The Lake Okeechobee green algae saga continues. As I suggested in a report a few days back, it appears to be becoming more and more of a political football. This week a candidate for Governor of Florida appeared at a rally of coastal and inland fishermen in Clewiston, expecting to find a supportive audience for anti-agriculture rhetoric on the topic. …
USDA Partners to Improve Rural Water Infrastructure
Assistant to the Secretary for Rural Development Anne Hazlett announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is investing $267 million in 103 infrastructure projects (PDF, 298 KB) to upgrade water and wastewater systems in rural communities. “Robust, modern infrastructure is foundational for quality of life and economic opportunity – no matter what zip code you live in,” Hazlett said. “Under Secretary …
Sommet De L’Elevage Livestock Show Coming Up in October
A 27th Edition that is Looking Extremely Promising With 1,500 exhibitors from 32 countries occupying 180,000 m² of show space, 2,000 animals and 95,000 visitors from the farming industry, the SOMMET DE L’ELEVAGE is now recognised as a reference among the world’s largest livestock shows. Judging and animal presentations, technical innovations, business meetings, farmer events and conferences covering the hot …
Congressman Ted Yoho Discusses the Farm Bill
Before returning to Washington, D.C., U.S. Congressman Ted Yoho stopped by AgNet Media’s Gainesville office to discuss the farm bill. The House and the Senate both passed their versions of the farm bill. Now, an appointed committee will hammer out the details of the separate bills to combine it into one. There is a massive amount of crucial policies for …
ARC-PLC Educational Tool Available for Cotton Farms
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) is notifying farmers with generic base acres that planted seed cotton that a new tool is available to assist them in understanding how the new seed cotton program may affect their FSA payments. It helps a producer make decisions on how to allocate generic base acres to other covered crops …
U.S. Pork Calls for Level Playing Field as FDA Makes Regulatory Land Grab
Already bearing the brunt of global trade retaliation against American agriculture, U.S. pork producers now face additional headwinds in the form of a regulatory land grab by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) called on the U.S. Department of Agriculture to assert its proper oversight of two emerging issues critical to the future of …
UF/IFAS Tropical Aquaculture Laboratory Director Inducted into Florida Tropical Fish Farms Association Hall of Fame
When Craig Watson, Director of the University of Florida IFAS Tropical Aquaculture Laboratory, got his first aquarium at age 7, he couldn’t have predicted the important role that fishing and aquaculture would play in his life. “My brother and I would spend hours watching the fish, but I had no idea then it would be the beginning of a career.” On June …
AAC Annual Meeting Recap
The Alabama Agribusiness Council hosted a record crowd for the 2018 Annual Meeting held June 24-26 at the Perdido Beach Resort. The meeting kicked off with the Welcome to the Beach reception, a great opportunity for attendees to reconnect with old friends and welcome first-time meeting attendees. Guests enjoyed light hors d’oeurves while they mixed and mingled and enjoyed a view overlooking the pool. Highlights from the meeting …
CoBank: Trade War Takes a Toll on Ag Economy
Despite the strongest global economic growth the world has seen since 2011, the uncertainty surrounding trade disputes is causing escalating concern for U.S. agriculture. CoBank’s Knowledge Exchange Division says seventy percent of U.S. ag exports are heading to countries that are currently in negotiations or outright trade disputes. CoBank’s Rural Economic Review says the shift from trade war rhetoric to …
Commodity Classic Releases 2019 Schedule
ST. LOUIS (June 27, 2018) — Commodity Classic has released its tentative schedule for the 2019 show slated for Thursday, February 28 through Saturday, March 2 in Orlando, Fla. Commodity Classic is America’s largest farmer-led, farmer-focused educational and agricultural experience. The 2019 schedule includes extended trade show hours, allowing attendees to spend even more time with the wide array of …