Well the warm sun of summer is often accompanied by afternoon rain storms. In this three part series USDA Meteorologist Brad Rippey, tells us about the potential dangers of those storms.
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.
We remind growers that Governor Crist declared a state of emergency late last week for Brevard, Clay, Duval, Flagler, Lake, Nassau, Orange, Putnam, Seminole, St. Johns and Volusia counties. This enables farmers to quickly harvest and transport their crops to help mitigate further losses from the recent rain fall. The Commissioner of Agriculture’s office is hoping to have a disaster declaration from the Secretary of Agriculture soon.
As rain the rain fall continues to add up throughout the state of Florida, Josh Craft with Florida Farm Bureau says crop loss is also increasing.
The recent rain has been a welcome site to many in the state of Florida but Josh Craft, Assistant Director of Agricultural Policy for the Florida Farm Bureau, says it may be too much for Potato growers.
This just in late Friday from the Florida Dept of Agriculture: WEIGHT RESTRICTIONS EASED ON TRANSPORTING POTATO CROP FROM NORTHEAST FLORIDA AS A RESULT OF FLOODING
TALLAHASSEE — Florida Agriculture and Consumer Services Commissioner Charles H. Bronson today announced that weight restrictions on transporting potato crops out of northeast Florida have been eased as a result of flooding rains in that area of the state. Executive Order 09-126 declaring a state of emergency in 11 counties was signed earlier today by Governor Charlie Crist at Bronson’s request, enabling farmers who are growing potatoes to quickly harvest their crops and transport them to processing and marketing facilities to help mitigate further losses. Read the rest of this entry »
Real, or imaginary? Everett Griner looks at just what the cycles have been and might be.
The drought in Florida is quickly coming to an end. USDA Radio’s Susan Carter has this feature with Meteorologist Brad Rippey.
In these two reports, Executive Director of the Georgia Cotton Commission, Richey Seaton, takes a final look at last year’s numbers and looks ahead to where we currently stand for this season.
Looking at this year’s first stats of pasture and range conditions across the country, while most conditions are better, Florida is one area where they are not.
With relatively cooler and wet weather conditions across the nation, the planting progress has lagged behind this season. Meteorologist Brad Rippey checks in on the development of the cotton crop.
Southeast floods………..15 inches! Everett Griner tells us just how it affected planting.
Due to flooding associated with recent heavy rains across North Florida, the Florida Department of Transportation has put in place an Emergency Executive Order that lifts weight restrictions on cattle trucks, allowing them to run at 95,000 lbs in Florida as long as the driver has the proper documents.
And due to the flooding concerns, Florida Agriculture and Consumer Services Commissioner Charles Bronson is asking farmers and residents in areas with the potential for flooding to be sure to move pesticides, fertilizers and propane tanks off the ground and safely stored away and for livestock producers to have plans in place for their animals.
The much anticipated spring conditions can unfortunately also brings the threat of harsh weather and Alabama Natural Resources and Conservation Service’s State Conservation Engineer Perry Oaks wants to remind landowners that the Emergency Watershed Protection Program is designed to assist in the recovery of a natural disaster.
The planning and planting for the Sunbelt Ag Expo is well underway and Executive Director Chip Blalock, says that the recent six inches of rain they received may pose some challenges.
In this report, news about farmland values and more about the weather outlook ahead, from USDA’s radio team in Washington D C.
With the Southeast experiencing a late cold snap, the Georgia Office of Southeast AgNet saw a rare snow this weekend, with 6 ½ inches falling over a 12 hour time period. Being a transplant from the relatively mild North Florida region, it was only my second time ever seeing snow. Our cattle were even more shocked at seeing the strange substance falling. But more importantly the drought stricken area also received 6 inches of rain. Which when combined with the melting snow is making for quite a muddy trek through the fields, but we are certainly not complaining.
Here’s a big picture ag weather outlook for early March from USDA.
In this report, Meteorlogist Brad Rippey discusses weather trends that could turn Florida’s unusually cool winter into unusually dry weather later on this spring.
As it becomes more expensive to ship produce far distances, farmers all over the country are re-discovering how valuable local markets for fresh farm products can be, both for the farmers and consumers. Florida is the fourth most populous state in the nation, yet it remains a top ten state in ag production. This story from USDA explores the trend of buying local, and what it means for all involved.
We’re hearing from numerous contacts that the Florida Dept of Business & Professional Regulation may be ramping up its enforcement measures in the wake of the recent cold snaps affecting Florida agriculture. Our sources say at least sixteen investigators have been placed in agriculturally significant areas of the state to ensure compliance with all applicable state and federal laws. Investigators are assigned to the following areas: Homestead, Ft. Pierce, Ft. Myers, Belle Glade/Clewiston, Immokalee/Labelle, Sebring Wauchula, Tampa, Orlando, Gainesville, and Quincy. Farmers should be aware of the possibility of routine checks, inspections, and investigations of farm labor contractor employees including field sanitation, payment of wages, and passenger vehicle safety.
In this report, we check in with Ted Campbell with the Florida Strawberry Growers Association who says all is fine with the Strawberry crop since the two cold snaps that passed over Florida in recent weeks. Meanwhile, when asked about issues of concern for strawberry growers, like those in other specialty crop sectors he says his folks still have concerns about a stable agriculture labor supply.
HAULING AG PRODUCTS RELAXED UNTIL FEB. 25 AS ICY BLAST HITS FLORIDA, BRONSON ANNOUNCES
TALLAHASSEE - (FDACS) As agricultural producers begin assessing freeze damage from the overnight Arctic blast that impacted the state, Florida Agriculture and Consumer Services Commissioner Charles H. Bronson announced today that an executive order relaxing weight limits on trucks transporting vulnerable crops has been extended until February 25. Read the rest of this entry »
NWS /ISSUED 448 AM EST TUE FEB 3 2009/..COLDEST AIR OF THIS WINTER SEASON ARRIVING WED NIGHT…HARD FREEZE AND FREEZE WATCHES ISSUED FOR A LARGE PORTION OF MAINLAND SOUTH FL…
DISCUSSION…ONE COLD FRONT WILL EXIT THE AREA THIS MORNING. A FEW SHOWERS ARE SEEN ON RADAR OFF THE WEST CENTRAL FL COAST WITH SPRINKLES ACROSS PARTS OF THE AREA…SO ADDED JUST SLIGHT CHC LIGHT SHOWERS TO THE FCST FOR THIS MORNING. OTHERWISE…SKIES WILL CLEAR THIS AFTERNOON AS COLD HIGH PRESSURE BUILDS INTO THE AREA FROM THE NORTHWEST. Read the rest of this entry »
Similar to a couple weeks ago, there are lots of indicators that very cold temperatures will again visit an already freeze weary winter fruit and vegetable production region.
By the way, an important reminder for growers sent to us from Ray Royce at Highlands County Citrus Growers Association - Remember to properly record all pumpage for frost or freeze protection if you have a pumpage reporting component to your consumptive use permit with the water management district. Report such pumpage to the district in a timely manner in order to get proper credit for it.
In a report we aired back in December a USDA meteorologist warned of a colder and drier than normal January for Florida. In this report, USDA Meteorologist Mark Brusburg offers an overview of the national ag weather outlook for the first part of Februrary.
In this report, some detailed comments from a leading sugar and vegetable farmer in the Belle Glade, FL area, about crop impacts from last week’s freeze event, now that enough time has passed to really determine the damages.
Meanwhile, there is lots of talk around the farm sector in Florida again in recent days that another cold snap could hit over the weekend and last into next week. Apparently as far as this Florida winter goes, the fat lady is not yet ready to sing. Stay Tuned.
Listen to these three reports to catch up on the latest re-appointments of Florida Citrus Commissioners, and to hear some pointed comments from Congressman Adam Putnam, including some reminders for non-farm folks in light of the recent freeze, agriculture, and how both relate to the economy.
Early today Central Florida Congressman Adam Putnam surveyed a citrus grove and strawberry field and discussed last week’s freeze with Florida agricultural leaders. 
In our interview with Putnam shortly after, he says it was a good opportunity to educate mainstream media in town for the Super Bowl about agriculture and how different crops can experience different damages depending on crop type, actual weather conditions and freeze mitigation efforts available at the farm. Hear part of our exclusive interview with Congressman Putnam in this report.
In these two reports more comments about freeze damage assessments still underway in Florida’s fruit, vegetable and specialty crops. THe first report features Andrew Meadows, spokesman for Florida Citrus Mutual. The second report features Florida Farm Bureau Director of Ag Policy, Frankie Hall. Also in the first report, information about a date change for the upcoming February update for the Citrus Crop Forecast.
