conduct a State Technical Advisory Committee meeting Aug. 17, 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m. at the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Doyle Conner Agriculture Building Auditorium. Located at 1911 SW 34th …
EPA Sends WOTUS Repeal to Federal Register
Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt told lawmakers Tuesday that the EPA has sent its repeal of the Waters of the U.S. rule to the federal register, beginning the process of ending the regulation. During a Senate budget hearing Tuesday, Pruitt told lawmakers the measure was being sent to the federal register the same day. The formal withdrawal of the …
Water Management District Offers Online Updates on Reservoir
from News Service of Florida Progress on a controversial reservoir intended to help clean South Florida waterways can now be followed via an interactive map provided by the South Florida Water Management District. The website outlines where the reservoir — about 18,000-acres — will be located within the Everglades Agricultural Area south of Lake Okeechobee. So far, water management officials …
Conaway Praises EPA Repeal of WOTUS, Calls for Continued Work to Protect Farmers and Ranchers
House Agriculture Committee Chairman K. Michael Conaway (TX-11) praised the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) announcement it is repealing the Obama administration’s waters of the U.S. (WOTUS) rule and called on other agencies to revise and re-evaluate their enforcement of this onerous provision. Following the EPA’s announcement, Chairman Conaway made the below remarks: “WOTUS has never been about clean water, it …
International Dairy Groups Join U.S. in Calling for Action Against Unfair Canadian Trade Policies
An international coalition of 10 dairy industry organizations, including three U.S. dairy groups, is asking their governments’ trade ministers to intercede in the increasingly acrimonious dispute over Canada’s harmful dairy policies that is having global repercussions. The groups co-signed a joint letter today requesting that their respective trade ministries “pursue all avenues available to challenge these measures, including WTO dispute …
Study: TPP Withdrawal Creates Export Loss for U.S., Gains for Canada
A new study says the U.S. withdrawal from the Trans-Pacific Partnership will cost the nation more than $3 billion in exports. Meanwhile, the remaining 11 members would enjoy marginal gains from the U.S.’ TPP withdrawal, with Mexico and Canada set to benefit the most. A study by a firm from Canada told the Global Trade Review this week that TPP-11 …
ICYMI: Farm Bill Listening Session Webcast for Farmers and Ranchers
Saturday, June 24th, an event was held in Gainesville, Florida that farmers and ranchers from across the Southeast were invited to attend. It’s is called, “The Next Farm Bill, Conversations in the Field.” The event was an informal farm bill hearing, intended to gather input from farmers, ranchers, and stakeholders. House Agriculture Committee Chairman Michael Conaway of Texas and Ranking …
APHIS to Allow Importation of Fresh Pitahaya Fruit from Ecuador
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is amending the fruits and vegetable regulations to allow the importation of fresh pitahaya fruit into the continental United States from Ecuador. APHIS scientists have determined that fresh pitahaya fruit from Ecuador can be safely imported to the United States while continuing to provide protection against the …
Feed a Bee Announces Coast-to-Coast Recipients for $500,000 Pollinator Forage Initiative
Bayer Feed a Bee program celebrates National Pollinator Week by kicking off initiative to support forage projects in all 50 states In the spirit of true National Pollinator Week celebration, Bayer today announced the first round of organizations that will receive funding to establish forage for pollinators across the nation. Nearly 100 projects were submitted in response to the request …
China Trade Agreement Includes Biotech Approvals
The trade agreement between the U.S. and China that focused on U.S. beef also paved the way for Chinese approval of two U.S. genetically modified crop traits. The Wall Street Journal reports China has approved imports of two new varieties of genetically modified crops, clearing the way for U.S. agricultural companies to market new biotech seeds to farmers. Through the …