FL Revenue Estimators To Set Budget Goals This Week

Gary Cooper Beef, Citrus, Florida, General, Livestock, Nursery Crops, Specialty Crops, Sugar, Vegetables

In these three reports, Florida Farm Bureau Legislative Director Ben Parks in Tallahassee gives us some insight on this first week of the Legislative Session, discussing this Friday’s state revenue estimating conference and what it means for the tough budget session expected ahead. Parks also gives us some details on a couple Farm Bureau priorities this Session.

Ag News Reports From Tallahassee – Go Darly Go!!

Gary Cooper Citrus, Florida, General

Southeast AgNet’s newsgathering intern this Legislative Session is Darly Adams (photo left). For this report she provides our listeners with comments from Senate Agriculture Chairman Charlie Dean (photo right), as well as some comments from a couple of our Florida state FFA officers on the scene at the state Capitol this week. In the photo is Florida’s state FFA President …

AL Major League Rodeo in Montgomery

Randall Weiseman Alabama, Cattle, General, Livestock

Alabama’s only major league sporting event, the Southeastern Livestock Exposition Rodeo, is back in Montgomery for its 52nd consecutive year taking place March 5th thru 7th at Garrett Coliseum. Tickets are available in downtown Montgomery at the Alabama Cattlemen’s Association office or to learn more log on to www.bamabeef.org.

Aereal “Fogging” Being Studied For Cheaper Citrus Psyllid Control

Gary Cooper Citrus, Florida

In this four-part report series, Doug Bournique (left) representing Indian River citrus growers, and grower Stan Carter (right), bring our audience up to speed on efforts presently underway to study possible effectiveness and effiiciencies of aereal applications of insect “fogging” technology. If studies currently underway prove its viability, some believe the method may soon save growers lots of money in …

Cool Names Make for Cool Foods

Randall Weiseman General, Vegetables

A new Cornell University study showed that when 186 four-year olds were given “X-ray Vision Carrots” they ate nearly twice as much as they did on the lunch days when they were simply labeled as “carrots.” And the influence of these names persisted with the children continuing to eat about 50% more carrots even on the days when they were …

Cotton Production Meetings Give Producers Answers

Randall Weiseman Cotton, Georgia

The Cotton Production Meetings are still traveling the state educating producers and Georgia Cotton Commission Executive Director Richey Seaton says that with some still unsure of what they will be planting this season, the workshops are a good chance for growers to get answers. Meetings for next week will be held in Wilcox, Pulaski and Bleckley Counties focusing on Weed …

Conservation Innovation Grants Deadline Extended

Randall Weiseman Alabama, Florida, USDA-NRCS

WASHINGTON– The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) has announced the application period for 2009 Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) funding has been extended to March 20th. The previous deadline to submit applications was March 2nd.

Just What Does “Sequencing the Citrus HLB Genome” Really Mean?

Gary Cooper Citrus, Florida

Regarding recent announcements that scientists have sequenced the genome for citrus HLB, some call it a major breakthrough, others say it’s a big step toward a breakthrough. In a rare five part series of reports, Ft. Pierce USDA Horticulture Lab Director Dr Calvin Arnold offers some down-home explanation of just what is going on here.