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 …
Black Farmers Vie for Marijuana License
(NSF/TALLAHASSEE/June 24, 2022) — A 99-year-old matriarch who began her agricultural career in cotton fields in Northwest Florida. A rancher who served in Vietnam and grew up in an Alachua County community terrorized in the past by lynchings. A family that got its start picking apples on a New York farm. They’re among people vying for a potentially lucrative medical-marijuana …
Southeast WOTUS Roundtable 1
Roundtables continue on the topic of the EPA and Army Corps of Engineers Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule. In June of last year, the EPA and ACE announced their intention to rewrite the rule. It is a concern for farmers, ranchers, and agriculture groups around the nation. The government agencies agreed to allow ten regional roundtable discussions with …
Citrus Canker Detected in Georgia
(Atlanta, GA/GDA/June 14, 2022) — The Georgia Department of Agriculture (GDA) is alerting commercial and backyard citrus growers that citrus canker has been found in the state. Late last week, the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, Plant Protection and Quarantine (USDA APHIS PPQ) laboratory confirmed a suspected sample from a commercial citrus grove in Decatur County was citrus canker. “Citrus canker is …
Eight Georgia Counties Designated as Primary Natural Disaster Areas
(WASHINGTON, DC/USDA FSA/June 3, 2022) — 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 …
Vilsack on Food Systems in Farm Bill
While announcing more funding intended to help the nation’s food supply chain and transform the food system, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said the administration views the next farm bill as a critical opportunity to advance the discussion of a transformed food system. “A vision that includes a fair and more competitive food system consistent with access to safe, healthy, nutritious, and …
Commissioner Fried Launches FDACS Farmer Stress Awareness Initiative
(Tallahassee, FL/June 3, 2022) — Florida Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Services Nikki Fried and the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) launched the Department’s Farmer Stress Awareness Initiative at Wish Farms, one of America’s largest berry producers, which has prioritized investments in the mental health and well-being of its staff. Commissioner Fried was joined for this announcement by State Attorney Andrew Warren as well as representatives with Florida 211 and the University …
USDA to Gather Information about Adoption of Conservation Practices
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced they will be gathering information about the adoption of conservation practices across the Southeast. USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) is mailing the Conservation Practice Adoption Motivations Survey this week to nearly 2,700 farmers and ranchers in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina. The new survey is a joint project between NASS and USDA’s Natural …
Commissioner Fried Announces Launch of FDACS Farmer Stress Awareness Initiative
(Tallahassee, FL/May 24, 2022) — With May marking Mental Health Awareness Month, Florida Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Services Nikki Fried announced today the launch of the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ (FDACS) Farmer Stress Awareness Initiative. The formal launch will take place next week at an event at Wish Farms in Plant City on June 2nd at 9am where FDACS will premiere several videos that will …