(FDACS) — The U.S. Department of Agriculture has allocated more than $5.5 million to Florida as part of its effort to strengthen the nation’s infrastructure for pest detection and surveillance, identification, and threat mitigation, and to safeguard the U.S. nursery production system. The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services has received a significant portion of these funds to support numerous projects. …
CRP General Signup Underway
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced earlier this week that signup for the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) is underway. Administered by USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA), CRP provides annual rental payments for land devoted to conservation purposes. FSA Administrator Richard Fordyce told Southeast AgNet this CRP signup gives producers and landowners an opportunity to enroll for the first time …
Important Reasons for Removing Tree Stumps
Some important reasons for removing tree stumps. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. There are many reasons to remove tree stumps from your property. But probably the most obvious one is for aesthetics. Not only do tree stumps take up a lot of valuable garden space, but they’re serious eyesores. Tree stumps left to rot in the ground can …
Senate Environmental Panel to Look at ‘Resiliency’
(NSF) — With calls growing for lawmakers to pay more attention to climate change, the state Office of Resilience and Coastal Protection and the chief resiliency officer position are slated to be reviewed Monday by the Senate Environment and Natural Resources Committee. The resiliency officer position is among the duties of Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Noah Valenstein, who has …
Recycling Tips for Your Christmas Tree
What to do with your Christmas Tree when it’s time to take down the decorations. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. There’s no doubt many of us kept the tree up a little bit longer this year. But, there’s only so long a living tree will last indoors past the holidays. Here are a few recycling tips for …
Conservation Reserve Program General Signup Begins Today
(USDA/FSA) — Agricultural producers and private landowners interested in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) can sign up for the popular program beginning today, Jan. 4, 2021, until Feb. 12, 2021. The competitive program, administered by USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA), provides annual rental payments for land devoted to conservation purposes. “This signup for the Conservation Reserve Program gives producers and landowners an …
Florida May Buy More Alico Land
The state of Florida has entered into an option agreement to purchase approximately 5,804 acres of land from Alico, Inc.’s Alico Ranch for approximately $14.6 million under the Florida Forever program. “The 5,804-acre parcel is considered a primary and secondary zone for the federally endangered Florida panther and can contribute to increased protection of Florida’s biodiversity at the species, natural …
Conservation Efforts Continue on Florida’s Farms, Ranches Amid Pandemic
(USDA/NRCS/FL) — USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service in Florida continued its conservation work across the state despite a year marked with a pandemic and natural disasters. The agency helped farmers, ranchers and forest landowners implement conservation practices to help conserve natural resources and boost their bottom lines. Additionally, NRCS launched new online tools that increased the efficiency, effectiveness and delivery of crucial …
Cabinet Eyes ‘Devil’s Garden’ Land Deal
(NSF) — Nearly 6,500 acres of land, with the vast majority in the Devil’s Garden area south of Lake Okeechobee, are in line to be the state’s next Florida Forever conservation deals. Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Florida Cabinet — Attorney General Ashley Moody, Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried and Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis — will be asked Tuesday to …