The third week of the 2010 Florida Legislative Session brought Farm Bureau members to Tallahassee to discuss the issues with their legislators. And as we look toward the fourth week of the session, Ben Parks, director of state legislative affairs for the Florida Farm Bureau, says committees are still working on balancing the budget. Download Audio
FL Farm Bureau “Ag Watch” Tallahassee Report March 19, 2010
Here’s this week’s 03-19-10 edition of Florida Farm Bureau’s Ag Watch (pdf file) from the FFB Legislative office in Tallahassee.
NRCS Chief Dave White Conducts Agricultural Air Quality Task Force Meeting
NRCS Chief Dave White chaired the national Agricultural Air Quality Task Force (AAQTF) meeting last week in Tallahassee, Florida. Also on hand to help support the chief were Elvis Graves, acting designated federal official and Carlos Suarez, state conservationist in Florida. In 1996, Congress directed the Chief of the Natural Resources Conservation Service to establish a task force to address …
Sustainability
Sustainability is hard to identify. Everett Griner gives it a shot. Download Audio
Farm State Senators Oppose Proposed Cuts to Agriculture Budget
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 …
Gully Branch Tree Farm 2010 Governor’s Environmental Stewardship Winner
Gully Branch Tree Farm was the 2010 recipient of the Governor’s Environmental Stewardship Award for Agriculture. And owners/operators Earl and Wanda Barrs explain how they merged their love of forestry and education together to share their knowledge of conservation to hundreds of students every spring. Download Audio
Ag Awareness
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
Grassroots Opposition to Climate Change Bill Delivered to Senate
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 …
It Is Official–Southeast AgNet Buys Book Business
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, …
Long Leaf Comeback
The Majestic Long Leaf Pine is on a comeback and Everett Griner tells us about it. Download Audio