As labor continues to be a top-priority issue for producers nation-wide, Congressman Ted Yoho is aiming to lessen worries of a labor shortage by introducing a new ag guest worker bill. He discussed this new bill in a recent exclusive interview with AgNet Media’s Abbey Taylor. According to Yoho, the bill shies away from immigration and focuses solely on ensuring …
Three Alabama Counties Designated as Primary Natural Disaster Areas
Emergency Support to Producers in Surrounding Counties/Border States Also Available WASHINGTON (USDA/FSA-Sept. 10, 2019) — Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue designated three Alabama counties as primary natural disaster areas. Producers in Dale, Geneva, and Henry counties who suffered losses due to recent drought may be eligible for U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) emergency loans. This natural disaster …
Holmes County, Florida Designated as a Primary Natural Disaster Area
Emergency Support to Producers in Surrounding Counties/Border State Also Available WASHINGTON (USDA/FSA-Sept. 10, 2019) — Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue designated Holmes County, Florida, as a primary natural disaster area. Producers who suffered losses due to recent drought may be eligible for U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) emergency loans. This natural disaster designation allows FSA to extend …
State, Federal Leaders Announce Next Steps for Hurricane Michael Disaster Aid
Applications for assistance open on September 11 WASHINGTON, D.C. (Sen. David Perdue-September 10, 2019) — U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue, U.S. Senator Johnny Isakson (R-GA), U.S. Senator David Perdue (R-GA), Governor Brian Kemp, and Georgia Commissioner of Agriculture Gary Black announced that agricultural producers affected by Hurricane Michael, or other natural disasters in 2018 and 2019, can apply for …
U.S. Exports of Live Animals and Red Meats Accelerating
Back in July, the House Agriculture Committee’s Livestock and Foreign Agriculture Subcommittee held a hearing to review the state of the U.S. livestock and poultry economies. Various folks from the livestock industry were unanimous in their message about passing the U.S.-Mexico-Canada trade agreement (USMCA). And with Congress returning to work this week, that push will continue. But despite the fact …
Hoping to Restore Trade Relations with China
Trade issues have been a concern for many in agriculture for quite some time, especially with what has been taking place between the U.S. and China. It was back in April when the National Cotton Council (NCC) joined with more than 40 other agricultural organizations in writing a letter to President Trump regarding the trade situation with China. And NCC Vice President …
August Ag Economy Barometer Falls
(NAFB) — Farmer concern regarding low prices and the farm economy led to a sharp drop in the August Ag Economy Barometer. The Perdue/CME Group economic measure fell 29 points last month to a reading of 124. The barometer’s decline was attributed to declines in both the Index of Current Conditions, which dropped 19 points, and the Index of Future …
Southeastern Producers May Escape Some of Dorian’s Devastation
Hurricane Dorian turned out to be a storm full of surprising twists and turns. What was once supposed to decimate Florida’s east coast as a category four storm has stayed hundreds of miles off land and is moving up the Atlantic coast. After stalling over the Bahamas for most of the holiday weekend, Dorian is now making its trek north …
USDA to Survey Fruit Growers about Chemical Use
Athens, GA (USDA/NASS) – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) will survey fruit growers in 11 states, including Florida, Georgia and South Carolina, for its biennial Fruit Chemical Use Survey. The survey will collect information on bearing acreage, pest management practices, pesticide application, acres treated and rates applied for more than 12 fruit crops. “Pesticide data …
Quincy FL Hemp Workshop Postponed for Hurricane Dorian
(UF/IFAS) — The UF/IFAS Industrial Hemp Pilot Project Workshop scheduled for Sept 4 in Quincy, FL is postponed on account of Hurricane Dorian. We have not yet determined a future status of the workshop and will follow-up as soon as we can. You can view the recording of the workshop held in Gainesville in these two video links (Video 1 / Video …