FLORIDA GROWERS ASSESS IMPACT OF COLDEST WEATHER OF THE SEASON – Damage, crop losses likely in some parts of the state…It always takes a few days for growers to determine the full extent of damage to tender winter fruit and vegetable crops, but according to this release from FFVA this morning it looks like there will be at least some …
UF Sr VP Jimmy Cheek Leaving Soon for University of Tennessee
In this photo, released by the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, UF President Bernie Machen and Jimmy G. Cheek, senior vice president for agriculture and natural resources, share a light moment during Cheek’s farewell gathering at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center — Thursday, Jan. 15, 2009. About 350 people attended the event to honor Cheek, who …
New Sugarcane Varieties Research Underway
In this report provided from the USDA radio team, news of sugarcane research underway in Florida that is showing promise for new varieties.
FL Special Session Budget Cuts Hit UF/IFAS, FDACS
Florida Farm Bureau’s Ben Parks in Tallahassee offers more details and insight into the Special Session budget cuts and key agriculture concerns going forward, since much more budget cutting is expected in the general session yet to come. In the first report below, Farm Bureau’s Parks discusses the general situation and some of the impacts to FDACS, in the second …
FL Senate Committee on Economy Looking for Input at Workshops
More comments in these two reports from FL Senator Don Gaetz, Chairman of the Florida Senate Committee on the Economy, who says a series of public workshops starting this week will seek input from businesses and citizens on ideas to get the Florida economy going again. Gaetz says Florida agriculture in particular can be an important part of the process …
FL Farm Bureau Follow Up On Ag Budget Cuts in Special Session
In this report, Florida Farm Bureau Director of Legislative Affairs Ben Parks in Tallahassee gives our listeners a rundown of the budget cuts to the Florida Dept of Agriculture in the Special Session this month.
FL Ag Urged To Attend FL Senate Committee Workshops
In this report, comments from Florida Senator Don Gaetz about a series of three workshops scheduled in the immediate future by the Florida Senate Committee on the Economy, which he chairs. Gaetz says agriculture is a key to Florida’s economy, and agricluture legislative representatives are urging farmers and ranchers to turn out at these meetings, even on short notice, to …
FL Rep. Poppell: Agriculture Research Critical For Many Reasons
As state lawmakers wrestle to whittle some four percent from the state budget in this special session, with expectations to do much more carving on the budget in a few weeks, maintaining the integrity of important programs and services is the hope of many. In this report, comments from Rep. Ralph Poppell, a citrus grower from Legislative District 29 in …
Grass Roots Involvement In Legislative Process Encouraged
In this report, comments from Florida Senator Carey Baker, Chairman of the Senate Committee on General Government Appropriations, who says at times like these it is important that producers themselves stay abreast of the issues and get involved in the process. There are many opportunities for farmers and ranchers to join others in Tallahassee during the Session. Also a mention …
FL Legislature Works to Cut State Budget in All Areas
We spent some time in Tallahassee this week to catch up on the budget cutting process underway in this special session, and what may be expected in terms of further cuts later, in the general session scheduled to get underway in early March. In this series of reports, we speak with three different lawmakers about agriculture and related issues as …