An industry traditionally driven by petroleum-based oils is discovering a greener approach to putting rubber on the road – sunflower oil.
As soon as E P A made new Florida water regulations public in recent days, opponents were quick to pounce. This following joint statement is from the Don’t Tax Florida Coalition. By the way, it is reported that pre-registration is necessary for those wishing to appear at the February public hearings on this matter. CLICK HERE to go to an earlier news post with more information, and CLICK HERE for an earlier post with pre-registration links and information from Florida Farm Bureau.
The U.S. EPA announced new water regulations that would apply to Florida and only Florida. (View the rules at http://www.epa.gov/waterscience/standards/rules/florida/). In response, the more than 75 businesses, associations and concerned citizens representing the Don t Tax Florida coalition issued the following joint statement. Read the rest of this entry »
From THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA – By MICHAEL PELTIER
THE CAPITAL, TALLAHASSEE, Jan. 15, 2009…The electronic ink had yet to dry Friday on proposed new federal water quality standards for Florida before combatants chimed in.
On Friday, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency released a set of proposed numeric standards for phosphorus and nitrogen levels in Florida’s lakes, rivers, streams, springs and canals. The proposal comes in response to a consent decree reached by the agency last year with environmentalists frustrated over a lack of progress in enacting tougher water quality standards.
WASHINGTON – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has announced that USDA has awarded more than $46 million through the Specialty Crop Research Initiative (SCRI) to solve critical specialty crop agriculture issues, address priorities and solve problems through multifunctional research and extension.
The Guinness World Record for the world’s largest collection of clothes to recycle has been set by the Cotton From Blue to Green Denim Drive.
JACKSONVILLE, Fla.—The Florida State Horticultural and Florida Soil and Crop Science Societies will hold their joint, annual meeting June 7 through 9, 2009 at the Wyndham Jacksonville Riverwalk, located at 1515 Prudential Drive, Jacksonville, Florida. Read the rest of this entry »
John Deere’s program designed to give rural property owners, agricultural producers and other interested consumers a chance to operate and ask questions about the latest models of utility and compact utility tractors is underway across Florida. Their Drive Green Program includes special equipment displays and ride-and-drives at 4 locations across the state this week. One took place in Middleberg Wednesday while Gainesville was the site of today’s event.
I talked with Eric Hodson, Senior Public Relations Writer for John Deere who is pictured on one of the demonstration tractors set up at the Drive Green event in Gainesville.
I also talked with Bob Dyar, a territory manager for John Deere, who is very excited about the new lineup of tractors.
There are two more events this week in Florida with one Friday, December 5th at Everglades Farm Equipment, in Okeechobee and Saturday, December 6th at the Tampa State Fairgrounds, sponsored by Highland Tractor. To learn more about the new lineup of tractors and implements, click here: www.JohnDeere.com/drivegreen
Get ready to roll at one of John Deere’s “Drive Green” events…over the coming weeks the “Drive Green” Caravan 
can be experienced at numerous stops throughout the southeast and U S eastern seaboard states. In this report, hear Deere’s Eric Hodson discuss the new tractor line this caravan is out to promote. Participants will be able to drive numerous new models and register to win a drawing for a free one year tractor lease. To find more about “Drive Green” in our previous news posts, including details about the Florida locations this week and stops scheduled in other states too, just click here.
John Deere is really focusing on specialty markets for tractors these days. Starting next week they will be on the road showcasing the products during the Drive Green event which will be held at various locations in Florida. Note, the earlier announcement of Belle Glade as the Dec 5 location has been changed to Okeechobee on that same date.
Dec 3 – GreenSouth Equipment, Middleburg, FL
Dec 4 – Greensouth Equip, Gainesville, FL
Dec 5 – Everglades Farm Equipment, OKEECHOBEE, FL
Dec 6 – Tampa State Fairgrounds, sponsored by Highland Tractor
Follow the Drive Green caravan here.
Listen to report here:
John Deere is kicking off its new Drive Green event next week in Middleburg, Florida. The hands-on traveling show will make several stops around the state next week before moving to other areas of the southeast. Follow the big green semi as it moves around the country on the Drive Green utility tractor show blog – www.drivegreentractors.com.
Listen to report here:
John Deere is about ready to kick off its series of events throughout much of the eastern part of the U S to promote its new line of tractors and equipment for specialty crops. The first four events are “previews” that will be held in Florida in early December, where growers and customers will have a hands-on chance to “Drive Green” with various models, and discuss some of the special closeout deals and financing opportunities on last year’s models too.
Stay tuned to Southeast AgNet for details as “Drive Green” makes its debut in here in the “Deep Southeast”. There will be valuable prizes for producers attending these events, and some other special promotional tie ins that will offer opportunities for our region’s producers. The Florida events are Dec 3, GreenSouth Equipment, Middleburg, FL; Dec 4 Greensouth Equip, Gainesville, FL; Dec 5 Everglades Farm Equipment, Belle Glade, FL; and Dec 6 sponsored by Highland Tractor, to be held at Tampa State Fairgrounds…To hear lots more about these events, and about what Deere is doing to better serve specialty crop producers CLICK HERE.
In Sarasota, Florida this week John Deere officials displayed hundreds of tractors, many of them new models to become available in 2009, many of them geared toward the ‘lifestyle’ rural crowd and folks involved in things like citrus, nursery, vineyards and other agriculture operations. According to John Deere representatives on hand for the event, the new models coupled with the more traditional larger models target today’s farm equipment consumer no matter what size of the operation. Whether it be for the very large ag operations or the very small, and all in between, John Deere seems to be making a real effort to serve all market segments when it comes to farm and lawn care equipment. In this post herein you can listen to interviews and view documents we received from the John Deere folks this week in Sarasota, as they hosted agriculture media along with John Deere dealer representatives from throughout North America. Just click to see the rest of this post and you’ll find links to the interviews and other materials. Read the rest of this entry »
This week in Sarasota, Florida John Deere is holding an ag media event to kick off its “Drive Green” campaign. We’re on the scene here in south Florida for this event. Hear more in this report and be sure to stay tuned to Southeast AgNet for more information.
Sponsoring this report: 
Don’t get this “Greening Summit” information confused with another state level event of the same name that took place in Avon Park FL this week. The news release below pertains to follow up information coming out of the big nationwide citrus “Greening Summit” that was organized and hosted near Washington D C a few months back by USDA.
WASHINGTON, April 9, 2008–The U.S. Department of Agriculture today announced the findings from the Dec. 2007 meeting between federal, state and industry leaders to improve America’s defense against citrus greening and its insect vector, the Asian citrus psyllid (ACP).
“This summit provided 65 citrus health experts the opportunity to share their ideas about enhancing cooperative prevention, preparedness, response and recovery efforts for citrus greening and the Asian citrus psyllid,” said Bruce Knight, under secretary for marketing and regulatory programs. Read the rest of this entry »
UF must not forget its Land Grant mission-by Congressman Adam H. Putnam
Talk to anyone involved in Florida agriculture these days and you will hear about the recent controversy over the future of the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS). I think this debate offers a unique opportunity to review the role of research and technology transfer in our state and what one of the oldest industries in Florida can contribute in the 21st century. As one of my professors used to say, “This offers a teaching moment.†This is really about the future of innovation in Florida and how UF can continue to play a unique and increasingly important leadership role for the entire state. Read the rest of this entry »
