Re-emphasizing the Relevancy of Florida Agriculture

Randall Weiseman Aquaculture, Cattle, Citrus, Field Crops, Florida, Forestry, General, Livestock, Nursery Crops, Specialty Crops

Agriculture is, and has been a very important part of Florida. And that is a message that Dr. Jack Payne, University of Florida senior vice president for agriculture and natural resources, wants to make sure all citizens of the state understand. Download Audio More about agriculture’s impact on the state of Florida can be found on the UF/IFAS website. Sponsored …

Most U.S. Farms are Family Operated

Randall Weiseman Alabama, Cattle, Citrus, Field Crops, Florida, Forestry, General, Georgia, Livestock, Nursery Crops, Specialty Crops

A new report by the U.S. Department of Agriculture released last week shows 99 percent of U.S. farms were family farms in 2015. Family farms, according to USDA, are classified as a farm where the principal operator and his or her relatives owned the majority of the business. The report shows that small family farms—those with less than $350,000 in …

USDA Updates Crop Forecasts

Randall Weiseman Citrus, Cotton, Crop Forecasts, Field Crops, Peanuts

USDA’s National Agriculture Statistics Service released their December crop reports yesterday, updating the forecast for various crops. Tyron Spearman has the details. Download Audio Sponsored ContentCIR Agriculture Harvester ProductsMarch 1, 2026Florida Cattle Enhancement Board Offers Targeted Research for Florida Cattle IndustryFebruary 20, 2026Florida Cattle Enhancement Board Allows Viable Research in the Cattle IndustryFebruary 6, 2026Florida Cattle Enhancement Board Track Record …

USDA Citrus Crop Forecast Has Little Changes

Dan Citrus, Crop Forecasts, Florida

Mark Hudson, of the U.S. Department of Agriculture/National Agricultural Statistics Service, reported the December citrus crop forecast. Sponsored ContentCIR Agriculture Harvester ProductsMarch 1, 2026Florida Cattle Enhancement Board Offers Targeted Research for Florida Cattle IndustryFebruary 20, 2026Florida Cattle Enhancement Board Allows Viable Research in the Cattle IndustryFebruary 6, 2026Florida Cattle Enhancement Board Track Record Well Received By LegislatorsJanuary 30, 2026

Tuesday is Deadline to Return County Committee Election Ballots

Randall Weiseman Alabama, Cattle, Citrus, Field Crops, Florida, Forestry, General, Livestock, Nursery Crops, Specialty Crops

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) wants to remind farmers and ranchers that next Tuesday, Dec. 13, is the deadline to submit ballots for the 2016 County Committee Elections. Producers must participate or cooperate in an FSA program to be eligible to vote in the County Committee election. FSA Administrator Val Dolcini says after the ballots have all been counted, …

Discussions on Tightening Estate Tax Rules

Randall Weiseman Alabama, Cattle, Citrus, Field Crops, Florida, Forestry, General, Georgia, Livestock, Nursery Crops, Specialty Crops

The Obama Administration is racing to finalize as many new rules and regulations as it can before January 20th. But one of those that could hang over into the new administration would tighten estate tax rules. The American Farm Bureau Federation, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, and other farm groups argue the Internal Revenue Service proposal would end or reduce discounts …

Trump Picks Oklahoma’s Pruitt to Lead EPA

Randall Weiseman Alabama, Cattle, Citrus, Environment, Field Crops, Florida, Forestry, General, Georgia, Livestock, Specialty Crops, Water

President-elect Donald Trump has chosen Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt as his Environmental Protection Agency Administrator. Pruitt has spent much of his energy as attorney general fighting the agency he is being nominated to lead, according to the Washington Post. He is suing the EPA over climate change rules and is vastly opposed to the Waters of the U.S. rule, …

Farm Income Drops 17 Percent in 2016

Randall Weiseman Alabama, Cattle, Citrus, Field Crops, Florida, Forestry, General, Georgia, Livestock, Nursery Crops, Specialty Crops

U.S. farmers will see their net incomes drop in 2016 for the third consecutive year. The U.S. Department of Agriculture says weaker cash returns on livestock, poultry, and dairy farms will drive income down 17.2 percent to $66.9 billion this year. That forecast would be 46 percent lower than the record profits of $123.7 billion in 2013. An article on …

Florida Landowners Reminded about EQIP Programs

Randall Weiseman Cattle, Citrus, Environment, Field Crops, Florida, Forestry, General, Livestock, Nursery Crops, Specialty Crops, USDA-NRCS

USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service in Florida wants remind landowners about the Environmental Quality Incentives Program, otherwise known as EQIP. District Conservationist in the Florida City NRCS field office, Christine Coffin, explains how EQIP programs benefit growers in their area. Download Audio Sponsored ContentCIR Agriculture Harvester ProductsMarch 1, 2026Florida Cattle Enhancement Board Offers Targeted Research for Florida Cattle IndustryFebruary 20, …

Florida Trade Leaders Not Ready to Scrap NAFTA

Randall Weiseman Cattle, Citrus, Export/Import, Field Crops, Florida, General, Industry News Release, Livestock, Specialty Crops, Trade

FROM THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA By JIM TURNER MIRAMAR BEACH, November 30, 2016………. Some people involved with Florida’s international trade efforts hope President-elect Donald Trump’s campaign threat to ditch the North American Free Trade Agreement is mostly bluster. Trump repeatedly decried the 22-year-old agreement on the campaign trail as the “worst trade deal in history” and said he would …