Southeast AgNET

The Florida Farm Bureau Federation is urging Florida growers to submit comments to the Environmental Protection Agency requesting the agency reevaluate its proposed Reregistration Eligibility Decisions for several important soil fumigants. The EPA has extended the comment period through Oct. 30.

FFBF Agricultural Policy Division assistant director Joshua Craft talks about why this is so important and how growers can go about making comments.

Comments can be made on-line by going to the July 16 Federal Register.

Hundreds of farmers and ranchers from across the state will convene Oct. 8-10 at the Peabody Hotel in Orlando for the Florida Farm Bureau Federation’s 67th annual meeting. Organized around the theme “Growing for Tomorrow,” the meeting will offer events centered around Florida Farm Bureau Women, Young Farmers and Ranchers, legislative action and education, awards for county leaders and environmental stewardship.

Registration information is available on-line here.

The Florida Farm Bureau Federation has established a new scholarship in the memory of a well known citrus and cattle producer.

To learn more about this new scholarship click Here

Nearly 1,800 farm operators nationwide will soon receive checks for the sale of carbon credits. AgraGate, which has partnered with Florida Farm Bureau this year to get information about carbon credits out in the state, has paid out more than $4.2 million to landowners around the country, more than triple last year.

Listen to report here:

Self-proclaimed “land grant and Farm Bureau baby” Representative Adam Putnam (R-FL) spoke to state Farm Bureau presidents meeting in Washington DC last week about a number of issues, but especially energy.

Read more from the American Farm Bureau.

Listen to report here:

Florida Farm Bureau has joined with a company called AgraGate to educate landowners and agricultural producers around the state about the revenue potential of Carbon Credits.

Report (1:00 mp3)

It is with great sadness and tremendously heavy hearts we report of the passing of Lee V. McCoy, known to many of his legions of friends and colleagues as the “RealMcCoy”. Lee lost his battle with cancer early morning Thursday May 22 in a Georgia hospital, admitted the Monday before in a bout with pneumonia.

Please find details regarding Lee’s memorial services at the end of this news post.

For nearly a decade until making a move into a new career opportunity last year, Lee was a regional representative of this radio network. He travelled the region and nation, and occassionally overseas, newsgathering and representing the network from his home location Read the rest of this entry »

We all knew it was coming, but today President Bush officially vetoed the 2007 Farm Bill, and Tyron Spearman updates where things now stand with the overall process.  Report (1:25 mp3)

New carbon market opportunities for Florida agriculture, meeting set for Molino

MOLINO, Fla.—Some Florida farmers, ranchers and private forest owners may be able to capitalize on a new partnership between the state’s largest general agricultural organization and the nation’s leading supplier of carbon credit aggregation services to agriculture.

The Florida Farm Bureau Federation and AgraGate Climate Credits Corp. have agreed to partner in providing carbon credits services to farmers, ranchers and private forest owners. Those interested in learning more can attend one of three meetings being held this month in West Florida. Read the rest of this entry »

(OKEECHOBEE, Fla.)—Twenty-nine farmers were honored for their environmental stewardship Thursday at the Okeechobee County Agri-Civic Center. The owners of the agricultural operations were recognized by Florida Farm Bureau’s County Alliance for Responsible Environmental Stewardship (CARES) program for their outstanding efforts in implementing Best Management Practices (BMPs).
Rep. Denise Grimsley hosted the event along with Florida Agriculture Commissioner Charles Bronson, Florida Farm Bureau President John L. Hoblick and Florida Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Mike Sole attending to help recognize the farmers. Read the rest of this entry »

(Gainesville, Fla.) – The 2008 farm bill passed yesterday by the House of Representatives promises to be more supportive of Florida agricultural producers than previous bills, according to Florida Farm Bureau President John L. Hoblick.
“This farm bill contains a safety net for commodities, increased funds for conservation programs and mandatory spending for specialty crops,” Hoblick said. “It is the best agriculture policy ever for Florida.” Read the rest of this entry »

Here’s Florida Farm Bureau’s legislative Ag Watch May 16, 2008 (pdf file)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - Gainesville, Fla.—Some Florida farmers, ranchers and private forest owners may be able to capitalize on a new partnership between the state’s largest general agricultural organization and the nation’s leading supplier of carbon credit aggregation services to agriculture.

The Florida Farm Bureau Federation and AgraGate Climate Credits Corp. have agreed to partner in providing carbon credits services to farmers, ranchers and private forest owners. Those interested in learning more can attend one of three meetings being held this month in north Florida. Read the rest of this entry »

Here’s Florida Farm Bureau’s legislative Ag Watch April 18, 2008 (pdf file)

Ben Parks of Florida Farm Bureau gives the latest update on the Florida Legislative session.

Report (1:00 mp3)

Here’s Florida Farm Bureau’s legislative Ag Watch April 11, 2008 (pdf file)

Here’s Florida Farm Bureau’s legislative Ag Watch April 4, 2008 (pdf file)

Thanks to Florida Farm Bureau (FFB) for allowing us to post this timely article about the importance of UF/IFAS research efforts for one of Florida’s most important industries - agriculture. The article is by FFB’s G.B. Crawford, (photo right)…
According to various research reports issued by the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS), production agriculture in the Sunshine State generates an annual economic impact of more than $100 billion. Recent declines in other economic sectors have highlighted the stability of the industry’s contribution to Florida’s material life. Read the rest of this entry »

As the Florida Legislative session enters its fourth week, agricultural interests continue to wait anxiously to see what budget cuts will be made to IFAS. Rick Roth of Belle Glade, who is vice president of Florida Farm Bureau, says IFAS research is vital to Florida agriculture.

Report (1:00 mp3)

Ben Parks of Florida Farm Bureau gives an update on week three of the Florida Legislative session.

Report (1:00 mp3)

Florida Farm Bureau president John Hoblick is happy with the turnout this week in Tallahassee for legislative day activities.

Report (1:00 mp3)

Here’s this week’s 3-21-08 edition of Florida Farm Bureau’s
Ag Watch (pdf file) from the FFB Legislative office in Tallahassee.

The Wedgworth Leadership Institute is a fantastic leadership development program for young professionals in the private sector in Florida Agriculture. In this interview with Institute Director Dr Hannah Carter (3:25 mp3) , she describes the intensive leadership program that every couple of years or so gives a handful of individuals the educational opportunity of a lifetime. If you are involved in Florida agriculture, you should listen to her comments and consider someone from your community to nominate for the next class!

Florida Agriculture Commissioner Charlie Bronson opened the program for a bio-fuels informational conference held as part of the Florida Farm Bureau (FFB) legislative day activities Tuesday in Tallahassee. In this interview (4:01 mp3) , Bronson discusses the potential in this area for agriculture in Florida, and outlines several questions that need answers so farmers can get the ball rolling.
One of the south Florida farmers in attendance was Rick Roth, who operates Roth Farms in Belle Glade. Roth is also Vice President of Florida Farm Bureau Federation. In this interview with Roth (6:15 mp3) , he talks to questions being asked by Florida farmers, and explains why he is so excited about the potential for agriculture in the energy production industry.

Florida Farm Bureau’s annual Legislative Day activities in the state Capitol drew one of the largest turnouts ever, of both farmers and ranchers from around the state as well as lawmakers turning out to discuss the issues and fellowship with folks from back home. In this interview with Florida Farm Bureau President John Hoblick (4:07 mp3) during Tuesday night’s FFBF Legislative Reception, he discusses the state of the economy and how Florida agriculture fits into the state budgeting picture, and offers an update on a recent meeting he and other state ag leaders had with University of Florida President Bernie Machen. In photo top right, Hoblick discusses the issues with Florida Agriculture Commissioner Charlie Bronson at Tuesday’s FFBF legislative reception in Tallahassee. In photo on left, Hoblick and Representative Baxter Troutman visit in the midst of the crowd.

Here is the March 2008 South Florida Water Management District Ag Report from FFBF (pdf file).

Florida farmers and ranchers in Tallahassee this week for Florida Farm Bureau legislative day activities probably would rather have been doing something else, but like Senate Ag Committee Chairman J D Alexander they know it is important to make their voices heard.

Report (1:00 mp3)

As Florida Farm Bureau members from around Florida visit Tallahassee this week, Florida Agriculture Commissioner Charles Bronson comments on agriculture’s economic impact on the state and potential for more ag growth through farm-to-fuel types of initiatives. Report (1:00 mp3)

Here’s this week’s edition of Florida Farm Bureau’s Ag Watch (pdf file) from the FFB Legislative office in Tallahassee.

Florida Farm Bureau is preparing for annual Farm Bureau Day at the state capitol March 18.

Limited seats are still available for the briefing dinner at the Cross Creek Driving Range and Golf Course on Monday at 6:30 p.m. Reservations are required and the cost is $10 per person. A second issue briefing will be held in the Civic Center Exhibition Hall at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, with the legislative reception officially beginning at 5:30. The reception cost is $10 each.

Also on Tuesday there will be a briefing on alternative energy from 3-5 pm at the Leon County Civic Center. Speakers are Agriculture Commissioner Charlie Bronson, Public Service Commission Chair Matt Carter, Bill Willingham of the Florida Electric Cooperatives Association and Dana Weber of the Florida Biofuels Association.

Report (1:00 mp3)