(AFBF/SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico, January 6, 2023) — The 2023 American Farm Bureau Convention is officially underway. The convention is being held Jan. 6-11 in San Juan, Puerto Rico, with a virtual option for portions of the event available. Anchoring this year’s event is an outstanding lineup of keynote speakers. AFBF President Zippy Duvall will give his annual address to Farm Bureau members …
Alabama Laboratory Groundbreaking
The Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries (ADAI) held a groundbreaking for its new Pesticide Residue and Chemical Laboratory on Wednesday in Auburn. The Gilmer-Turnham Building, just down the street from the construction site, has been in use for over 50 years and was retrofitted from an animal diagnostics lab. The construction will set up half of the facility for …
Ag Groups Ask Congress to Prevent Potential Railroad Strike
More than 190 members of the Agricultural Transportation Working Group want Congress to prepare to help prevent a railroad strike or lockout. Beef Magazine says a strike or lockout would shut down all rail-dependent facilities and result in devastating consequences to both national and global food security. The Biden administration successfully helped broker an agreement between the National Railway Labor …
Traders Preparing for Crop Reports
Grain traders and farmers across the country are waiting on the USDA crop reports coming out tomorrow. Mark Oppold has a preview. Sponsored ContentCIR Agriculture Harvester ProductsJuly 1, 2026FL Cattle Enhancement Board Wraps up Funding YearJune 30, 2026Florida Cattle Enhancement Board Awarded Researcher Discusses New World Screwworm OverviewJune 19, 2026Verdant Robotics Offers Growers Targeted Application of Herbicides or Beneficials through …
Ag Economy Barometer Declines Again
Farmer sentiment weakened again in October as the Purdue University-CME Group Ag Economy Barometer fell to a reading of 102, down ten points compared to a month earlier. Both of the barometer’s sub-indices, the Index of Current Conditions and the Index of Future Expectations declined. The Current Conditions Index dipped eight points to a reading of 101, while the Future …
Two Florida Counties as Primary Natural Disaster Areas
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 …
Farmers, Ag Organizations Against EPA Proposal
More than 16,000 farmers and agricultural organizations recently united against EPA’s proposed revision to its 2020 atrazine registration review decision. The farmers and agricultural organizations representing corn, citrus, grain sorghum, sugar cane, and other crops, submitted comments calling for the agency to base decisions on credible scientific evidence. Efforts to help farmers speak out against the proposal were coordinated by …
Florida Draws Challenges Over Pot License
(NSF/TALLAHASSEE, FL/ Oct. 18, 2022) — Weeks after state health officials selected a Suwannee County man to receive a long-awaited medical marijuana license earmarked for a Black farmer, applicants who lost out on joining Florida’s growing cannabis industry are challenging the decision. The Florida Department of Health on Sept. 21 announced it had issued an “intent to approve” a medical-marijuana …
USDA Providing Relief to Qualified Borrowers Struggling to Make Payments
During a call with ag media, Tuesday, U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack detailed plans to help farmers with USDA loans who are struggling to make their payments. “Through no fault of their own, our nation’s farmers and ranchers have faced incredibly tough circumstances over the last few years,” Secretary Vilsack said. “The funding included in today’s announcement helps keep our …
Robert E. Saunders Named 2022 Swisher/Sunbelt Ag Expo Southeastern Farmer of the Year
(Moultrie, GA/Oct. 18, 2022) — Robert E. Saunders, a multi-generational farmer from Piney River, Virginia, who grows woody ornamentals, annuals, perennials, field ornamentals, grafted trees, peaches, nectarines, apples, and Asian pears, has been selected as the overall winner of the Swisher/Sunbelt Expo Southeastern Farmer of the Year award for 2022. Growing up on a family farm as one of seven …