USDA Secretary Perdue Engages House Ag Committee in Discussion on the Ag Economy and How USDA Can Help

 

House Agriculture Committee Chairman Mike Conaway welcomed newly-confirmed U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Sec. Sonny Perdue to Capitol Hill to testify on the “State of the Rural Economy.” 

 

Chairman Conaway released a statement on Perdue's time with the House Ag Committee at the end of the hearing- “Against the backdrop of a four-year, 50-percent decline in net farm income, Sec. Perdue’s comments today rightly recognized the concern of America’s farmers and ranchers and the many challenges faced by rural America. I was pleased to hear the secretary express his dedication to effectively and efficiently optimizing USDA to better see America’s farmers and ranchers through these tough times. By underscoring his commitment to work with newly-confirmed U.S. Trade Representative Lighthizer to enforce U.S. trade laws and hold our trading partners accountable to their commitments, Sec. Perdue can begin leveling the playing field for our nation's farmers and ranchers.

 

“It was also refreshing to hear Sec. Perdue acknowledge the importance of strong U.S. farm policy. With the farm bill upon us, it is going take all of us in the ag community working together to ensure we have an effective safety net for all farmers and ranchers, including our friends in the cotton industry who are in need of immediate assistance.

 

“These are challenging times in agriculture, but we can rest assured Sec. Perdue will be a fierce advocate for our nation’s farmers and ranchers.”

Video: Winter Canola Trial in Mississippi | Can It Work for Double Cropping? | Pioneer Agronomy

Can winter canola open new opportunities for growers in the Mid-South? In this agronomy update from Noxubee County, Mississippi, Pioneer agronomist Gus Eifling shares an early look at a first-year winter canola trial and what farmers are learning from the field.

Planted in late October on 30-inch rows, the crop is now entering the bloom stage and progressing quickly. In this video, we walk through current field conditions, fertility management, and how timing could make this crop a valuable option for double-cropping soybeans or cotton.

If harvest timing lines up with early May, growers may be able to transition directly into another crop during ideal planting windows. Ongoing field trials will help determine whether canola could become a viable rotational option for the region.

Watch for:

How winter canola is performing in its first season in this Mississippi field

Why growers chose 30-inch rows for this trial

What the crop looks like as it moves from bolting into bloom

Fertility strategy, including nitrogen and sulfur applications

How canola harvest timing could enable double-cropping with soybeans or cotton

Upcoming trials comparing soybeans after canola vs. traditional planting

As more growers look for ways to maximize acres and diversify rotations, experiments like this help determine what new crops might fit into existing systems.