U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins announced last week that USDA has finalized a rule to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) regulations. According to the Department, the changes outlined in the rule “consolidated seven agency-specific NEPA regulations into a single, department wide framework, reducing the overall volume of regulations by 66 percent.” Secretary Rollins said, “Since last July, agencies …
USDA Shares Corn and Cotton Planting Progress for the U.S.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has released details on the planting progress for both corn and cotton so far this season. USDA Meteorologist Brad Rippey provides an overview on the planting progress for cotton, “In a lot of years, we only see planting progress this early in a couple of states, and Arizona is one of those. They lead the nation, …
New Pesticide Product To Address New World Screwworm Received by the EPA
Last week, the Federal Register included a notice from the Environmental Protection Agency that they have received a request to register a new pesticide product for the treatment of New World Screwworm. The notice states that the request is from the U.S. Department of Agriculture for “NovoFly male-only genetically engineered (GE) New World screwworm (NWS) in USDA’s Sterile Insect Technique …
Georgia Cotton Commission Approves 2027 Research
By Clint Thompson The Georgia Cotton Commission Board of Directors has approved $725,875 in research for the 2027 crop year. The approval was made during the March board meeting. The money will finance 17 projects conducted by University of Georgia researchers and Extension specialists. Taylor Sills, executive director of the Georgia Cotton Commission, discussed the research and its importance on …
United Dairy Farmers of Florida Director Encouraged About the Future
On a recent episode of the Grazing the Facts podcast, we learned why Ray Hodge with the United Dairy Farmers of Florida is encouraged about the future of the Florida dairy industry. Hodge said, “I think in Florida, we are unique in many ways. You know, as I said earlier, I’m a seventh generation Floridian. We’ve seen a lot of change. The …
USDA Under Secretary Provides Update on New World Screwworm Efforts
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has been working to eradicate the New World Screwworm through a five-pronged plan and Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs Dudley Hoskins provided an update on their efforts so far. Under Secretary Hoskins said, “One of those key pillars under that five-pronged plan was enhancing our capability and infrastructure and enhancing the sterile fly production that …
NCBA Reacts to passage of Farm Bill 2.0
The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association is reacting to passage of Farm Bill 2.0 by the House Agriculture Committee. The bill, formally known as the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026, was supported by NCBA and other commodity groups and according to NCBA the bill would “finish the Farm Bill process and strengthen provisions that provide certainty to farmers …
Commissioner Simpson Announces Hurricane Disaster Relief Applications Now Open
Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson has announced that agricultural producers can now apply for hurricane disaster relief for 2023 and 2024. The Florida Block Grant Disaster Relief Program will provide over $600 million in grant funding in which the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services says can, “assist with infrastructure damage, market loss, citrus loss, and timber damage …
Monsanto Proposes Nationwide Class Settlement to Resolve Roundup Claims
Monsanto has announced a nationwide proposed class settlement to resolve Roundup claims alleging non-Hodgkin lymphoma injuries. The proposed settlement is the second since their initial proposed settlement in 2020 and would include the element of a long-term compensation program providing funding for up to 21 years addressing both current and future claimants. According to Bayer, “the long-term payment stream will provide the company with …
RFK Jr. Details New Dietary Guidelines at NCBA CattleCon
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. shared new details about the development of updated federal dietary guidelines earlier this month at National Cattlemen’s Beef Association CattleCon in Nashville, Tennessee. Addressing cattle producers and industry stakeholders, Kennedy described how the new U.S. dietary guidelines were developed after he took office. “When I came into office …









