By: Brad Buck, University of Florida/IFAS Using some pleasant-smelling chemicals, avocado growers may soon be able to repel beetles that inject a potentially deadly fungus into their trees, saving fruit and money, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences researchers say. When they’re infected with the laurel wilt fungus, redbay trees – a close cousin to the avocado …
Sticker Shock: Examining the Economic Impacts of Land Acquisition in the EAA
Published with permission of the James Madison Institute by Dr. J. Antonio Villamil Founder and Principal of the Washington Economics Group, Inc. Over the past several years, a policy debate has emerged surrounding the most efficient and effective course of action to address a complex series of challenges regarding the Everglades – its protection, its restoration, and its future. There …
House Cool to Negron Water Plan
by Jim Turner The News Service of Florida It appears doubtful the House will take up, as written, a $2.4 billion proposal by Senate President Joe Negron to buy land south of Lake Okeechobee to ease the impacts of polluted water releases into estuaries on the east and west coasts.
Alabama NRCS Reminds Landowners about Long Leaf Pine Initiative
While the regional drought monitor looks much better today than it did a few weeks ago, there are still many areas in the Northern half of Alabama in the severe to extreme drought category. And Tim Albritton, state staff forester with USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Alabama, knows some forest owners have been able to fair the drought …
Animal Health Market Forecasted to Reach $58 Billion by 2025
A new report projects the animal health market will be worth $58.5 billion by 2025. Grand View Research reports the market is driven by technological advancements in veterinary care, which are anticipated to serve future growth opportunities to the market. The research agency says the advanced work of identifying emerging animal health issues in developing economies provides a high growth …
Bird Flu Strain Becoming More Severe in China
China reported this week the nation is assessing a new strain of avian influenza, H7N9, which officials report has evolved into a more severe form in birds.
Canada, Mexico Want All NAFTA Partners at Renegotiation Table
Senior officials from Canada and Mexico say renegotiations of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) will happen with all nations at the table. The trade agreement between the U.S., Canada and Mexico is being targeted by President Donald Trump for “tweaking.”
Trump Pledges Support of the Renewable Fuel Standard
President Donald Trump penned a letter this week reiterating his support for the Renewable Fuel Standard. The Renewable Fuels Association released the letter during the National Ethanol Conference in San Diego, California. Trump told the ethanol industry in the letter that “your president and this administration values the importance of renewable fuels to America’s economy.” RFA President and CEO Bob …
House Agriculture Subcommittee’s Plan Farm Bill Hearings
The House Agriculture Committee has scheduled two subcommittee hearings on the next farm bill next week. The Subcommittee on Conservation and Forestry will hold a public hearing next Tuesday morning regarding conservation policy in the next farm bill.
USDA Invests $4.8 Million in University Agricultural Programs
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) today announced 19 grants totaling $4,790,100 to support agricultural science programs at non-land-grant universities. The funding is made possible through NIFA’s Capacity Building Grants for Non-Land-Grant Colleges of Agriculture (NLGCA) program, authorized by the 2014 Farm Bill.