As we have reached the midpoint in this legislative session, Florida Farm Bureau’s Director of State Legislative Affairs, Ben Parks, encourages the ag community to express their concerns to their legislators regarding a House proposal to boost tax revenue by doubling truck registration fees.
Trying to Simplify Regulations and Permit Costs for FL Agriculture
Florida Senator Carey Baker, Chairman of the Senate Committee on General Government Appropriations, says Florida farmers and ranchers deserve a break from repetitive and costly duplicative permits and regulations. He says there is legislation on the move to help farmers simplify their regulatory lives.
Costly to Farmers, Hard to Control
Rural crime increases. Everett Griner tells us all about this dilemma today.
Putnam, Fla. Lawmakers Seek Federal Help for Avocado Growers
WASHINGTON – Congressman Adam Putnam (R-Fla.) today announced he has sent a bipartisan letter, co-signed by a dozen other members of the Florida congressional delegation, to the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture seeking steps to protect the state’s avocado growers. Without strong action, the lawmakers wrote, “the avocado industry is threatened with extinction.” The Laurel Wilt fungus, a disease spread by …
Politics Effect on Agriculture
Everett Griner looks at COOL.
The Lure of Gardening
With the recent inception of gardens at local USDA offices across the nation as a demonstration of sustainability, Bill Hoffman of the Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service says, home gardening is becoming popular again.
FL Food Banks: Tax Incentives for Donating Farmers
In this report, Chip Hinton representing the Florida Association of Food Banks says there are new tax advantages available to farmers who provide good but unmarketable produce to programs to feed the needy. E-mail us at jemychip@msn.com, or call him directly at 813-478-1734. You can also learn more about the Florida Association of Food Banks at www.fafb.org
Vilsack Discusses Food Safety
Southeast AgNet’s Randall Weiseman recently interviewed U S Agriculture Tom Vilsack. From that interview, some of his comments in this report about food safety issues and how the administration views the need for an overhaul of the food safety system he says is antiquated.
Paul E. Sumner Earns Donnie H. Morris Award
Paul E. Sumner Earns Donnie H. Morris Award of Excellence in Extension
Governor Downsizes U S Sugar Buyout Plan In Hopes Of Saving It
Amidst photos of the “River of Grass” Florida Governor Charlie Crist this week explained a plan to reduce the size of the proposed U S Sugar purchase plan in hopes of saving the deal. The battered economy has lots of folks asking lots of questions about the reasoning, and the timing of the deal. Meanwhile, U S Sugar put out …