In the latest attempt to move all-encompassing food safety legislation, the House Energy and Commerce Committee proposed a bill that would give the Food and Drug Administration new enforcement tools.
Young Farmer and Rancher Conference
(Gainesville, Fla.) – Florida Farm Bureau’s Young Farmers & Ranchers will gather July 18 and 19 at The Plantation Golf Resort & Spa, Crystal River. This year’s conference will bring members back to the basics of agriculture and inspire them as they return to their operations with creative and innovative ideas in the areas of economics, marketing, productivity, and sustainability.
Transportation Funding Cut for Food Banks
Florida’s state budget contains bad news for Florida’s food banks with a 50 percent cut in transportation funding. David Reaney, President of the Florida Association of Food Banks, says that the cut puts an added strain on an already challenging task.
New Fumigant Regulations Released
The new regulations for fumigant buffers have been released by the EPA and will go into affect in 2011. The EPA has developed a fact sheet regarding the new buffer requirements.
Peanuts Still in Loan & Requesting Planting Deadline Extension
Today Tyron Spearman looks at how many peanuts are still in the loan program and also how some want to extend the peanut planting deadline for crop insurance.
Florida Ag In Review for June 1, 2009
In this weeks podcast, Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack speaks on the status of Animal ID, Florida Cattlemen sizzle the summer through partnerships, Gary Cooper wraps up his Citrus Tour, Florida Food Banks take a cut in financial assistance and Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Charles Bronson talks about the new E85 fueling station in the state. To hear Florida’s weekly …
HLB Success in China Turns Citrus Researcher into Optimist
In this series of reports from Ernie Neff, University of Florida geneticist and plant breeder Fred Gmitter tells about seeing healthy blocks of citrus in China surrounded by HLB (greening)-infected groves. He describes how some Chinese successfully manage HLB with timely psyllid control, high density plantings and good tree nutrition. There are discussions of how the China findings might apply …
FL Commissioner’s Spotlight on Farm to Fuel Summit
This week’s Commissioner’s Spotlight from Florida Agriculture Commissioner Charles Bronson is about the 2009 Farm to Fuel Summit. More information is available on the web by clicking on Summit.
Food Price Escalation
Another source of rising prices. Everett Griner tells us all about it.
Brazil Citrus Tour: More Reflections from a Florida Grower
John Smoak (in photo) and the other Florida growers participating in last week’s citrus industry tour to Brazil are back in Florida. But before leaving Brazil, Smoak offered the comments in this report about a five year old block of citrus that will soon be destroyed and replaced with sugar cane. We were told owners loved the young trees so …