The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s March citrus crop forecast surprised the Florida citrus industry by increasing the expected size of the orange crop. Most had expected further decreases following a January freeze. Southeast AgNet’s Ernie Neff has the report.
Brazil has moved to retaliate against the United States over U.S. cotton subsidies with a list totaling 102 products including both agricultural and industrial goods.
There has been a pause in the action regarding the EPA’s proposed nutrient water quality standards. Thanks in part to an effort headed up by District 2 Florida State Representative, Dave Murzin.
Florida Cattlemen’s Association members are in Tallahassee for their annual Legislative Quarterly meeting, as their Director of Governmental Affairs Sam Ard, says there are various issues for them to discuss with legislators.
The Southeastern Livestock Exposition Rodeo is coming this weekend to the Garrett Coliseum in Montgomery and Dr. Billy Powell with the Alabama Cattlemen’s Association invites everyone to enjoy the annual event.
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Agriculture has designated 98 counties in Georgia as primary natural disaster areas due to excessive rainfall that occurred from September 2009, and continuing.
A University of Florida researcher has determined that the Liberibacter bacterium is almost certainly the cause of citrus greening disease, as has long been suspected. Citrus Research and Education Center interim director Jackie Burns discusses the finding, and what it may mean for researchers and growers.
The Florida Cattlemen’s Association kicks off their annual legislative quarterly meeting today in Tallahassee, as their President Wade Grigsby said the more cattlemen that attend this meeting the more it will mean for the industry.
The Citrus Research and Development Foundation appoints grower and production manager members of the Florida Citrus Production Research Advisory Council to a key foundation committee. Foundation Chief Operating Officer Dan Gunter says the appointments bring the FCPRAC’s “institutional memory” to the relatively new foundation. Southeast AgNet’s Ernie Neff has details.
According to USDA Outlook Board Chairman, Gerry Bange, cotton producers are having a little better marketing year this year and could see even higher prices and more production in the coming season.
Advanced biofuel businesses and advocacy groups have asked for a targeted investment tax credit to help the industry attract investment capital needed to accelerate production and meet ambitious volume requirements of the renewable fuel standard.
With the Florida Legislature now in full swing for the 2010 session, Ag Commissioner Charles Bronson says the budget issues they are facing are extremely difficult, but he hopes our representatives remember what a mainstay agriculture is to the Florida economy.
Agricultural Research Service scientists are working to develop new and tasty whole-grain oat or barley breads that offer antioxidants, fiber, and other components in an array different from that found in traditional whole-wheat breads.
The American Farm Bureau Federation is supporting National Ground Water Awareness Week by urging Farm Bureau members to schedule an annual water well checkup.
USDA has announced they will issue approximately $121 million in partial 2009-crop counter-cyclical payments to producers with upland cotton and peanut base acres enrolled in USDA’s Direct and Counter-cyclical Payment (DCP) program, as Tyron Spearman has the details.
For more information on the direct and counter-cyclical payment programs including a table displaying the target price, projected average market price, loan rate, direct payment rate, effective price and projected counter-cyclical rates, visit your local FSA office or the FSA DCP Website: www.fsa.usda.gov/dcp.
The United States and Russia have reached an agreement to reopen the Russian market to U.S. pork and pork products, while talks concerning poultry will continue in the coming weeks.
This week’s Commissioner’s Spotlight from Florida Agriculture Commissioner Charles Bronson is about the importance of prescribed burning to the health of Florida’s forests and safety in our wildland/urban interfaces. More information is available on the Florida Division of Forestry web site by clicking on Prescribed Fire. To view or download a brochure on the topic, click on Prescribed Fire In the Wildland/ Urban Interface (PDF).
Most Citrus Industry magazine readers should receive the March issue this week. University of Florida experts address canker and HLB management issues, Alternaria brown spot control failures caused by fungicide resistance, and an international citrus biotechnology symposium. Southeast AgNet’s Ernie Neff, also the Citrus Industry editor, has the report.
The late Earl “Duke” Crittenden, the late Bernard Egan, Harold McTeer and Howard Sorrells were inducted into the Florida Citrus Hall of Fame last week. Southeast AgNet’s Ernie Neff has the report.
The USDA citrus crop forecast to be released Wednesday morning should give the industry a good idea how much of the total crop was lost to the January freeze. Southeast AgNet’s Ernie Neff has the report.
Here are the cattle market numbers for the week ending March 5th put together by the livestock market news service for the states of Alabama, Florida, and Georgia.
AL: Download Audio
FL: Download Audio
GA: Download Audio
Many are looking forward to seeing the results of USDA’s spring planting survey which will be released on March 31st, but when it comes to peanuts, Randy Griggs with the Alabama Peanut Producers Association said it’s really undetermined at this point as to whether growers will increase their acreage much this year.
And Ken Barton with the Florida Peanut Producers Association does not expect to see much of an acreage difference in his state this year.
While talking to the Senate Agricultural Appropriations Subcommittee this week, U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack explained USDA’s new Animal ID plan and also discussed their proposals for conservation funding in the next fiscal year.