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News April 2019 Commodity Corner

April 2019 Commodity Corner

April 2019 Commodity Corner
April 5, 2019 |

Bee & Honey 

Auburn University’s Bee Lab is gathering information on bee populations in the state from bee and honey producers. Farmers are asked to fill out the Bee Informed Partnership’s National Honeybee Colony Loss and Management Survey, which is found at bip2.beeinformed.org/survey/.

-Hunter McBrayer, division director

Hay & Forage

The Alfalfa in the South workshop is May 7 at Cattlemen’s Park in Troy. Educational topics include variety selection, weed and insect control, economics and research updates. To register, call the Wiregrass Research and Extension Center at (334) 693-2010 by April 30.

-Brady Ragland, division director

Cotton, Soybean, Wheat & Feed Grain

On Dec. 11, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed the Clean Water Act, which revised Waters of the United States (WOTUS) to clarify regulatory authority. Show support for the new Clean Water Act during the comment period, which closes April 15. Use this link to log in and send your message: tinyurl.com/WOTUScomment. 

-Carla Hornady, divisions director

Pork

In late March, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) reported U.S. pork is essentially free of veterinary drug residues. According to the National Pork Board, producers use antibiotics to keep pigs healthy, they follow proper procedures to ensure pork meets FDA regulations. Comparing production numbers, pig farmers are producing more pounds of pork — averaging 282-pound hogs in 2017 versus 266-pound hogs in 2009 — with fewer antibiotics.

-Brian Hardin, Governmental & Ag Programs Department director

Wildlife

This summer, USDA Wildlife Services will begin small-scale field trials in Texas and Alabama to test the effectiveness of sodium nitrite, a toxicant used to combat feral swine.

-William Green, division director

Peanuts

Peanut farmers will vote April 15-May 3 whether to continue their national checkoff through the National Peanut Board. USDA recently announced the referendum on the Peanut Promotion, Research and Information Order. Paper and electronic ballots are available.

-Brian Hardin, Governmental & Ag Programs Department director

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