aquaculture

UF Surveys to Identify Impact of Pandemic on Florida’s Agriculture and Marine Industries

Dan Aquaculture, Beef, Cattle, Corn, Cotton, Dairy, Economy, Equine, Field Crops, Florida, Forestry, Fruits, General, Hemp, Labor and Immigration, Livestock, Nursery Crops, Organic, Pasture, Peanuts, Pecans, Pollinators, Pork, Poultry, Research, Seeds, Sheep-Goats, Soybeans, Specialty Crops, Sugar, Vegetables, Wheat

(UF/IFAS) — With agriculture and marine industries occupying a large portion of Florida’s economy, the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) wants to better understand how measures to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 are impacting these sectors. Starting today, faculty from the UF/IFAS Food and Resource Economics (FRE) department are deploying surveys to UF/IFAS Extension agents …

infrastructure

Fried Calls for Florida Cabinet to Jointly Address Coronavirus Issues

Dan Florida

(NSF) — Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried has reiterated a call for Governor Ron DeSantis and the state Cabinet to jointly address issues related to the coronavirus pandemic. Fried, who has complained about a lack of communication between the statewide elected officials, says she’s been requesting weekly briefings from the governor’s office since before an April 7th Cabinet meeting was …

food

Farmers Give to Food Banks in Time of COVID-19

Dan Florida, General, Industry News Release

(UF/IFAS) — With the COVID-19 shutdowns increasing people’s need for food, some consumers rely on nonprofits for a bite to eat. To help, farmers in Florida and elsewhere are donating excess produce to food banks, said a UF/IFAS expert. In fact, some food banks are helping farmers by offsetting some of their costs, thus incentivizing growers to harvest food they …

cow-calf operations

Coronavirus-Related Cattle Industry Losses Estimated at $13.6 Billion

Dan Cattle, Economy, Industry News Release

(NCNB) — A study released estimates cattle industry losses as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic will reach $13.6 billion. The study was commissioned by NCBA and conducted by a team of industry-leading agricultural economists led by Derrell Peel, Breedlove Professor of Agribusiness and Extension Livestock Marketing Specialist at Oklahoma State University, to assist USDA in determining how best to …

pork producers

Hog Farmers Face COVID-19 Financial Crisis

Dan Economy, Industry News Release, Pork

(NPPC) — The impact of COVID-19 has caused hog values to plummet, creating a financial disaster for pork producers nationwide who face a collective $5 billion loss for the remainder of the year. At a press briefing, the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) outlined the crisis as described by producers and the immediate relief they are requesting from the administration …

rural healthcare

Livestock Groups Send Letter Advocating for Needs of Rural Healthcare Providers Amid COVID-19 Pandemic

Dan Cattle, Industry News Release, Livestock, Sheep-Goats

(NCBA) — The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA), the American Sheep Industry Association (ASI) and the Public Lands Council (PLC) called on the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to request rural healthcare providers have resources and funding to properly respond to the COVID-19 virus. “Rural healthcare providers have unique needs …

Food Workers

Meatpacker Closings Hard on Food Supply Chain

Dan Industry News Release, Pork

(NAFB) — Smithfield Foods will close its pork processing plant in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, until further notice because of employees who tested positive for the coronavirus. It’s just one of several major agricultural facilities temporarily closing operations due to the pandemic. Virginia-based Smithfield Foods says the closures are a trend that may eventually put a dent in the U.S. …

nacd

NACD Requests Additional Support for Conservation Districts in Next Stimulus

Dan Economy, Environment, Industry News Release

(NACD) — The National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) sent a letter to Congress requesting additional funding and legislative support for the nation’s nearly 3,000 conservation districts in the next stimulus bills. “Conservation districts are the backbone of delivering conservation in America,” NACD President Tim Palmer said. “Unfortunately, as with many small businesses, many conservation districts are currently struggling to continue supporting …

beef processing

NCBA Responds to News of Beef Packing Plant Closure Due to COVID-19

Dan Beef, Cattle, Industry News Release

(NCBA) — NCBA CEO Colin Woodall released the following statement regarding the announcement that JBS will shutter its Greeley, Colo., beef processing plant in the wake of the COVID-19 outbreak. “NCBA is concerned about the closure of the JBS-owned beef packing plant in Greeley, Colo. The company reports the plant is closing for a two-week period after several employees fell …