Commissioner Wilton Simpson Announces Cost-Share Assistance for Agricultural Producers Impacted by Hurricane Idalia 

Dan Agri-Business, Aquaculture, Beef, Cattle, Citrus, Crop Insurance, Dairy, Economy, Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP) program, Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), Field Crops, Florida, Forestry, Funding, Pollinators

~ Maximum grant for eligible producers raised from $50,000 to $150,000 ~ (FDACS/TALLAHASSEE, FL/Sept. 21,2023) — Today, Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson announced a cost-share assistance program to support agricultural producers severely impacted by Hurricane Idalia. The cost-share assistance program will be administered though the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ (FDACS) Office of Agricultural Water Policy and will support …

Emergency Watershed Protection Assistance Available to Florida Communities Impacted by Hurricane Idalia

Dan Agri-Business, Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP) program, Florida, Funding, USDA-NRCS

The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service in Florida (NRCS in FL) is encouraging local and state governments to serve as sponsors and request Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP) assistance to relieve imminent hazards to life and property caused by Hurricane Idalia. Through EWP, NRCS provides assistance to local and state governments, for the cost of addressing watershed impairments or hazards such as debris removal and …

Senator Tuberville Pushes for Farm Programs

Dan Agri-Business, Farm Bill, Funding, Legislative, Regulation

While lawmakers continue the back-and-forth on the budget, some are keeping their eye on the Farm Bill. Speaking on the Senate Floor, Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) made a plea for farmers. “The whole purpose of the Farm Bill is supposed to be to help farmers. What an idea. Yet seven out of eight dollars, again, seven out of eight dollars …

National Farm Health and Safety Week

Dan Agri-Business, This Land of Ours

It’s a week to focus on staying safe while working in agriculture. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. This is National Farm Health and Safety Week and this year’s theme is ‘No one can take your place’. Laura Siegel, the health communications officer for AgriSafe Network, says the week is an annual reminder of how important it is …

DeSantis, Cabinet Back Conservation Deals

Dan Agri-Business, Conservation, Environment, Florida, Funding

(NSF/TALLAHASSEE, FL/Sept. 18, 2023) — Gov. Ron DeSantis and the state Cabinet on Monday quickly approved $141 million in deals that will help preserve land from the Panhandle to Southwest Florida. During a meeting held by telephone, DeSantis and Cabinet members supported three land purchases under the Florida Forever program. They also approved buying three conservation easements, which help preserve …

Secretaries of Education, Agriculture Call on Governors to Equitably Fund Land-Grant HBCUs

Dan Agri-Business, Education, Funding

(USDA/WASHINGTON, September 18, 2023) — U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona and U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Thomas Vilsack today sent letters to 16 governors emphasizing the over $12 billion disparity in funding between land-grant Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and their non-HBCU land-grant peers in their states. The 16 governors receiving the letter are: There are HBCU land-grant institutions in …

APHIS Finalizes Changes to Import Regulations for Horses

Dan Agri-Business, Equine, Exports/Imports, Legislative, Regulation, This Land of Ours, USDA-APHIS

The United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is finalizing amendments to its import regulations for horses. These amendments will better align our regulations with international standards and allow more flexibility for permitted imports, while continuing to mitigate the risk of bringing equine diseases into the United States. The regulations also provide APHIS with …

USDA Announces Projects to Boost Access to Green Space for Millions

Dan Agri-Business, Environment, Forestry, Funding, Greenhouse Gas, USDA

Historic funding from President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act will increase urban tree cover, boost equitable access to nature, and improve climate resilience in communities covered by the Justice40 Initiative (USDA/WASHINGTON, Sept. 14, 2023) — Today, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Forest Service is awarding more than $1 billion in competitive grants to plant and maintain …