Southeast AgNET

Sustainability is hard to identify. Everett Griner gives it a shot.

Download Audio

WASHINGTON – Congressman Adam Putnam today welcomed an announcement from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that it will delay a portion of its new and complex rules for nutrients in Florida waters and will invite a third party scientific review of the standards.

“EPA promised to review the rigor of their science when they met with me and other members of the Florida congressional delegation earlier this month,” said Putnam. “It appears they may have known their science was lacking. This has been an example of the danger of them charging ahead on a tight deadline with thousands of technical standards for every Florida water body when Florida’s Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and the Florida Water Management Districts don’t believe those standards are supported by science.” Read the rest of this entry »

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Saxby Chambliss (R-GA), Ranking Member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, and U.S. Senator Pat Roberts (R-KS), a senior member of the Committee, announced they sent a letter to the President opposing budget cuts to farm programs in a tough economy. The letter was also signed by Senators Thad Cochran (R-MS), John Thune (R-SD), James Risch (R-ID), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Mike Crapo (R-ID), Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX) and David Vitter (R-LA).

Download Audio

The following is the text of the letter sent March 15, 2010:
Read the rest of this entry »

USDA’s Farm Storage Facility Loan program has been amended to allow producers to build cold storage facilities to store their fresh fruits and vegetables.

Download Audio

Scientists and collaborators with the Agriculture Research Service are working to overcome the issue of two fungi affecting potato producers.

Download Audio

There are many in agriculture who are strongly opposed to the President’s proposed cuts to agriculture, and Tyron Spearman reports that includes those in the peanut industry.

Download Audio

Terry Harris with USDA’s Federal-State Market News Service in Florida and Georgia says there are a variety of factors producers need to be aware of when it comes to marketing your cattle.

Download Audio

The efforts of sending peanut butter to Haiti will continue until the end of this month as Ken Barton, Executive Director of the Florida Peanut Producers Association, said this is a very worth-while humanitarian effort.

Download Audio

The chief operating officer of the Citrus Research and Development Foundation, Dan Gunter, previewed the foundation’s proposed research agreement with the University of Florida at this week’s Florida Citrus Commission meeting. Southeast AgNet’s Ernie Neff has the summary.

Download Audio

Post sponsor:
Copper coverage with Less Metallic Copper per acre.

GMO crops are still controversial. Everett Griner explains.

Download Audio

TALLAHASSEE – For weeks, unusually cold winter temperatures delayed Florida’s strawberry harvest, leaving grocery shelves empty. But now, finally, good news: The strawberries are ripening, and they’re even sweeter than usual.

Download Audio
Read the rest of this entry »

Florida Department of Citrus and city officials celebrate the department’s new headquarters in Bartow Wednesday. Southeast AgNet’s Ernie Neff has that story and summarizes Citrus Commission activities.

Download Audio

American Agriculture: Abundant, Affordable, Amazing. That’s the theme for Ag Awareness Week which culminates this Saturday, March 20th, with National Ag Day. And in the following two reports, Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack, celebrates those principles and the farmers that work tirelessly everyday to bring them to us.

Download Audio

Download Audio

The cattle industry is still struggling with this. Where are they now in getting it implemented? Everett Griner tells us.

Download Audio

Florida Farm Bureau members in Tallahassee this week were invited by House Speaker Larry Cretul of Ocala for a rare meeting in House Chambers during Farm Bureau Day at the state Capitol. Marion County cattle rancher and Florida Farm Bureau Treasurer Jeff Vermillion (photo right) helped set up the special event, where Farm Bureau members were able to sit in lawmakers chairs throughout the Chambers during the ’special sesson’ with Speaker Cretul. Shown seated in photo are Melissa and Jake Raburn. Melissa is a former state FFA president and director of the new Banner Center of Agriscience. Jake is in charge of marketing and sales for Hinton Strawberry farms, Plant City. This was their first time participating in Farm Bureau Days. In photo bottom left is Roland Yee and Michelle Williamson. Roland is a specialty vegetable grower from south Florida and a former American Farm Bureau Young Farmer committee member. Michelle is a strawberry grower from Hillsborough County, on the state board and is the state chair of the women’s committee.
(AgNet Thanks Erin Best for Photos).

Florida Farm Bureau played a big role in The American Farm Bureau Federation’s successful, six-month campaign to oppose cap-and-trade climate change legislation. And national affairs coordinator for the Florida Farm Bureau Federation, Adam Basford, says the Don’t CAP Our Future campaign culminated last week when farmer and rancher members from across the country presented key lawmakers some of the 100,000 grassroots calls-to-action gathered in opposition to the issue.

Download Audio

USDA’s March sugar outlook shows a decrease in U.S. sugar consumption and demand as World Agricultural Outlook Board chair, Gerry Bange, says there are two reasons for the decline.

Download Audio

A survey conducted by the American Farm Bureau Federation showed that profitability, increasing government regulations and the impact of activist groups are the top concerns of America’s leading young farmers and ranchers. But committee chair, Will Gilmer, says a high majority of them also see the importance of communicating their message.

Download Audio

Bon Appetit’s restaurant editor, Andrew Knowlton, has predicted the top food trends for 2010.

Download Audio

Some special events are on tap for hundreds of Florida Farm Bureau members at the state Capitol this week visiting lawmakers in this very tough budget year. Leading the group, Florida Farm Bureau President John Hoblick, speaking with us in this interview about the budget; a new ag economic study to be presented to ag committees; timing concerns of budget decisions; and a rare event for Farm Bureau members attending this year’s “Farm Bureau Day” at the Capitol. Click to listen.
Download Audio Farm Bureau is hosting lawmakers this afternoon at what has become one of the most attended annual receptions during the Session. This year another popular event, the annual 4-H Auction, is being featured at the Farm Bureau reception.

News Brief from UF/IFAS-3/16/10: Satsuma oranges, one of the most cold-tolerant citrus fruits, have long been produced on the U.S. Gulf Coast. And for just as long, growers have fought the destructive citrus red mite, which feeds on the satsuma’s leaves and fruit.
But a study by Auburn University researchers indicates that three commercially available predatory mites are effective against the pest. The study was published online March 4 in the journal Biological Control. Read the rest of this entry »

Wes Williamsom, Treasurer of the Florida Beef Council, said with beef checkoff revenues down in the state, it’s a challenge to make those dollars work in the areas needed to promote their product in a unique state like Florida.

Download Audio

A big event for the peanut industry was held last week in our nation’s capitol as Tyron Spearman has the details.

Download Audio

In a short interview following comments at Florida Farm Bureau’s legislative briefing Monday night, Senate Agriculture Chair Carey Baker discusses budget challenges, the expected release of the latest Florida agriculture economics study, and the importance of “Farm Bureau Days” at the state Capitol.
Download Audio

Florida Farm Bureau Legislative Affairs Director Ben Parks presents Senate Ag Chairman Carey Baker a birthday cake while House Ag Chair Trudi Williams looks on and Farm Bureau members sing at Monday night’s legislative briefing & BBQ. Baker and Williams updated key issues for several hundred FFB members in Tallahassee for the annual Farm Bureau Days legislative events. In a brief comment to AgNet just as the program began, Williams says she supports many Farm Bureau policies and warns of pending new Springs legislation yet to be formally introduced. Click to listen.
Download Audio

Perry Mason of Lake Placid tells why his family stopped removing HLB-infected trees and started using nutritionals.

Download Audio

Post sponsor:
Copper coverage with Less Metallic Copper per acre.

Ocala, FL — Southeast AgNet Publications Inc. announced the acquisition of Florida Science Source Inc., a citrus book publishing and reseller operation. It bought the business from founder Will Wardowski and his wife Christie.

Wardowski is well known in citrus circles all over the world as a post-harvest expert. He was the first editor of Fresh Citrus Fruits 1st edition, published in New York in 1986. Known to citrus packers as “The Green Bible,” Fresh Citrus Fruits 1st and 2nd editions include more than 40 authors from around the world. Read the rest of this entry »

State lawmakers are hearing from hundreds of concerned farmers and ranchers this week as Florida Farm Bureau members again descend on the Capitol to tell their industry’s story. The ‘budget’ word abounds in most discussions – the state budget billions in the hole and many legislators saying there will be no new taxes this election year. Meanwhile, ag leaders and University of Florida economists are scurrying to see details in the latest agriculture economic research study yet to come in hopes it will help prove the value of agriculture to Florida’s economy. House Speaker Larry Cretul has invited Farm Bureau members into the House Chamber this afternoon, and afterward Farm Bureau hosts its annual reception for lawmakers near the Capitol building.

The rural post office is vanishing. Why? Everett Griner looks into this today and tells us his view.

Download Audio

The redbay ambrosia beetle has been found in an insect trap in Miami-Dade County and Florida Ag Commissioner Charles Bronson says this finding is of great concern to the specialty crop community.

Download Audio