The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) has announced they will be conducting a Feral Swine Livestock Damage survey to measure the costs of feral swine damage to livestock operations. The survey is conducted in cooperation with the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) Wildlife Services. Over 4,000 farms and ranches in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, and …
EPA and Army Corps Announce Next Steps on Writing WOTUS
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Army Corps announced plans for community engagements to let people know about their efforts to revise the definition of “WOTUS,” or the Waters of the U.S rule. The goal of the rewrite is to better ensure clean and safe water for everyone. The EPA and the Army Corps say they are committed to …
DeSantis, Fried Offer Different Takes on Red Tide
(NSF, August 3, 2021/TALLAHASSEE) — Gov. Ron DeSantis and Democratic gubernatorial candidate Nikki Fried made appearances Tuesday along the Gulf Coast, offering competing views about an ongoing toxic red-tide outbreak. Fried, the state agriculture commissioner, reiterated a call for DeSantis to declare a state of emergency to help combat the outbreak that has caused at least 600 tons of dead …
Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease Virus Update
(GDA/August 3, 2021) — The Georgia Department of Agriculture’s (GDA) Animal Industry Division confirmed Rabbit Hemorrhagic Disease Virus 2 (RHDV2) in domestic rabbits at a single Gwinnett County premise. This is the second confirmed case this year. The investigation is ongoing to determine the source of the virus and currently it does not appear to be linked to the Cobb …
Seven Georgia 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 …
Thompson Seeks House Hearing on Senate Climate Bill
The top Republican on the House Ag Committee calls for a hearing on the Senate Growing Climate Solutions Act. In a letter to Chairman David Scott, a Georgia Democrat, Glen GT Thompson of Pennsylvania says, “I write to express concerns with this legislation and request further review by the House Committee on Agriculture.” Thompson has maintained concerns of government involvement …
Florida, Georgia FFA Members Named 2021 American Star Finalists
The National FFA Organization has announced the 16 finalists for its 2021 top achievement awards: American Star Farmer, American Star in Agribusiness, American Star in Agricultural Placement and American Star in Agriscience. And 4 members from Florida and Georgia are among the 16 finalists. The American Star Awards represent the best of the best among thousands of American FFA Degree …
Navigable Waters Protection Rule Challenge Dismissed
Back in May, various environmental groups asked a federal court to vacate the Navigable Waters Protection Rule (NWPR) enacted during the Trump Administration. The motion, filed in a South Carolina U.S. District Court, asked the court to vacate the rule based on what they call undisputed facts, including what they say has been lost protection for U.S. waters. But last …
NCBA Working to Change Fresh Beef Labels
Late last month, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced a top-to-bottom review of the “Product of the USA” label. It was move that pleased the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA), as they have long-advocated for voluntary labels that meet consumer demand. NCBA Senior Director of International Trade and Market Access, Kent Bacus, explains how they are working to change fresh beef labels. Sponsored ContentFlorida …
Clarifying the Product of the USA Label
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently announced a top-to-bottom review of the “Product of the USA” label, which will inform a forthcoming rulemaking on this topic. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said “American consumers depend upon accurate, transparent labels to obtain important information about the food they consume. American farmers and ranchers depend upon those same labels to convey information about …