Contact Information: EPA Press Office (press@epa.gov) Brooklet, Ga. (October 27, 2020) — At the Cromley Farm, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Andrew Wheeler announced that the EPA is approving new five-year registrations for two dicamba products and extending the registration of an additional dicamba product. All three registrations include new control measures to ensure these products can be used effectively …
Commissioner Fried Comments on Florida Request to Assume EPA Responsibilities on Clean Water Act
(FDACS) — On the final day of virtual public hearings on the state of Florida’s request to assume the administration of the Clean Water Act’s Section 404 program from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Commissioner Nikki Fried, an independently-elected member of the Florida Cabinet, offered the following: “Just before an election, the DeSantis administration is furthering their relentless drive to consolidate power, seizing authority from the federal government and …
Franklin Middle School FFA of Georgia Named 2020 Middle School Model of Excellence Winner
(National FFA Organization) — Franklin Middle School FFA of Georgia has been named the 2020 Middle School Model of Excellence winner during the 93rd National FFA Convention & Expo, being held virtually this year. The National Chapter Award program recognizes outstanding FFA chapters that actively implement the organization’s mission and strategies. These chapters improve their operations using the National Quality …
New Rule Makes Enhancements to Environmental Quality Incentives Program
(USDA/NRCS) — The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) released the final rule for its Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP). The rule updates USDA’s flagship program as directed by the 2018 Farm Bill and integrates feedback from agricultural producers and others. “This final rule enables us to continue helping producers manage their land in the most beneficial ways possible,” said Kevin Norton, acting Chief of USDA’s …
Trump Administration Invests in High-Speed Broadband in Rural Alabama
ReConnect Funding to Connect 11,163 Rural Households to High-Speed Internet e-Connectivity (USDA/RD) — The Trump Administration announced that the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is investing $37 million to provide broadband service in unserved and underserved rural areas in Alabama. This investment is part of the $550 million Congress allocated to the second round of the ReConnect Program. “Access to …
USDA Offers Secure New Options for Signing, Sharing Documents Online
Farmers and ranchers working with USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) or Farm Service Agency (FSA) can now sign and share documents online in just a few clicks. By using Box or OneSpan, producers can digitally complete business transactions without leaving their homes or agricultural operations. Both services are free, secure, and available for multiple NRCS and FSA programs. Box is a secure, cloud-based site …
Foundation Applications Open For Hurricane Sally Assistance
The Alabama Farmers Agriculture Foundation (AFAF) is accepting applications through Nov. 30 from farmers who suffered losses related to Hurricane Sally. AFAF and Alabama Farmers Federation President Jimmy Parnell said the Foundation established a Hurricane Sally Relief Fund last month in response to calls from farmers and businesses who wanted to help their south Alabama neighbors. “When disaster strikes, I am always …
UGA Closes Tifton Dairy Research Center
From the Georgia Milk Producers According to the Georgia Farm Bureau, after several years of battling low milk prices, changes in administrators and recent state budget cuts from COVID-19, the vacuum pumps at the University of Georgia (UGA) Tifton Dairy Research Center were permanently turned off on Sept. 4, Georgia Milk Producers reported in its September Georgia Milk Review. Since …
USDA Updates RCPP Announcement to Clarify Forestry Eligibility
Proposal deadline for the Regional Conservation Partnership Program extended to November 30 WASHINGTON, October 14, 2020 – USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) today re-posted a revised Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) funding announcement, inviting potential conservation partners to submit project proposals for federal funding. NRCS will award up to $360 million to locally driven, public-private partnerships that improve the …
NASDA CEO: Our Expectations for the Next Administration Are Clear
By Dr. Barb Glenn, CEO, NASDA As a non-partisan organization, you might ask yourself why the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) would wade into this very heated political time for Americans. The truth of the matter is that agriculture is not a red or blue issue. Rural communities matter now more than ever, and resiliency for rural …