Beef-Pork Exports Down and 4-H Applauds Broadband Infrastructure
Wednesday Apr 14th, 2021 From the Ag Information Network, I’m Bob Larson with your Agribusiness Update. Farmers in water-short parts of California’s Central Valley say they’ll leave land idle and take other steps to try to keep their operations going this year.
With federal and state water projects expected to deliver little or no water, farmers are finalizing decisions on what crops to plant, and how much.
The lack of water from surface reservoirs means farmers may depend more on groundwater, while recognizing the limits on that resource. February exports of U.S. beef and pork remained below the rapid pace established in early 2020, according to USDA data compiled by the U.S. Meat Export Federation.
County Fair Cash Crunch and Beef-Pork Exports Down Slightly
Monday Mar 15th, 2021 County fairgrounds face a cash crunch, as the pandemic forces ongoing cancellations of events.
A number of county fair boards have already voted to cancel their 2021 fairs.
Some fairs have made accommodations for junior livestock sales, so students can still market their animals.
In other locations, fairs have pushed back their traditional start dates, in hope pandemic restrictions will ease in time. February s Ag Economy Barometer reading of 165 was down 2 points from January.
And, according to www.agrimarketing.com, producers continue to report strong current conditions on their farms as February s Current Conditions Index value of 200 is near its all-time high.
Alfafarmers Welcome Tuberville and U.S. Pork Exports Soar
Wednesday Feb 10th, 2021 Alabama’s largest farm organization welcomes Senator Tommy Tuberville’s appointment to the Senate Ag Committee.
Alabama Farmers Federation was among the first groups to endorse the former Auburn University football coach’s bid for U.S. Senate.
Federation President Jimmy Parnell praised Tuberville for putting in the work to learn about the issues important to farmers and seeking to be a voice for Alabama agriculture in Congress.
www.alfafarmers.org/alabama-farmers-welcome-tuberville-appointment-to-senate-ag-committee/ U.S. pork exports reached nearly 3 million metric tons in 2020, topping the 2019 record by 11%.
USDA data compiled by the U.S. Meat Export Federation, shows pork export VALUE also climbed 11%.
USDA Wildland Fire Cabinet and Federal Water Infrastructure Package
Monday Jan 18th, 2021 Ag Secretary Sonny Perdue is celebrating the establishment of the Interagency Wildland Fire Subcabinet.
The Executive Order on Establishing “The Wildland Fire Management Policy Committee” will open up more communication channels to ensure better forest management effectiveness between the Departments and Agencies within the Federal government.
Perdue says with a subcabinet dedicated exclusively to wildland fire management, we’d be better equipped to prevent and fight wildfires. Water projects should be included in any future federal infrastructure package, according to over 200 Western ag and water organizations.
The groups, from 15 states, sent letters to President-elect Biden and congressional leaders, advocating investment in a diversified water-management portfolio for the region.
Hurricane Sally Relief and China Testing Meat Imports
Wednesday Jan 6th, 2021 From the Ag Information Network, I’m Bob Larson with your Agribusiness Update. Farmers and forest landowners in four Florida Panhandle counties can begin applying for additional Hurricane Sally assistance through the USDA’s Farm Service Agency.
Enrollment for the Emergency Conservation Program and Emergency Forest Restoration Program began Monday and runs through March 4th.
The Florida Department of Agriculture encourages eligible producers in Escambia, Santa Rosa, Okaloosa, and Walton counties to apply.
https://www.morningagclips.com/enrollment-for-hurricane-sally-fsa-assistance-opens/ The USDA is allocating more than $70 million to support 383 projects under the Plant Protection Act’s Section 7721 program to strengthen the nation’s infrastructure for pest detection and surveillance, identification, threat mitigation, to safeguard the nursery production system and to respond