News July 2018 Commodity Corner

July 2018 Commodity Corner

July 2018 Commodity Corner
July 6, 2018 |

Horticulture

Tree tissue sample surveys have begun for citrus greening in south Alabama. The disease is transferred to trees by the jumping plant louse. Further prevention is being researched. Also in south Alabama, Produce Safety Alliance training is July 16 in Mobile with a follow-up farm tour July 23. Contact Diane Anthony at (251) 574-8445 to register.

-Caleb Hicks, Alabama Fruit & Vegetable Growers Association intern

Beef; Equine; Meat Goat & Sheep

Livestock haulers are exempt from electronic logging device and hours of service enforcement until Sept. 30. Bills in the U.S. House and Senate have been recently introduced to provide more permanent solutions. H.R.6079 would expand enforcement to 300 air miles from the source and extend drive time to 15 hours. S.3051 would organize a group to reform regulations for all ag haulers.

-Nate Jaeger, divisions director

Peanuts

Alabama Extension’s Kris Balkcom predicts Alabama peanut acreage will be 165,000 acres in 2018, a 16 percent reduction from 2017. Only 65 percent of the peanut crop was planted in May. The remainder was planted in June.

-Caleb Bristow, division director

Pork

On June 29, a North Carolina jury awarded $25 million in nuisance damages to neighboring residents of a hog farm for Murphy-Brown LLC, a Smithfield Foods subsidiary. The same week, the North Carolina legislature enacted S.B. 711 to help protect hog farms from future frivolous nuisance lawsuits. The new law will not stop pending lawsuits being tried in 2018.

-Guy Hall, division director

Wheat & Feed Grain

A settlement has been reached with Syngenta over class-action and individual lawsuits related to the sale and marketing of its Agrisure Viptera and Duracade corn seeds. Farmers and other class members have until Aug. 10 to object to or exclude themselves from the settlement. Claims must be filed by Oct. 12 to receive payout. Learn more at cornseedsettlement.com.

-Carla Hornady, division director 

Wildlife

For those traveling toward the coast, take advantage of the 47-day red snapper season through Sept. 3. Weekend harvest begins at 12:01 a.m. Friday and closes at 11:59 p.m. Sunday. Anglers must report harvest through Snapper Check. Learn more at OutdoorAlabama.com.

-William Green, division director

View Related Articles