Concerns about crop dumping have been a refrain in the state since shortly after the North American Free Trade Agreement was approved more than a quarter century ago. (TALLAHASSEE/August 30, 2021) — Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried on Monday urged people to purchase Florida-grown blueberries, strawberries and other produce to help counter what she described as “unfair foreign trade practices” by …
National Farmers Market Week Underway
The U.S. Secretary of Agriculture proclaimed this first week of August as National Farmers Market Week. It is a way to champion the direct-to-consumer producers, market managers, and customers that make their communities come alive during market days. According to a story from Rod Bain, highlights of the week are not only the markets themselves, but the innovations that allow these institutions to …
Avoiding Heat-Related Deaths
A new University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) report showed 215 people in Florida died from heat-related causes in the last 10 years. The fact that heat-related deaths happen throughout the year surprised the researchers who wrote the report. Serap Gorucu, a UF/IFAS assistant professor of agricultural and biological engineering, helped write the report. She and …
How to Care and Plant a Sweet Treat, Sugar Cane
How to care and plant a sweet treat. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. Sugar Cane is the number one commercially harvested plant in the world. Growing in your home garden is not only possible, it’s also easy. Plus it makes a lovely ornamental, sort of like a mix between a giant grass and bamboo. You can grow this …
Estimating Crop Yield With Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs)
A researcher at the Agricultural University of Athens (AUA) in Greece is using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to estimate crop yield. “Crop yield is the most important piece of information for crop management in precision agriculture. Early crop yield estimations allow farmers to optimize farm operation scheduling, field management and product marketing decisions,” said AUA associate professor Spyros Fountas. Fountas …
Florida Right to Farm Bill Awaits Governor’s Signature
Just hours after the Florida House gave final approval Thursday, a bill that would expand legal protections for farmers was sent to Gov. Ron DeSantis. According to the News Service of Florida, the House voted 110-7 to support expanding the state’s “Right to Farm” law, a top priority of Senate President Wilton Simpson, R-Trilby. The Senate passed the bill (SB …
Farmers to Families Food Box Program Will End Soon
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack told House lawmakers Wednesday the Department of Agriculture is ending the Farmers to Families Food Box program. According to a story from Gary Crawford, it will end later this month.
Right to Farm Bill Clears Florida Senate
Thursday, during the 2021 Florida Legislative Session, a proposal to help shield farmers from nuisance lawsuits was approved by the Florida Senate. Director of Governmental Affairs for the Florida Cattlemen’s Association, Sam Ard, explains what Senate Bill 88 does.
‘Right to Farm’ Expansion Clears Senate
(NSF) — A proposal to help shield farmers from “nuisance” lawsuits was approved Thursday by the Florida Senate, as some critics contend it is intended to protect the sugar industry around Lake Okeechobee. A priority of Senate President Wilton Simpson, R-Trilby, the measure (SB 88) was approved in a 37-1 vote. It would expand Florida’s “Right to Farm” law, which …
House Agriculture Committee Hears About Food Insecurity in America
Written Testimony for the House of Representatives Committee on AgricultureA Look at Food Insecurity in AmericaMarch 11th, 2021Presented By:Zippy DuvallPresidentAmerican Farm Bureau Federation Mr. Chairman and members of the committee, my name is Zippy Duvall. I am a third-generation farmer and president of the American Farm Bureau Federation. I am pleased to offer this testimony on behalf of Farm Bureau …