Florida Ag Innovation Summit and USDA Helps Hog Producers
From the Ag Information Network, I’m Bob Larson with your Agribusiness Update.
**Florida Ag Commissioner Nikki Fried announced the second Florida Agriculture Innovation Summit will take place March 30-31.
The two-day virtual summit is supported by the governments of Florida, Israel, Canada, and the Netherlands.
Hosted by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services in collaboration with the Florida-Israel Business Accelerator, the 2022 summit will focus on technologies and advances in water conservation and sustainable agriculture.
More than 600 people participated in the inaugural summit.
www.fdacs.gov/News-Events/Press-Releases/2021-Press-Releases/Florida-International-Ag-Innovation-Summit-to-Take-Place-March-30-31-2022
**Fertilizer prices continue to skyrocket, as much as 300% in some areas, as farmers grapple with increased costs preparing for the 2022 growing season.
American Farm Bureau Federation economists found several elements contributing to record-high prices, including increased prices for raw nutrients, higher demand and energy costs.
Farm Bureau President Zippy Duvall says, "We urge the President to look for ways to bring fertilizer prices down, which includes resolving supply chain disruptions and removing import duties."
**The USDA announced a new program to assist hog producers who faced reduced market prices due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Spot Market Hog Pandemic Program is part of USDA’s Pandemic Assistance for Producers initiative and addresses gaps in previous assistance for hog producers.
The program assists hog producers who sold hogs through a negotiated sale from April 16, 2020, through September 1, 2020.
