Southeast AgNET

Agricultural Research Scientists are testing a bait-and-kill approach to trap varroa mites.

Natural Resources Conservation Service Chief, Dave White says public education about the importance of pollinators to American Agriculture and our nation’s food supply is key in preventing populations of bees, butterflies and other natural pollinators from dwindling.

AL:
FL:

An eleventh-hour court injunction has stopped the Obama administration’s plan to suspend H-2A reforms put in place by the Bush administration back in January. The Florida Fruit and Vegetable Association was part of the suite that challenged the Department of Labor’s action and President Mike Stuart says that overturning the suspension is good for all involved.

Last week was celebrated as the 3rd annual National Pollinator Week. And USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service Chief Dave White explains why pollinators deserve the recognition.

USDA’s National agricultural Statistic Service is still collecting data for the National Organic Production Surveys. The Survey forms can still be obtained online.

Ranking Member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, Saxby Chambliss, has introduced two pieces of legislation to promote a more effective national response to outbreaks of food-borne sickness.

The 9 month suspension on the H2A rule has begun and Joshua Craft with the Florida Farm Bureau Federation says that eventual outcome is unclear.

No News is still no news. Everett Griner gives us the details.

Eating healthy and having fun. Today Everett Griner tells us just what we have to do to.

As more Americans are turning to canning food as a preservation method many are discovering, or rediscovering tips on how to make the venture successful.

In this three-part series we will look at the educational resources many agricultural organizations have available at little or no cost to educators. Patty Barthle is a Cattlewomen as well as a school nurse in Pasco County, Florida, who says that these kits go along way in helping her reach her objectives in the classroom.

The Florida Watermelon Growers have enjoyed a longer season this year due to heavy rains in Georgia which delayed planting and will ultimately give the state a later start.

U.S. and Canada have reached a first-of-its-kind agreement that will expand market opportunities for organic producers.

Thrips are highly visual insects and in flight they can easily spot a red ripe tomato. Scientists with the Agricultural Research Service and University of Florida are working to exploit this dependency to, in effect, camouflage the tomato plants.

USDA’s first ever organic production survey is due June 17, 2009.

This in today from the Florida Fruit and Vegetable Association (FFVA):
FFVA JOINS SUIT TO FIGHT H-2A REFORM
FFVA and other growers’ associations filed suit June 9 against the U.S. Dept. of Labor in order to stop the present administration’s attempt to suspend Bush-era H-2A regulations that most of the industry still supports because of their simplicity and ease of use.
The suit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina, alleges that newly appointed Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis violated the Administrative Procedure Act in her efforts to withdraw the present H-2A rule.
The associations are asking for a permanent injunction to stop the administration from suspending the present H-2A regulations.
“It’s extremely important that the present regulations not be suspended as Florida growers have yet to file their H-2A certifications for the upcoming season,” said Walter Kates (photo), FFVA vice president of Labor Relations.

——————————————————————————–

TALLAHASSEE - Governor Charlie Crist has signed legislation that will protect Florida’s agriculture by affirming its good membership standing in the Interstate Pest Control Compact (IPCC) while joined by Agriculture Commissioner Charles Bronson. House Bill 255, relating to pest control, ratifies the IPCC which is a 37-state cooperative effort to help fund the control, suppression or elimination of agricultural pests. Representative Leonard Bembry and Senator Charlie Dean sponsored the legislation.

Read the rest of this entry »

Farmers Market Season has officially started as Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack opened up the Farmers Market at the USDA building in Washington DC earlier this week.

There are 102 farmers markets in the state of Florida for a list log on to their website.

In this report, USDA Radio’s Gary Crawford (photo) talks with Meteorologist Brad Rippey about the potential for an El Nino weather pattern to develop, and if it does, what the impacts on various areas of the U S may be.

Growers are well aware that Nitrogen is a vital component to the success of many crops but Dave Schwartz, national products manager for SFP, says each year growers lose up to 50 percent of the applied nutrient.

As a light on an immigration bill flickers to life, Florida Farm Bureau Assistant Director of Agricultural Policy, Joshua Craft, says immigration and labor are top priorities to the state of Florida.

Florida Natural Resources Conservation Service extended sign up for the new Organic Initiative is coming up on June 12, 2009. The 2009 Organic Initiative is a nationwide special initiative to provide financial assistance to National Organic Program (NOP) certified organic producers as well as producers in the process of transitioning to organic production.

Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan explains the purpose behind USDA’s first ever organic production survey.

Chilli thrips threaten many of the Sunshine State’s most important crops, but University of Florida research shows a predatory mite that could help Florida growers with the invasive pest.

USDA has joined forces with the non profit organization Share Our Strength and the Food Network to bring healthy and fresh foods to children in underserved communities.

The number of farmer’s markets in the US has grown by seven percent in the last two years. If your interested in finding a farmers market in your area, The Florida Department of Agriculture has a list of local markets.

In these two reports we look at Tomatoes and two separate issues that are currently affecting them.

In the latest attempt to move all-encompassing food safety legislation, the House Energy and Commerce Committee proposed a bill that would give the Food and Drug Administration new enforcement tools.

Florida’s state budget contains bad news for Florida’s food banks with a 50 percent cut in transportation funding. David Reaney, President of the Florida Association of Food Banks, says that the cut puts an added strain on an already challenging task.

The new regulations for fumigant buffers have been released by the EPA and will go into affect in 2011. The EPA has developed a fact sheet regarding the new buffer requirements.