The 2018 Sunbelt Ag Expo kicks off Tuesday in Moultrie, Georgia and something new will take place at this year’s event. COUNTRY Financial is partnering with Sunbelt Ag Expo to host the Youth Educational Challenges. Lindsey Rinkenberger, director of agribusiness operations at COUNTRY Financial, explains. COUNTRY Financial Partners with Sunbelt Ag Expo to Host Youth Event COUNTRY Financial® provides a great …
Commissioner Black Gets First Glimpse of Hurricane Michael’s Damage
Agriculture Commissioner Gary W. Black got his first glance of the devastation left behind by Hurricane Michael during a brief flyover on Friday with Director of the Georgia Forestry Commission Chuck Williams. “Unfortunately, our worst thoughts were realized, “said Commissioner Black. “We saw months and sometimes years of work just laid over on the ground in a matter of seconds.” Pecan …
USDA Partners to Improve Community Infrastructure for 1.1 Million Rural Americans
Assistant to the Secretary for Rural Development Anne Hazlett announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is investing $181 million in 88 projects (PDF, 173 KB) that will build community infrastructure and facilities in 27 states. “Infrastructure is a foundation for quality of life and economic opportunity in small towns across our country,” Hazlett said. “Under the leadership of Secretary Sonny …
Purdue: GMO Labeling Law Still Expected This Year
The GMO Labeling law mandated by Congress will be established by the end of this year, according to Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue. Perdue told Organic Insider last week that despite delays, USDA will finalize the law yet this year. Congress passed a bill in 2016 that mandated the Department of Agriculture to create and implement the regulation by July 29, …
Court to Hear OTA Suit Against USDA Organic Livestock Rule Withdraw
The U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia last week agreed to hear a challenge by the Organic Trade Association against the Department of Agriculture. OTA is challenging the agencies decision and process to withdraw organic livestock standards. USDA in March withdrew the final Organic Livestock and Poultry Practices regulation, which was to go into effect in May. The …
USDA Launches Interactive Data Tool to Help Rural Communities Address the Opioid Crisis
New Community Assessment Tool Empowers Rural Leaders to Make Data-Driven Decisions to Build Resilient Communities Assistant to the Secretary for Rural Development Anne Hazlett announced the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has launched an interactive data tool to help community leaders build grassroots strategies to address the opioid epidemic. “Under the leadership of President Trump, USDA is committed to …
Farm Real Estate Levels Remain Near Record Highs
Farm real estate values remain near record levels set in 2015, despite a significant drop in farm income and a weak farm economy. The Department of Agriculture’s Economic Research Service says the value of U.S. farm real estate is a critical barometer of farm financial performance, that’s because farm real estate, including land and the structures on the land, generally …
Political Event Falls Short on Facts
A recent southeast Florida algae rally drew a small crowd. By Gary Cooper U.S. Congressman Brian Mast (R-Palm City) hosted a campaign event in Stuart on Sunday and visited other South Florida areas in recent days. He partnered with anti-farming group BullSugar.org and featured activist Erin Brockovich to help push his recently introduced Stop Harmful Discharges Act in Congress. The …
Has Farming Become a Political Whipping Boy?
By Gary Cooper Urban expansion is impacting agriculture throughout the Southeast. Florida appears to be the first state in this region to dramatically shift to a much more urban-thinking electorate. In light of this year’s primary elections, there are some points Florida agriculturists should be thinking about. I know many of you have been pondering some of this already, based …
RESTORE Council Approves Florida’s State Expenditure Plan
Plan providing $291M for 69 Projects across 23 Coastal Counties Last week, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Acting Administrator Andrew Wheeler sent a letter to Mr. Noah Valenstein, Secretary of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and Designated Alternate for the Governor of Florida to the Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council (RESTORE Council), approving the State of Florida’s State …