The Department of Agriculture seeks public comments on recommended improvements to the Pasture, Rangeland, Forage Rainfall Index Crop Insurance Program by Nov. 5, 2020. USDA’s Risk Management Agency contracted for an independent evaluation of the program to determine its effectiveness as a risk management tool for livestock producers. RMA Administrator Martin Barbre says, “We want to be sure that the …
EPA Finalizes Interim Rules on Atrazine Use by Farmers
Atrazine is a widely used herbicide that farmers can apply before and after planting to control broadleaf and grassy weeds. It’s used primarily on corn, sorghum and sugarcane, and to a lesser extent, on residential lawns and golf courses. The Environmental Protection Agency released the Interim Registration Review Decision for atrazine, as well as propazine and simazine. With the rule, …
Florida Forest Service Deploys Incident Management Team to Support Hurricane Sally Emergency Response
Tallahassee, Fla. – Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried announced that the Florida Forest Service has deployed a Type 2 Incident Management Team (IMT) to the Florida Panhandle for Hurricane Sally, which includes 36 Florida Forest Service personnel. “With historic flooding in Florida’s Panhandle from Hurricane Sally, we have deployed our Incident Management Team and hardworking Florida Forest Service personnel to support …
Farmers, Nursery Growers Can Apply Now For State Coronavirus Assistance
Alabama Farmers Federation By Jeff Helms MONTGOMERY, Ala., Sept. 15 — Alabama farmers and nursery growers negatively impacted by the coronavirus pandemic may begin applying for financial assistance through two programs administered by the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries (ADAI). The signups are part of the $26 million Alabama Agriculture Stabilization Program (AASP), which was funded with money received …
FDACS Launches COVID-19 Farmworker Safety Video Series as Harvest Season Begins
Videos Follow Last Week’s Launch of Commissioner Fried’s Heat Illness Prevention Campaign Tallahassee, Fla. – As the fall harvest season begins, Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried and the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) are launching a nine-part video series created to provide guidance on COVID-19 safety precautions for farmworkers. The videos follow the launch of Commissioner Fried’s farmworker heat illness prevention campaign last week. “Florida’s …
USDA Encourages Ag Producers, Residents to Prepare for Hurricane Sally
WASHINGTON, Sept. 14, 2020 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) reminds communities, farmers and ranchers, families and small businesses in the path of Hurricane Sally that USDA has programs that provide assistance in the wake of disasters. USDA staff in the regional, state and county offices stand ready and are eager to help. In a continuing effort to serve …
U.S. Peanut Production Forecast to be Up 24%
When USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) released its September crop production estimates, it noted the U.S. peanut crop is now expected to be up 24% compared to last year. According Tyron Spearman, that is up 9% from the previous forecast. Peanut production is forecast at 6.79 billion pounds, up 9% from the previous forecast and up 24% from 2019. …
USDA Designates Two Alabama Counties as Primary Natural Disaster Areas
WASHINGTON, Sept. 8, 2020 — Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue designated two Alabama counties as primary natural disaster areas. Producers in Mobile and Washington counties who suffered losses due to excessive rainfall and flash flooding from Tropical Storm Cristobal that occurred June 7 through June 10, 2020, may be eligible for U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) emergency …
1890 Land-Grant Universities Celebrate 130 Years of Cutting-Edge Science
(Washington, D.C., August 28, 2020) – Sunday marks the 130th anniversary of the authorizing legislation establishing the 1890 Land-Grant Universities (LGUs). Almost 30 years after President Abraham Lincoln signed the Morrill Act of 1862, the Second Morrill Act, creating our nation’s historically black land-grant colleges, was successfully shepherded through Congress by Senator Justin Smith Morrill and signed into law on …
USDA/EPA Announce Next Generation Fertilizer Challenges
On Wednesday, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced the Next Gen Fertilizer Challenges, a joint EPA-USDA partnership and competition to advance agricultural sustainability in the United States. The competition includes two challenges that seek proposals for new and existing fertilizer technologies to maintain or improve crop yields while reducing the impacts of …