By Jaci Schreckengost Improving water quality and how it is stored is a priority for Brandon Tucker. He is a newly appointed board member of the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD), which covers St. Lucie County to Monroe County. Tucker, a resident of Palm City for the last 20 years, works in the agricultural real estate business. Improving water …
Yoho Honored to Host First Farm Bill Listening Session
Ted Yoho, Florida’s 3rd district representative, was excited to host the first Farm Bill listening session in his district this past weekend. He said these sessions are crucial if the House Agriculture Committee is to create a Farm Bill that will pass on the first round, and he was honored to host the committee in Gainesville for the first stop …
Certification Program to Teach Florida Students About Aquaculture
In an effort to help teach students about aquaculture, Dan Conner, an aquaculture teacher and member of the board of directors for the Florida Aquaculture Association (FAA), has helped spearhead a certification program. Conner says he feels this program needs to be available to students due to the popularity of aquaculture in the state. The program also helps aquaculture farmers …
Natural Resource Meeting Explains Farm Bill Programs, Seeks Recommendations
Gainesville, Fla. – In an effort to assist agricultural producers in meeting their land management goals while protecting our natural resources, the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) will conduct a State Technical Advisory Committee meeting Aug. 17, 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m. at the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Doyle Conner Agriculture Building Auditorium. Located at 1911 SW 34th …
Florida Team Beef Proves Lean Beef Is #FuelForTheFinish
The Florida Beef Council approved funding for a Team Beef in Florida this past February at its quarterly meeting. Although the funding is recent, this is an idea that has been in the works for several years. Erin Freel, the founder of The Market Place, has been the mastermind behind creating Florida’s Team Beef. Already on her own fitness journey, …
Representatives Participate in Farm Bill Listening Session
“The Next Farm Bill, Conversations in the Field,” a House Agriculture Committee listening session, took place on June 24 in Gainesville, Florida. After the session, representatives serving on the House Agriculture Committee gave comments on the session and some of the reoccurring themes that were brought up by the farmers who attended. Florida Representative Neal Dunn commented on the complexities …
FAMU, TCC Work to Improve Oyster Industry
By Jaci Schreckengost One of the main goals at Florida A&M University’s (FAMU) Division of Research is to help create new ways of thinking and creating to benefit the agriculture industry in the Southeast. Tallahassee Community College (TCC) and FAMU have teamed up in an effort to help increase the oyster industry. Timothy Moore, vice president of research at FAMU, …
Florida FFA Elects New State Officer Board
The recent Florida FFA Convention drew in nearly 5,000 Florida FFA members. The members and their advisors attended educational sessions, a trade show and they said farewell to the 2016-2017 State Officer board. On the last day of the convention the 2017-2018 state officers were elected. The race for the 2017-2018 State President fell in favor of Kyle Garner from …
Perdue Hosts Mexico and Canada Agriculture Leader in His Home State
Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue hosted his counterparts from Mexico and Canada in an event held in Savannah, Georgia, where they toured the Georgia Ports Authority and took a farm tour, and to participate in a series of meetings preparing for the upcoming renegotiations of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). There is a lot of uncertainty as to what …
Florida FFA State President Says Farewell
Friday June 16 marks the final day of the Florida FFA Convention, as well as the last day of William Jameson’s state presidency. Jameson is Florida FFA’s 2016-2017 state president, and he says it has been an honor to serve the members of Florida FFA. “All 18,000 of them have been very special to my team and I,” he says. …