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 …
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg Talks with AgNet Media on Funding for Bridge Repairs
President Joe Biden recently announced a new initiative to fund repairs of the nation’s bridges, to the tune of $26.5 billion. A lot of the public focus on this has been on bridges in big cities, so AgNet Media National Correspondent Sabrina Halvorson talked to Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg to find out how this will help people outside of …
Florida Governor Could Get More Appointment Power
(TALLAHASSEE/January 21, 2022) — A proposal that critics called a gubernatorial “power grab,” to wrest control of appointments from Cabinet members has started to move forward in the Florida House. Republican supporters called the measure (HB 1295) a “streamlining” of the process for appointing leaders of the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the Department of Environmental Protection, the Department of …
Secretary of Transportation on HOS Regulations for Livestock Haulers
Back in late November of last year, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) announced they had extended the waiver for commercial truckers from the Federal Hours of Service (HOS) regulation until Feb. 28, 2022. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, in March 2020 the FMCSA included livestock haulers in an initial emergency declaration that provided an exemption from the HOS regulation for …
Florida Legislative Session Starts Tuesday
The 2022 Florida Legislative Session kicks off Tuesday, January 11th and the Florida Cattlemen’s Association (FCA) is preparing for the annual event. FCA Director of Governmental Affairs, Sam Ard, says it’s a year of reapportionment. Of course the budget is always something agriculture watches closely, but Ard is optimistic for another good year. The Florida House and Senate are scheduled to meet in a joint session …
NMPF Encouraging DMC Signup
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) continues to remind dairy producers that signup for the Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) program runs until Feb. 18, 2022. DMC enables producers to get coverage through this important safety-net program for another year as well as get additional assistance through the new Supplemental DMC. National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) Senior Vice President of Communications, Alan …
Seven Alabama Counties as Primary Natural Disaster Areas by USDA
(WASHINGTON/USDA-FSA/Dec 14, 2021) — 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 …
Farmer Sentiment Weakens on Cost Concerns
The Purdue University/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer dropped five points in November to a reading of 116, as producers continue to be pessimistic about both the current and future outlook of the agricultural economy. Farmers are facing sharp increases in their cost of production that coincide with fluctuating crop and livestock prices. Other issues of concern are the prospect of …
Field Day to Feature GA and Nutrition Trials
Growers will have the opportunity to learn more about recent citrus research trials on nutrition and gibberellic acid (GA) and their impact on tree health. University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Extension Polk County will host a field day on Dec. 14 to share research findings with growers. The field tours will begin with an overview …
NMPF Statement on the Dairy Pricing Opportunity Act
A new bill has been introduced that would require a hearing on the Federal Milk Marketing Order (FMMO). New York Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, who introduced the legislation, wants to hear firsthand from farmers about the issues needing addressed. Gillibrand, joined by Sen. Patrick Leahy of Vermont and Sen. Susan Collins of Maine, introduced the bipartisan Dairy Pricing Opportunity Act. It …