by Lloyd Dunkelberger, The News Service of Florida Neither is a declared candidate for 2018, but the next election cycle looms large for Gov. Rick Scott and Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam. Scott is expected to challenge U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, while Putnam is seen as a leading candidate to replace Scott.
Scott Seeks Money to Combat Zika
From: The News Service of Florida Florida is bracing for another round of the mosquito-borne Zika virus. In his proposed $83.5 billion budget released Tuesday, Gov. Rick Scott included $1.9 million to fund 21 epidemiologists to work in county health departments, along with providing surveillance and outbreak control.
Negron Says Water Project Issue is ‘When and Where’
by Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida Senate President Joe Negron appeared willing Tuesday to look beyond sugar farmland to carry out his proposal to acquire 60,000 acres to reduce the flow of polluted water from Lake Okeechobee into estuaries on both coasts.
Lawmakers Balk at Legal Fees in ‘Water Wars’
News Service of Florida Florida’s costly, complicated lawsuit against Georgia over regional water use reached another milestone Tuesday without any sign of resolution, as state lawmakers balked at escalating legal fees in the case that could reach $41 million this year.
LEGAL FEES SOAR IN FLORIDA-GEORGIA WATER WAR
From: News Service of Florida Legal fees in Florida’s costly water war with Georgia have escalated to $41 million, with the Department of Environmental Protection asking for a $13 million transfer to cover some of the expenses. The request will be considered Tuesday by the Joint Legislative Budget Commission. The fees represent Florida’s cost in hiring lawyers to make its …
Alabama Wary About Florida-Georgia Water Talks
From: News Service of Florida As Florida and Georgia try to settle a complicated water-use dispute this month, Alabama has filed a letter saying it may need to intervene if its water resources are impacted.
UGA Committed To Shedding Light on Water War
The “water war” continues to plague the southeastern states of Florida, Georgia and Alabama. The three drought-ridden states have been pinned against each other over two river systems that supply water to the Southeast. The problem is that there is not enough water to satisfy each state. Georgia and Alabama are fighting over control of the Alabama-Coosa-Tallapoosa River Basin.
Southern Region Annual Crop Production
Key findings for the Southern Region from the Crop Production 2016 Summary Alabama: Corn for grain production for 2016 totaled 37.8 million bushels, up 5 percent from 2015. Cotton planted area is up 10 percent from last year and production is estimated at 705,000 bales, a 27 percent increase. If realized, this will be a record high yield of 987 …
Crisafulli Won’t Run for Agriculture Commissioner
By Brandon Larrabee, The News Service of Florida Former House Speaker Steve Crisafulli bowed out of a potential race for agriculture commissioner on Tuesday, leaving the 2018 campaign for the Cabinet position without a clear front-runner.
USDA Seeks Nominees for the National Peanut Board
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is seeking nominations for the National Peanut Board to replace one producer member and alternate for the states of Alabama, Florida, Mississippi, North Carolina and Virginia, for when those terms expire on Dec. 31, 2017. Each member and alternate will serve a 3-year term. Applications are due by May 1, 2017.