Turning Point for Florida Ag

Randall Weiseman Energy, Florida

At the recent Farm to Fuel Summit in Florida, the state’s chief financial officer told the crowd that biofuels are the future for Florida agriculture. CFO Alex Sink noted that one of the turning points in Florida’s history was when citrus first started to be grown in the state. “My bold prediction is that this sea change that we are …

Bright Future for Biofuels in Florida

Randall Weiseman Energy, Florida, General

The future for Florida is in cellulosic ethanol and Florida Agriculture Commissioner Charles Bronson believes that will happen sooner than most people think. There were about 500 people in attendance at the second annual Farm to Fuel Summit in St. Petersburg, Florida July 18-20. That’s double last year’s attendance and Bronson says he expects it to just keep growing because …

Lots of News for FL Citrus This Week

Gary Cooper Citrus, Energy, Florida, General

In the first report posted below, I cram several timely headlines in for citrus interests. In the second report, President/CEO Alan Banks of Losonoco, Inc, the company building Florida’s first Ethanol plant in Bartow, says he wants to talk to citrus people about alternative crops for empty acreage and citrus by-products that can be used in ethanol production. Report (2:00 …

Florida Farmers Sought for Fuel Crops Production Contracts

Gary Cooper Citrus, Corn, Energy, Field Crops, Florida, General, Specialty Crops

Alan Banks is President/CEO of Losonoco Inc, a company presently building Florida’s first ethanol plant in Bartow. Banks wants to talk to Florida farmers and citrus growers about contracting for materials for the plant, set to go on line in 2008. Listen to the entire interview in this report, particularly at the very end where Banks says to Florida Farmers, …

A Toast to Ethanol Profitability

Gary Cooper Energy, Florida, General

In this photo released from the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, UF Senior Vice President for Agriculture and Natural Resources Jimmy Cheek (left), UF Distinguished Professor of Microbiology Lonnie Ingram (center) and Verenium Vice President for Business Development Tim Eves (right) raise a toast to celebrate the first payment from Verenium to UF for use of …

FL AgNet Week In Review July 20, 2007

Randall Weiseman Beef, Cattle, Citrus, Citrus Expo News, Energy, Florida, General, Podcast

In this weeks podcast, National Cowboy Day is planned for July 28, the second annual Farm to Fuel Summit held in Sarasota, Department of Plant Industry meets with growers at five meetings across the state, and newly elected Florida Citrus Chairman Ben Albritton, Jr. talks about his plans for the year. To hear Florida’s weekly reviews subscribe to our podcast …

Florida Governor on Farm to Fuel

Chuck Energy, Florida

Government and industry leaders addressed a sold-out crowd at the second annual Farm to Fuel Summit in St. Petersburg on Thursday. Florida governor Charlie Crist told the group that fuels made from agricultural commodities have reached the tipping point in terms of public acceptance. Crist also announced that he would be going to Brazil in November on a trade mission …

2007 Florida Farm to Fuel Summit

Randall Weiseman Energy, Florida, General

Florida Agriculture Commissioner Charles Bronson is kicks off the 2007 Farm to Fuel Summit Thursday, bringing together hundreds of industry leaders in agriculture, petroleum, academia, financial institutions and government who want to make Florida a leader in the production of renewable energy. Florida Governor Charlie Crist is the keynote speaker Thursday morning and Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink will also …