Northwest Florida residents who depend on the troubled Apalachicola Bay for their livelihood are being urged to attend an event on Monday, November 9 at the Apalachicola National Estuarine Research Reserve to express opposition to a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers draft plan for the Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint river system. Download Audio
Senate Passes Resolution to Withdraw WOTUS Rule
On Tuesday, the Senate failed to pass S. 1140, the Federal Water Quality Protection Act, a bill that would have halted the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Army Corps of Engineer’s Waters of the U.S. (WOTUS) rule. But today, the Senate passed S.J. Res. 22, a joint resolution of disapproval of WOTUS. Download Audio
Commissioner Adam Putnam’s Statement on Passage of Water Policy Bill by Senate Committee
From the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services: TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam today issued the following statement regarding the passage of a comprehensive water policy bill by the Florida Senate’s Committee on Environmental Preservation and Conservation. The committee unanimously passed Senate Bill 552, which was brought forth by Committee Chairman Charlie Dean. The …
Repeal of WOTUS Rule in Senate Fails
A bill many in agriculture had hoped would repeal the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Waters of the United States rule (WOTUS) fell three votes short of the 60 required to pass it this afternoon in the U.S. Senate. The vote on S. 1140 failed 57-41. The bill would have required the administration to write a new rule. But had it …
WOTUS Senate Vote Scheduled Tuesday Afternoon
A key procedural Senate vote is on the schedule this afternoon for the Federal Water Quality Protection Act. The act will effectively end the Clean Water Rule or “Waters of the US” rule by the Environmental Protection Agency. The cloture vote needs 60 votes to move on to full debate. While Senate Republicans back the measure, they only control 54 …
Commissioner’s 2015 Ag-Environmental Leadership Awards
Commissioner of Agriculture Adam Putnam presented awards to three outstanding farmers today for their dedication to land stewardship and environmental conservation. The awards ceremony was held at the Florida Farm Bureau Federation’s Annual Meeting in Ponte Vedra Beach. The three farm operations recognized were Dasher Farms in McAlpin, Bull Hammock Ranch in Ft. Pierce and Carlton and Carlton Ranch in …
Water Tight
You turn on the tap at the kitchen sink or the refrigerator and out comes a cool refreshing drink of water. What if it didn’t? It hasn’t happened yet, but, it could. Everett Griner talks about the decline in the aquifers in today’s Agri View. Download Audio
Florida Producers in Apalachicola River Watershed Eligible for Financial Assistance
Applications are now being accepted by USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service in Florida from farmers and ranchers in the Apalachicola River Watershed for a project to improve water quality and quantity. Download Audio
Water Witching-It’s Magic
Everett Griner talks about water witching in today’s Agri View. Download Audio
Commissioner Adam Putnam’s Statement on Passage of Water Policy Bill by Committee on State Affairs
From the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services: TALLAHASSEE, Fla.–Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam today issued the following statement regarding the passage of a key water policy bill by the Florida House of Representative’s Committee on State Affairs. The Committee on State Affairs unanimously passed SAC 1, which was brought forth by Chair Matt Caldwell. The Senate …