Southeast AgNET

Opportunities Available Now for Conservation Assistance & Funding

Julie — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 21:32:07 +0000

GAINESVILLE, September 2, 2010 — The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Florida has set a cutoff date of October 29, 2010, to submit applications for several voluntary conservation programs that may help eligible participants pay for conservation practices to prevent soil erosion, improve water quality, restore wetlands and provide habitat for wildlife.

The Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) is a conservation program that provides financial and technical assistance to farmers and ranchers who face threats to soil, water, air, and related natural resources on their land. Through EQIP, NRCS develops contracts with agricultural producers to voluntarily implement conservation practices. Persons engaged in livestock or agricultural production and owners of non-industrial private forestland are eligible for the program. Eligible land includes cropland, rangeland, pastureland, private non-industrial forestland, and other farm or ranch lands.

The Wildlife Habitat Incentive Program (WHIP) is a voluntary program for developing or improving high quality habitat that supports fish and wildlife populations of National, State, Tribal, and local significance. Through WHIP, the NRCS provides technical and financial assistance to private and Tribal landowners for the development of upland, wetland, aquatic, and other types of wildlife habitat.

The Wetlands Reserve Program (WRP) provides technical and financial assistance to private landowners and Tribes to restore, protect, and enhance wetlands in exchange for retiring eligible land from agriculture.

The Grassland Reserve Program (GRP) is a program for landowners and operators to protect grazing uses and related conservation values by conserving grassland, including rangeland, pastureland, shrubland, and certain other lands.

The Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) is available on Tribal and private agricultural lands and non-industrial private forest land. CSP encourages producers to address resource concerns in a comprehensive manner by undertaking additional conservation activities; and improving, maintaining, and managing existing conservation activities.

NRCS encourages interested parties to visit with our staff as soon as possible. Applicants who apply early have more time to resolve any program or land eligibility issues.

Although applications are accepted on a continuous basis, Florida NRCS has established a cut-off date of October 29, 2010 for evaluation and ranking of eligible applications for the 2011 program year.

For more information on conservation assistance contact your local NRCS Field Office listed in the telephone directory under “U. S. Government” or www.fl.nrcs.usda.gov/contact/index

Citrus Industry Magazine Has New CEU Article Available

Tacy — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 20:41:09 +0000

Citrus Industry magazine continues its 2010 series of articles for growers to earn CEU credits by reading the articles in the magazine or online, then submitting the accompanying CEU test online. The third CEU article of the year, “Why Should Pesticide Applicators Care About Heat Stress?” (test period expires 9/1/2011), is now available online at http://citrusindustry.net/ceu3.html.

Find the first two articles and related tests at the links below:
# 1 CEU 2010 Article & Test – Safe Storage and Transportation of Pesticides (test period expires 2/11/2011)
# 2 CEU 2010 Article & Test – Pesticide Mixing, Loading & Application (test period expires 6/1/2011)

Peanut Crop and Average Price Update & Organic Price

Randall — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 18:58:19 +0000

Today Tyron Spearman updates how the peanut crop looks along with the average peanut price information. He also has news about an organic price coming next year.
Peanuts:
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Organic:
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FL Working on Animal Traceability

Randall — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 17:38:36 +0000

Stephen Monroe of the Division of Animal Industries with the Florida Department of Agriculture, said when it comes animal disease traceability framework, they are waiting on USDA to establish the animal movement guidelines.

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Russia Watching Poultry and Beef Products

Randall — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 17:35:22 +0000

Russia is taking steps to ensure poultry imported from the U.S. is safe, along with also placing temporary curbs on imports of meat products from the U.S., Brazil, Poland and Argentina.

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Hog Prices Expected to Hold

Randall — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 17:32:25 +0000

2011 could bring even more pork production and prices should continue to hold according to USDA Outlook Board Chairman Gerry Bange.

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Congress Will Have Short Calendar to Pass Key Tax Breaks

Julie — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 17:31:35 +0000

Congress will reconvene on September 13 after their August recess and they still have a lot on their agenda to accomplish. Farm Bureau Tax Specialist, Pat Wolff, says the pressure is on Congress to act to avoid the expiration of estate, individual income and ethanol tax breaks.

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Marketing is Often the Key with Specialty Crops

Julie — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 17:26:58 +0000

The expansion of specialty crops is continuing in Florida, but Dan Mullins, extension horticulture agent for Santa Rosa County, says their challenge now is to expand the growers knowledge beyond the field.

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FL Producers Have New Marketing Tool Available

Julie — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 17:24:55 +0000

The University of Florida is now offering a Florida version of the website MarketMaker allowing farmers and seafood producers to set up profiles featuring details of their operation such as pictures and maps to allow buyers looking for specific products to find nearby producers.

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You Are What You Drink

Julie — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 17:19:09 +0000

Americans drink approximately 56 gallons of soft drinks a year per person, and nutrition and health education specialist, Tammy Roberts, says this can make what you drink as critical as what you eat when it comes to weight.

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