(FDACS) — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) signed an agreement granting Florida authority to issue construction permits in protected wetlands, an authority previously handled for many years by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the EPA. In the 43 years since states were allowed to seek wetland permitting authority, only two had requests approved, and none since 1994. Both of …
EPA Approves Florida for Clean Water Act Section 404 Program
Florida made history by becoming the third state to be approved for assumption of the Clean Water Act Section 404 program. Andrew Wheeler, Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, confirmed the announcement during a Thursday morning event. “Following a rigorous and timely review process, EPA has approved Florida’s request for assumption of the Clean Water Act Section 404 program. This …
Truterra, Greenpoint Ag, U.S. Cotton Trust Protocol and Cotton Inc. Team Up with Ag Tech
Pilot program to work with growers across an initial 50,000 acres of U.S. cotton to measure, track and verify sustainability, meet growing demand for more sustainable cotton by consumer brands (Cotton Board) – Truterra, LLC, the sustainability business at Land O’Lakes, Inc., one of America’s largest farmer-owned cooperatives, has announced a new collaboration with Cotton Incorporated, a not-for-profit research and …
Heat Brings Out Antioxidants, Increases Red in Tomatoes
(UF/IFAS) — Turn up the heat, and get more nutrition from your tomato, University of Florida researchers say. Furthermore, when you buy a tomato, it will be about as red as it can be, thanks to the UF/IFAS methods deployed for the study. The findings are crucial to an industry in which Florida ranks second to California in tomato production …
GCC Helping Those in Need
The Georgia Cotton Commission (GCC) is helping those in need this holiday season. Taylor Sills, executive director of the Georgia Cotton Commission, said the organization is giving out socks to homeless resource centers across the state. The second annual sock drive started last Thursday. “This is the second year of our sock donation program. Last year we donated 12,000 pairs …
RFA Ready to Assist with New Round of USDA Infrastructure Grants
(RFA) — The U.S Department of Agriculture (USDA)  has announced another round of funding for its successful Higher Blends Infrastructure Incentive Program, or HBIIP, and the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) once again offers itself as a technical resource to interested retailers. Approximately $22 million is being made available for fueling stations, convenience stores, hypermarket fueling stations, and fleet facilities to add …
Conservation Efforts Continue on Florida’s Farms, Ranches Amid Pandemic
(USDA/NRCS/FL) — USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service in Florida continued its conservation work across the state despite a year marked with a pandemic and natural disasters. The agency helped farmers, ranchers and forest landowners implement conservation practices to help conserve natural resources and boost their bottom lines. Additionally, NRCS launched new online tools that increased the efficiency, effectiveness and delivery of crucial …
Red Tide Bloom Being Monitored Off S.W. Florida
(NSF) — A red tide algae bloom is being watched in waters between Sanibel and Marco Island, state Fish and Wildlife Research Institute Director Gil McRae said Wednesday. The late-season bloom is “relatively patchy” and not as large as others in recent years, McRae told members of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission during a virtual meeting. “But the …
Fruit-Bearing Plants and Trees to Attract Birds to Your Yard
Some of the best plants to attract birds to your yard. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. By planting fruit-bearing trees and shrubs in your landscape, they will attract berry-eating birds such as bluebirds and robins while also creating a beautiful display with their flowers, fall & holiday colors, and fruits. American cranberry bush viburnum has white springtime flowers, …
Grants Awarded to Student Teams in Florida for Innovative Technology Projects
(EPA) — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) awarded $25,000 to both the University of Central Florida in Orlando and Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton as part of a total of $792,036 in funding for 32 student teams through its People, Prosperity and the Planet (P3) grant program. Each team will receive funding to develop and demonstrate projects that …