UF President Speaks Directly to Florida Agriculture!

Gary Cooper Citrus, Dairy, Florida, Nursery Crops, Specialty Crops, Sugar, Vegetables

Regardless of what you may have been told about comments he “reportedly made…” you can now hear in the report below, in his own words, what University of Florida President Bernie Machen thinks of the Florida agriculture industry and the budget crisis facing the University and the State of Florida as a whole. Speaking to us here at Southeast AgNet …

Brouhaha Over “reported” Comments Draws UF Prez Criticism

Gary Cooper Florida, General

A huge brouhaha has been brewing in Florida agriculture circles in recent days about comments University of Florida President Bernie Machen was “reported” to have made about the lack of importance of agriculture to the state. We have not reported on this story until now because of lack of direct verifiability of Machen’s comments. As a 1978 graduate of UF’s …

AL Livestock Market Report

Dan Alabama, Cattle

Alabama Department of Agriculture’s Dyan Kennedy has a look at this week cattle market numbers from across the state.  Report (1:00 mp3) HAVE YOU RETURNED YOUR QUESTIONNAIRE YET?

H2A Worker Revisions

Randall Weiseman General

The government is revising its H2-A farm worker program to help supply farmers more legal farm workers when they need them. Read statement from USDA Deputy Secretary Chuck Conner. Report (1:00 mp3)

Water Talk in Atlanta

Randall Weiseman General, Georgia

Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue talked about this week from the tri-state water rights ruling, to the relaxation of watering restrictions to help the nursery industry to the signing of a new Statewide Water Management Plan. Report (1:00 mp3) HAVE YOU RETURNED YOUR QUESTIONNAIRE YET?

Bush Talks Farm Bill Veto During Schafer Ceremony

Randall Weiseman General

President Bush visited the USDA this week to attend the ceremonial swearing in of Ed Schafer as agriculture secretary. During the visit, Bush made clear his intention to veto any farm bill that raises taxes, which the Senate bill does in its current form. Report (1:00 mp3)