U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue praised the infrastructure agenda laid out by President Donald J. Trump, specifically its emphasis on investment in rural America. The plan calls for 25 percent of new federal funds to be dedicated to rural infrastructure needs, as prioritized by state and local leaders. Perdue issued the following statement: “President Trump has made it a …
Farm Disaster Relief on the Way After Irma’s Devastation
State lawmakers continue to craft tax relief for Florida’s storm-battered citrus industry, as President Donald Trump signed off Friday on billions of dollars in much-anticipated federal disaster relief. A spending bill approved by Congress and Trump includes nearly $90 billion for disaster relief, with $2.36 billion aimed at assisting the agriculture industry for losses from Hurricane Irma in Florida, Hurricane …
Financial Assistance Available for the Improvement of Bobwhite Quail Habitat in Select Alabama Counties
USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) state conservationist Ben Malone announced that eligible landowners interested in restoring habitat for the Bobwhite Quail to apply for financial assistance by March 2, 2018. The Bobwhite Quail is an iconic symbol of the Southeast that is most recognized by its distinct summer call, “Bob, Bob White!” However, despite its popularity across the South, …
Seven Counties in Florida Designated as Primary Natural Disaster Areas
Assistance to Producers in Surrounding States The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has designated Calhoun, Holmes, Jackson, Jefferson, Leon, Madison and Washington counties in Florida as primary natural disaster areas due to losses and damages caused by Hurricane Irma that occurred from Sept. 9, 2017, through Sept. 12, 2017. Farmers and ranchers in the contiguous counties of Bay, Gadsden, Gulf, Hamilton, Lafayette, …
EPA Administrator Pruitt Talks Environmental Outcomes Across the State of Florida
TALLAHASSEE, FLA – Today, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Scott Pruitt traveled across Florida and met with stakeholders to discuss environmental goals and protections. “The Sunshine State is a vital provider of American agriculture, energy and manufacturing, and it’s essential we hear directly from rural Floridians,” said EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt. “Today’s dialogue is particularly important as we focus …
NPPC Statement on Pork. The Other White Meat® Ruling
The U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia issued a ruling on a suit challenging the sale of the Pork. The Other White Meat® trademarks. The National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) sold the trademarks to the National Pork Board in 2006. The following statement may be attributed to Ken Maschhoff, an Illinois pork producer and president of the National …
USDA/NIFA Announces Support for Veterinary Medical Loan Repayment
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) announced the availability of funding to help eligible veterinarians offset a significant portion of the debt incurred in pursuit of their veterinary medicine degrees in return for their service in certain high-priority veterinary shortage situations. Funding is made through NIFA’s Veterinary Medical Loan Repayment Program (VMLRP), authorized …
EPA, Army Corps, Sign WOTUS Delay
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Scott Pruitt has signed an order to block the Waters of the U.S. Rule. A hold of the rule placed in 2015 will soon be lifted by a federal appeals court following the Supreme Court ruling that says jurisdiction of the rule lies in federal district courts, not appeals courts. Pruitt appeared at the National …
Commerce Secretary Ross: NAFTA Talks Far from Over
Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross told CNBC that the North American Free Trade Agreement re-negotiations are “far from being completed.” While noting that progress was made on easier provisions, he says “very little has been done on the hard issues,” including automotive trade and agriculture. Ross says President Trump could still choose to withdrawal from the agreement, saying a final renegotiated …
USDA Launches MARS
Delivering Market Data to Agricultural Producers Around the Globe Faster and Easier The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) announced the launch of a new electronic data platform to deliver market price information to the commodities industry. The new web-based platform, Market Analysis and Reporting Services (MARS), uses state-of-the-art technology to present detailed data sets in a …