WASHINGTON, April 4, 2023 — The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is declaring April 2023 Invasive Plant Pest and Disease Awareness Month (IPPDAM). This national outreach month is dedicated to highlighting the impact of invasive pests and diseases on plants nationwide and informing Americans how they can help reduce their spread. “Each year, invasive insects and plant diseases cause …
How New AEWR is Impacting Florida Farmers
The newly implemented Adverse Effect Wage Rate (AEWR) will negatively impact specialty crop producers across the U.S. That’s the belief shared by the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF). “We are disappointed in DOL’s (Department of Labor) final rule on the AEWR methodology,” said AFBF President Zippy Duvall. “This administration says it wants to help family farms, but its agency largely …
New AEWR Harmful to Farmers’ Future
The newly implemented Adverse Effect Wage Rate (AEWR) will negatively impact specialty crop producers across the U.S. That’s the belief shared by the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF). “We are disappointed in DOL’s (Department of Labor) final rule on the AEWR methodology,” said AFBF President Zippy Duvall. “This administration says it wants to help family farms, but its agency largely …
Less Bang for Their Buck: Pecan Producers Receiving Less for Crop
Pecan producers continue to feel the sting of suppressed market prices, according to recent data generated from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Economic Research Service. It noted in its Fruit and Tree Nuts Outlook: March 2023, the average grower price for pecans fell from an already low price of $2.16 per pound in 2021 to $1.79 per pound in …
Providing Easier Access to Big Data
By Denise Attaway The humble huckleberry may never rival the soybean in the number of acres planted, but there’s no reason it and other specialty crops can’t have the same technological benefits as row crops do — such as big data. The competitiveness and sustainability of the $36 billion specialty crop industry in the United States is threatened by declining …
Producers, Public Invited to April Meeting of Federal Advisory Committee for Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is encouraging urban producers, innovative producers and other stakeholders to submit comments for and virtually attend the fifth public meeting of the Federal Advisory Committee for Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production (Committee) on April 18, 2023. “The Federal Advisory Committee is a valuable source of on the ground information and recommendations for USDA,” said …
Last Chance to Preregister!
The last chance to preregister for the Florida Grower Citrus Show is Friday, April 7, at 12:00 p.m. Here is all you need to know before you go. Show Agenda Thursday, April 13 8:00 a.m. Registration begins/Breakfast served 9:00 a.m. General session begins 11:10 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. Lunch break 2:00 – 4:00 p.m. Concurrent citrus and vegetable sessions Tailgate …
Disposal of Waste Pesticides Throughout South Carolina
COLUMBIA — The South Carolina Department of Agriculture (SCDA) is offering South Carolina residents the opportunity to safely dispose of outdated, unusable or unwanted pesticides. The pesticide and chemical program is open to all private, commercial and non-commercial pesticide applicators in the state, as well as homeowners. SCDA staff will be on site to monitor pesticide collection and disposal and …
New Activities at Florida Grower Citrus Show
The 2023 Florida Grower Citrus Show, presented by AgNet Media, will be held April 13 in Fort Pierce. The show has a new venue this year — the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Indian River Research and Education Center (IRREC) and the adjacent U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Horticultural Research Laboratory. …
USDA Providing Financial Assistance for Struggling Farmers
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that beginning in April it will provide approximately $123 million in additional financial assistance for qualifying farm loan program borrowers who are facing financial risk. This is a part of the $3.1 billion designated to help farm loan members that was provided through Section 22006 of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). This …