Cathy Isom shares one of the best ways for transforming compost into an effective liquid fertilizer tea. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. Store-bought liquid fertilizer can be expensive, especially if you have a lot of plants to feed. Fortunately, there’s a cost-effective, easy alternative you can brew up at home. Getting started with home-brewed liquid fertilizer can …
Commissioner Nikki Fried Celebrates Grand Opening of New State Laboratory
Kissimmee, FL (FDACS-Oct. 3, 2019) — Agriculture Commissioner Nicole “Nikki” Fried and former agriculture commissioner Charles H. Bronson participated in the ribbon-cutting and grand opening of the Bronson Animal Disease Diagnostics Laboratory (BADDL). A state-of-the-art $11 million state facility, the Bronson Lab is Florida’s only animal disease diagnostic laboratory fully accredited by the American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians. The new …
Lease End Could Help Everglades Reservoir Plan
TALLAHASSEE, FL (NSF-Oct. 3, 2019) — The sugar grower Florida Crystals has agreed to the early end of a controversial lease on land south of Lake Okeechobee that is envisioned for a stormwater-treatment area linked to a new reservoir. An extension of the lease last November by the South Florida Water Management District in the Everglades Agricultural Area resulted in …
NCBA Exposes Relationship of OCM and HSUS
WASHINGTON (NCBA-Oct. 3, 2017) — The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) Vice President of Government Affairs, Ethan Lane, released the following statement in response to a Nebraska rally demanding government intervention to alleviate price disparities impacting cattle markets: “Yesterday, an HSUS-funded organization called the Organization for Competitive Markets (OCM) held a rally in Omaha, Nebraska entitled the “Rally to Stop …
Scientists Release First Map of Areas Suitable for Spotted Lanternfly Establishment in U.S. and World
WAPATO, WASHINGTON (USDA/ARS-October 3, 2019) — A map identifying the areas suitable for establishment of the spotted lanternfly (SLF) in the United States and other countries has been published in the Journal of Economic Entomology by Agricultural Research Service scientists. Areas in the United States that have been identified as possible spotted lanternfly habitat. The SLF, originally from China, has spread to Korea …
Gov. DeSantis Announces Early Termination of the Florida Crystals Lease on the STA Footprint of Lands Needed for Construction of the EAA Reservoir
Lease Termination is an Important Step in Meeting the Expedited Construction Schedule for the Reservoir Project Tallahassee, FL (Office of FL Gov. Ron DeSantis-Oct. 3, 2019)— Governor Ron DeSantis, the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) announced the early termination of the Florida Crystals Lease for the stormwater treatment area (STA) component …
Commissioner Nikki Fried Unveils Major Energy & Climate Legislative Package
Tampa, FL (FDACS-Oct. 3, 2019) — Commissioner Nicole “Nikki” Fried unveiled an ambitious legislative package of bills to address energy efficiency, climate change, resiliency, and clean energy research. Speaking at a press conference in Tampa alongside U.S. Representative Kathy Castor, U.S. Representative Charlie Crist, and State Representative Margaret Good, Fried highlighted the urgency with which Florida and the nation must address energy and climate issues. The …
Agriculture Calendar
In this week’s agriculture calendar, Tyron Spearman provides information about one event that is already underway, and another one coming up this weekend. Sponsored ContentFlorida Cattle Enhancement Board Awarded Researcher Discusses New World Screwworm OverviewJune 19, 2026Verdant Robotics Offers Growers Targeted Application of Herbicides or Beneficials through SharpShooter™June 16, 2026Florida Cattle Enhancement Board Provides Resources To Researchers For Applied ResearchJune …
RCPP Partner Portal is Now Open and Accepting Applications
We told you last week that USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) had announced the launch of the updated Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP). Potential partners are encouraged to submit proposals that will improve the nation’s water quality, combat drought, enhance soil health, support wildlife habitat and protect agricultural viability. This week, NRCS put out a reminder that the RCPP Partner Portal is open …
USDA Invests $11M In Research That Will Support Specialty Crop Farmers
WASHINGTON (USDA-Oct. 3, 2019) — U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Deputy Under Secretary Scott Hutchins announced that the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) has invested $11 million in research that will support specialty crop farmers. “This collaborative public-private research effort will focus on applying innovative solutions to pest management problems that often are otherwise not available to specialty …