Applications Accepted Until May 29, 2009 – GAINESVILLE, May 8, 2009—The United States Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Florida announces over $1.3 Million in funding available for qualified applicants for a new Organics Initiative. The initiative meets the Obama Administration’s promise to encourage more organic agriculture production. Funding for the initiative is being made available as …
Follow Up Report: Fresh Citrus Shipping Rule An Industry Priority
You’ll find the original post of this same radio report a week back in these news archives. It has comments from Florida Citrus Mutual C E O Mike Sparks about Mutual’s work on the Florida fresh fruit shipping rules for next season. Due to feedback received from one listener about other reports we’ve done on this topic in recent days, …
“Citrus Research and Development Foundation” To Handle Funds
A new citrus industry organization that will administer funds for HLB (citrus greening disease) and canker research is now up and running. A board of mostly citrus growers met in Lake Alfred to organize the Florida Citrus Research and Development Foundation. In the first two reports herein, Southeast AgNet’s Ernie Neff (left) has details about this new Direct Support Organization …
FL Budget: UF Fares Better than Expected, Crop Protection Doesn’t
When Florida lawmakers finally threw in the towel on this year’s Legislative Session, there were winners and losers. UF/IFAS ended up taking cuts, but not disproportionately as it had been looking like it would. Meanwhile, food crop protection products again got hit with a doubling of registration fees, and as always, it may take some time to figure out some …
U S Sugar Board Approves Amended SFWMD Land Acquisition
This news release just in late today from U S Sugar Corporation, saying the amended terms of the acquisition package will protect rural jobs and the environment: CLEWISTON —May 8, 2009 (U S Sugar Corp.) —The Board of Directors of the U.S. Sugar Corporation today approved the amended contract terms for the South Florida Water Management District’s acquisition of the …
Crop Protection Product Fee Increases Could Hurt Florida Farmers
If you’re a farmer or in the crop protection product industry in Florida, you will want to hear these reports featuring Florida Fertilizer and Agri-Chemical Association Executive Mary Hartney. She explains how the state legislature this year singled out food crop protection products for another doubling of registration fees that may make it more difficult for some companies to justify …
Florida’s “Gulf Region” Citrus Growers Tackle “Greening” Head-On
Southwest Florida Citrus Growers have many of the same concerns as other growers around Florida particularly when it comes to greening. We speak with Gulf Citrus Growers Association Executive Ron Hamel in these reports about how his region’s growers are tackling the problem. Sponsored ContentFlorida Cattle Enhancement Board Provides Production ResearchMay 8, 2026Florida Cattle Enhancement Board Provides Opportunities to Develop …
USDA: No Action Yet on Fresh Citrus Shipping Protocols
USDA scientists say harvested fruit does not spread citrus canker, so Florida growers are anxious for relaxed USDA protocols for shipping fresh fruit from Florida. In Washington D C last week with a small group of U S farm broadcasters I asked Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack and USDA/APHIS top brass for an update on this topic. Hear what we …
FFAA Scholarship Fund Golf Tournament – Fun for A Good Cause
A good time was had by all at this year’s Florida Fertilizer and Agrichemical Association’s Scholarship Fund Golf Tournament at Lake Wales Country Club. It is all for a good cause. FFAA’s Scholarships have helped dozens of students and continues to award scholarships annually to Florida students majoring in agricultural fields. Learn more about how you can support, or apply …
Food Safety Issues Important to Citrus & Mechanical Harvesting
Some food industries have again recently proven no food industry is immune to food safety scares of huge proportions. University of Florida researcher Michelle Danyluk recently spoke about food safety and mechanical harvesting at a recent gathering of citrus growers. Hear her comments in this report. Sponsored ContentFlorida Cattle Enhancement Board Provides Production ResearchMay 8, 2026Florida Cattle Enhancement Board Provides …