News Update
March 21, 2018
Dry Spring Expected for
Much of the United States
Dry conditions have spread across much of the United States and intensified in a large portion of cow country — especially the Southwest. According to CattleFax weatherman Art Douglas, drought conditions are likely to persist and spread even further during the coming months.
During the first half of 2018, La Niña is likely to keep it dry in the Southwest, with drought concern spreading to the east and northward through much of the Plains and even into the southeastern United States, said Douglas, who is Creighton University professor emeritus of atmospheric sciences. He delivered his seasonal forecast during the CattleFax Industry Outlook Seminar at the 2018 Cattle Industry Convention Jan. 31-Feb. 2 in Phoenix, Ariz.
Douglas attributed the dry conditions to La Niña — the cooler-than-normal sea surface temperatures existing in the central and eastern tropical Pacific. He said La Niña also has fueled drought conditions in important crop and cattle production areas of South America, Asia and Australia.
“As we go forward, getting closer to summer, La Niña may start easing up,” offered Douglas, agreeing with forecast models predicting a weakening of La Niña and transition to El Niño (warmer Pacific
Read the full Angus Beef Bulletin EXTRA article online.
Vice President Pence Presents National Ag Day
Proclamation to Secretary Perdue
Vice President Mike Pence presented President Donald Trump’s National Agriculture Day Proclamation to U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue March 20 at the USDA in Washington, D.C.
“Since day one of this administration, President Trump and our entire team have been working tirelessly to stand with our nation’s farmers, producers, ranchers, and foresters, and everyone involved in agriculture,” said Pence in his remarks at USDA. “As the president has said, in his words, in ‘every decision we make, we are honoring,’ and supporting, ‘America’s proud farming legacy.’ And I promise you we always will.”
Watch a recap of Vice President Pence delivering remarks and presenting President Trump’s National Ag Day Proclamation to Perdue online.
NFU Celebrates National Agriculture Day
As the national agriculture community joined together to celebrate National Agriculture Day, National Farmers Union (NFU) recognized family farmers and ranchers for the wide array of contributions they make to consumers’ everyday life. This year’s National Ag Day theme was “Food for Life.”
“National Ag Day provides a special opportunity to highlight family farm agriculture and why it is of vital importance to our communities and to our country,” said NFU President Roger Johnson. “Americans have access to an abundance of safe and affordable food when we visit the grocery store because of the daily sacrifices of family farmers and ranchers. When we stop by the gas station, we’re paying less for gasoline because of biofuels grown by family farmers. Nearly half of our nation’s land is taken care of by family farmers, and our waterways and ecosystems benefit from their stewardship. Whether you’re from a rural town, a big city or somewhere in between, you benefit economically, environmentally and socially from family farm agriculture.”
According to the USDA, family-run farming operations make up 99% of America’s 2.1 million farms and 89% of agricultural production.
For more information, view this NFU release online.
USDA Seeks Applications for Funding to Increase
E-Connectivity/Broadband in Rural Areas
Assistant to the Secretary for Rural Development Anne Hazlett March 20 announced that USDA is accepting applications for grants to fund broadband infrastructure projects in unserved rural communities.
“E-connectivity is essential to the economic vitality and quality of life in rural communities,” Hazlett said. “Investing in broadband can strengthen rural economic growth and improve critical access to jobs, education, health care and social services.”
USDA is accepting applications through May 14 in the Community Connect program. Grants from $100,000 to $3 million are available to state and local governments, federally recognized tribes, nonprofits and for-profit corporations. Applicants must be able to provide a 15% match on the desired grant amount.
The funds must be used to provide broadband service at a minimum rate-of-data transmission of 25 megabits downstream and three megabits upstream, which is the speed benchmark that the Federal Communications Commission has officially adopted for broadband connectivity. Awardees must use USDA funding to offer free broadband service to all critical community facilities in their proposed service areas for two years and provide a community center with free broadband service for two years.
Learn more in the full USDA news release online.
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