(USDA-APHIS/WASHINGTON, July 22, 2022) — The United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has confirmed the presence of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in a non-commercial backyard flock (non-poultry) in Seminole County, Florida. Samples from the flock were tested at the Bronson Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory, part of the National Animal Health Laboratory Network, …
“Rock the Crop” Sweepstakes Deadline Approaching
A country star is partnering up for a concert for farmers. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. Firestone Ag is partnering with country music star Dillon Carmichael to celebrate U.S. agriculture with its second annual Rock the Crop Concert Sweepstakes. U.S. farmers and ranchers must enter by July 25 for a chance to win a private, on-farm concert …
National FFA Organization Names 2022 American Star Finalists
(INDIANAPOLIS/Wednesday, July 20, 2022/National FFA Organization) — The National FFA Organization has announced the 16 finalists for its 2022 top achievement awards: American Star Farmer, American Star in Agribusiness, American Star in Agricultural Placement and American Star in Agriscience. The American Star Awards represent the best of the best among thousands of American FFA Degree recipients. The award recognizes FFA …
Georgia Counties Designated as Primary Natural Disaster Areas Due to Drought
This Secretarial natural disaster designation allows the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) to extend much-needed emergency credit to producers recovering from natural disasters through emergency loans. Emergency loans can be used to meet various recovery needs including the replacement of essential items such as equipment or livestock, reorganization of a farming operation or the refinance of …
Popcorn’s Effects on Gut Microbiomes
Eating popcorn may be good for your digestive health. That’s today’s This Land of Ours. A new study, published in the leading journal Frontiers in Microbiology, focuses on how popcorn can impact our personal microbiome. Americans eat more than 13 billion quarts of popcorn a year; an average of about 40 quarts per person. Nate Korth, a Ph.D. student at …
Battle over Atrazine Continues
Late last month, the Environmental Protection Agency reopened the finalized reregistration of atrazine. The EPA proposes an extremely low ecological level of concern value for atrazine of just 3.4 parts per billion, down from the scientifically proven 15 parts per billion, according to Gary Marshall, Triazine Network Co-Chair and retired Missouri Corn Growers Association CEO. “In 2019, the EPA agreed …
House Ag Leaders Seeking Farm Bill Feedback
An integral part of the oversight and review process for future Farm Bills is getting direct input from producers, stakeholders, and consumers on how various programs are working for them. So, House Agriculture Committee Chairman David Scott and Republican Leader Glenn “GT” Thompson are offering the opportunity for the public to submit feedback and ideas online for the 2023 Farm …
GPC: Register Now for Georgia Peanut Tour
By Clint Thompson The Georgia Peanut Commission (GPC) reminds those interested in attending this year’s Georgia Peanut Tour that registration is currently being held for the Sept. 13-15 event. It will be held in Tifton, Georgia, and surrounding areas. The tour provides attendees every year with the latest information on one of Georgia’s top row crops. They will also view …
Bill Would Ban US Foes From Owning Farmland
Russia, China, North Korea, and Iran would be banned from owning U.S. agricultural land under legislation just advanced by a House panel. It was the second try for House appropriators after they failed last year to get the Senate to agree to a ban on foreign ownership of U.S. ag land for the key U.S. foes in the annual USDA …
USDA to Measure Feral Swine Damage in the Southeast
The USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) is conducting a Feral Swine Damage survey to measure the costs of feral swine damage to crop operations. The survey is conducted in cooperation with the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) – Wildlife Services. In an effort to obtain the most accurate data, NASS will reach out to more than 11,000 producers …