USDA Designates All 67 AL Counties Eligible for Disaster Assistance

Randall Weiseman Alabama, General, Weather

MONTGOMERY – Agriculture & Industries Commissioner Ron Sparks announces that the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Thomas Vilsack has designated all 67 Alabama counties as areas of primary natural disaster due to losses caused by drought and excessive heat during the period of March 1, 2010 and continuing.

Researcher: Psyllids Survived 2010 Freezes; Sprays Still Needed

Dan Citrus, Florida

University of Florida researcher Phil Stansly reports that the psyllids that spread HLB have thus far survived the freezes of 2010, and that dormant sprays are still needed to reduce their populations further. See his presentation here (pdf). Stansly discusses his findings and recommendations with Southeast AgNet’s Ernie Neff in this interview. Download Audio Post sponsor: Copper coverage with Less …

GCC Confirms 2011 Annual Meeting Speakers

Randall Weiseman Cotton, Georgia

Karen Nikitopoulos, communications program manager with the Georgia Cotton Commission encourages producers to register for their 2011 annual meeting coming up on Wednesday, January 26th. As she says they have a very informative program lined up including a list of great speakers. Download Audio

NRCS Inviting Producers to Participate in Longleaf Pine Initiative

Randall Weiseman Alabama, Florida, Forestry, USDA-NRCS

In an effort to help sustain, enhance and restore longleaf pine forests in the southeast, both Alabama and Florida producers are invited to participate in the Natural Resources Conservation Service’s Longleaf Pine Initiative. Interested producers are encouraged to visit their nearest NRCS field office by the application deadline of January 7, 2010. FL – Michael Bush: Download Audio AL – …

Census Shows a Horticulture Increase but Still Lagging Rest of Ag

Randall Weiseman Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Nursery Crops, Specialty Crops, Vegetables

The 2009 Census of Horticultural Specialties was released recently and director of the National Ag Statistics Service, Joe Prusacki, says U.S. horticultural operations are becoming more diverse and taking advantage of newly emerging agricultural trends. But the overall sector is still lagging behind sales of agricultural products as a whole. Download Audio

Putnam Makes Staff Hires

Randall Weiseman Florida, General

By MICHAEL PELTIER THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA THE CAPITAL, TALLAHASSEE, Dec. 21, 2010…. Incoming Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam on Tuesday named top staffers who will accompany when he takes office next month.