Florida Farm Bureau: Farm Families Slowly Recovering

Taylor Hillman Florida, Industry News Release

The resilience of Florida’s farmers and ranchers is on full display in the aftermath of Hurricane Irma. They are working to restore food and fiber production for this state and the nation, despite the widespread destruction of crops, buildings, fencing, and other property lost to wind and water damage. Like many other Floridians, farm families are contending with significant failures …

citrus

Putnam Says Citrus Industry Hard Hit by Irma

Taylor Hillman Citrus, Weather

Florida’s already-struggling citrus industry “suffered serious and devastating losses” in Hurricane Irma, Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam said Wednesday after an aerial tour of groves in central and southwest parts of the state. “It’s still too early to know the full extent of the damage to Florida citrus,” Putnam said in a prepared statement. “But after touring groves on foot and …

georgia agriculture

Update from Georgia Commissioner of Agriculture on Irma

Taylor Hillman Georgia, Weather

Work continues to assess the damage from Hurricane Irma to crops in parts of Georgia. Southeast Agnet’s Randall Weiseman was able to get an update from Georgia Commissioner of Agriculture Gary Black concerning the damage and also found out that U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue will be in Georgia later this week to tour some of the areas affected. …

soil surveys

NRCS Programs Help with Hurricane Irma Recovery Efforts

Taylor Hillman USDA-NRCS

For those affected by Hurricane Irma, USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) has programs that provide assistance in the wake of disasters. For declared natural disasters that lead to imminent threats to life and property, NRCS can assist local government sponsors with the cost of implementing recovery efforts like debris removal and streambank stabilization to address natural resource concerns and …

cotton production

Hurricane Impacts on Cotton Crop Better Known Next Month

Taylor Hillman Cotton, Weather

USDA’s September crop production report was released Tuesday, but information for that report was collected well before Hurricane Irma made its way through the Southeast. USDA staff will soon be collecting more data on crops in states impacted by the recent hurricanes, and according to this report from Rod Bain, those updates will be for use in the October crop …

biden

USDA Providing Recovery Efforts after Hurricane Irma

Taylor Hillman Industry News Release, Weather

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) wants to remind farmers and ranchers and those who reside in rural communities impacted Hurricane Irma, they have programs that provide assistance in the wake of disasters. Ag Secretary Sonny Perdue said, “In recent weeks, millions of Americans have been affected by Hurricanes Harvey and Irma.” He said, “USDA employees have been working tirelessly …

prices

Florida Cattle Ranchers Dealing with Damage from Irma

Taylor Hillman Cattle, Florida

Between heavy rains and strong winds, Hurricane Irma left a mess for many cattle ranches across the state of Florida. Southeast AgNet’s Randall Weiseman talked with Florida Cattlemen’s Association Executive Vice President Jim Handley. He describes what ranchers in many parts of the state are dealing with. 09-12-17 Florida Cattle Ranchers Dealing with Damage from Irma

alabama

Alabama Commissioner of Agriculture on Irma

Taylor Hillman Alabama, Weather

Hurricane Irma did spread rain and wind across a large part of Alabama, but it was the eastern side of the state that was affected the most. Southeast Agnet’s Randall Weiseman talked with Alabama Commissioner of Agriculture John McMillan about the storm and how his state fared. 09-12-17 Alabama Commissioner of Agriculture on Irma