Garima Kakkar is joining the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences to help the state fight invasive pests. Kakkar, an expert in invasive insects, is a UF/IFAS Extension St. Lucie County Multicounty Agent. Kakkar has a diverse range of experience in managing pest insects, and will now serve growers in the world’s premier citrus production region with …
Specialty Citrus Production on the Rise
Consumer demand continues to drive an increase in U.S. production totals for tangerines, mandarin oranges and tangelos. Rod Bain has the details. Sponsored ContentFlorida Cattle Enhancement Board Awarded Researcher Discusses New World Screwworm OverviewJune 19, 2026Verdant Robotics Offers Growers Targeted Application of Herbicides or Beneficials through SharpShooter™June 16, 2026Florida Cattle Enhancement Board Provides Resources To Researchers For Applied ResearchJune 12, …
Non-Valencia Oranges 35.0 Million Boxes
Mark Hudson, USDA/NASS, Washington D.C. offered the February citrus crop forecast. The forecast of non-Valencia production is lowered 1.00 million boxes to 35.0 million boxes. Size and Drop components were final last month. The Row Count survey conducted January 26-27, 2017, showed 72 percent of the early-mid-season rows, and 83 percent of the Navel rows are harvested. Estimated utilization to …
House Agriculture Committee Discussing New Farm Bill
The push for a new farm bill has gotten off the ground quickly with announcements and commitments by leaders of the House Agriculture Committee in their first meeting of the 115th Congress. Sponsored ContentFlorida Cattle Enhancement Board Awarded Researcher Discusses New World Screwworm OverviewJune 19, 2026Verdant Robotics Offers Growers Targeted Application of Herbicides or Beneficials through SharpShooter™June 16, 2026Florida Cattle …
40 Percent of Farms Managed by Multiple Operators
New data released last week by the U.S. Department of Agriculture shows nearly 40 percent of all U.S. farms are managed by more than one operator. USDA’s Economic Research Service says in 2015, 39 percent of the more than 800,000 U.S. farms had secondary operators. USDA says commercial-sized farms often require more management and labor than an individual can provide. …
Florida Agricultural Policy Outlook Conference is Next Week
Those in agriculture won’t want to miss the Florida Agricultural Policy Outlook Conference coming up next week. University of Florida/IFAS economists and other experts will discuss economic insights helpful for making informed business and policy decisions. The second annual event, organized by the UF/IFAS food and resource economics department, will be held February 9th from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. …
The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Seeking Top Student Chef
From the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services: TALLAHASSEE, Fla.–The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services encourages 9th through 12th grade students to enter the department’s “Fresh From Florida” Student Chef Cook-Off before the upcoming deadline on Thursday, Feb. 2, 2017. Students can submit original recipes featuring locally grown products for the chance to have their meal served …
Trump Reportedly Taps Perdue as Ag Secretary
President-elect Donald Trump has reportedly picked former Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue to be Agriculture Secretary under the incoming administration. While the USDA landing team has yet to confirm the nominee, multiple media outlets attributed a senior transition official as saying Trump will nominate Perdue to the post. The American Farm Bureau strongly endorsed the nomination of Perdue following the news. …
Extinguish Helps Citrus Growers with Fire Ant Control
Across the Southeast we continue to fight those pesky fire ants, but one company is promoting a product to help citrus growers with fire ant control. Tracy Harris, senior director of sales for Central Life Sciences, says Extinguish is the product for them. Sponsored ContentFlorida Cattle Enhancement Board Awarded Researcher Discusses New World Screwworm OverviewJune 19, 2026Verdant Robotics Offers Growers …
Putnam on Today’s Updated Citrus Crop Forecast
Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam released the following statement today after the U.S. Department of Agriculture released its updated citrus crop forecast for the 2016-2017 season: “Because of citrus greening, production of our state’s signature crop is down 70 percent from 20 years ago. The future of Florida citrus, and the tens of thousands of jobs it supports, …