USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) released their November crop reports today, and Becky Sommer with NASS in Washington D.C. says the U.S. cotton production estimate is up 25 percent from last year’s crop. All cotton production is forecast at 18.2 million 480?pound bales, up 1 percent from the previous forecast, and up 25 percent from 2020. Based on conditions as of …
Commissioner Nikki Fried & FDACS Announce New Farmer Mental Health Initiative
(Tallahassee, FL/Nov. 3, 2021) — Today, on National Stress Awareness Day, Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried is announcing that the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) has been awarded a $500,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to carry out a new Farm Stress Awareness and Reduction Initiative in Florida. With this grant award, FDACS will launch an outreach campaign to help raise awareness about …
NRCS in Florida Announces Conservation Stewardship Program Signup
The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Florida has announced they are now accepting applications from agricultural producers and forest landowners for the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP). The program provides assistance to improve soil, water, air, plants, animals, and related resources. CSP is for working lands, including cropland, pastureland, rangeland, nonindustrial private forest land and agricultural land under Indian tribe jurisdiction. …
NMPF’s Bjerga Discusses Opportunity in Reconciliation
We are hearing a lot about the budget reconciliation legislation, otherwise known as the Build Back Better Act, being discussed in Congress. During a recent interview on RFD-TV, National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) Senior Vice President of Communications, Alan Bjerga, talked about some of the opportunities for dairy that’s currently in that legislation. The legislation also includes $27 billion in a once-in-a-generation …
Deere, UAW, Reach Tentative Agreement
Deere & Co and United Auto Workers International reached a tentative new contract. The agreement could lead to the end of a worker strike. The deal was announced over the weekend, but needs to be approved by UAW members first. Chuck Browning, UAW Vice President and Director of the Agricultural Implement Department, says the agreement contains enhanced economic gains and …
USDA Provides $1.8 Billion to Offset Market Fluctuations
Farmers Can Now Make Elections, Enroll in Agriculture Risk Coverage and Price Loss Coverage Programs (WASHINGTON, Nov. 1, 2021) — The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is in the process of issuing $1.8 billion in payments to agricultural producers who enrolled in the Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC) programs for the 2020 crop year. These payments provide critical support …
Four Georgia Counties Designated as Primary Natural Disaster Areas
(USDA/FSA/October 27, 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 …
Commissioner Nikki Fried on TS Elsa Secretarial Disaster Designation for Three Florida Counties
(Tallahassee, FL/October 20, 2021) — The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has informed Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried and the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) that it has granted a Secretarial disaster designation in several counties in Georgia and Florida due to losses caused by Tropical Storm Elsa, excessive wind, and excessive rainfall that occurred on July 7, 2021. With this designation, impacted producers …
Vilsack on State of the Livestock Industry
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack recently expressed to lawmakers his views on the state of the livestock industry and explained USDA efforts to address challenges. Rod Bain reports. Sponsored ContentFlorida Cattle Producers Proactive In Research Efforts Funded by the Florida Cattle Enhancement BoardJanuary 16, 2026Florida Cattle Industry Supports Administration of Florida Cattle Enhancement BoardJanuary 9, 2026Florida Cattle Enhancement Board Provides Significant …
2021 Variety Trial Results Available for Alabama Producers
While harvest is underway in Alabama, believe it or not variety trial results are already in, and the Alabama Cooperative Extension System (ACES) notes it is time for producers to begin making crop variety decisions for the 2022 planting season. ACES researchers, in partnership with the Auburn University College of Agriculture and the Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station (AAES), have spent much of …