The drought has been making news in Florida, fueling more than 2,100 wildfires burning 170,000 acres since the start of the year according to The Florida Forest Service. And with up to a 12-inch rain deficit throughout the state and temperatures predicted to continue above normal, relief may not be in sight, even if the rainy season starts soon, according …
Valenstein Chosen as State Environmental Chief
by Jim Turner, News Service of Florida With Gov. Rick Scott describing him as “passionate about the environment,” Noah Valenstein was named Tuesday as Florida’s next environmental secretary after a short interview with Scott and members of the state Cabinet. Valenstein, a former Scott aide who is executive director of the Suwannee River Water Management District, will take over at …
UF Experts Suggest Ways to Save Water During Drought
by Brad Buck, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences experts suggest ways you can maintain your landscape during this drought, including an irrigation audit and knowing the watering laws in your area. UF/IFAS Extension agents in your county can conduct the audit, said Mary Lusk, an UF/IFAS regional specialized …
Cabinet Weighs Highlands Conservation Plan
Gov. Rick Scott and the Florida Cabinet next week will consider a proposal to spend $1.58 million to help conserve about 1,000 acres of land in Highlands County. The proposal involves buying what is known as a “perpetual conservation easement” on 1,034 acres of ranch land owned by S.Y. Hartt & Son, Inc. The Hartt family bought the northern Highlands …
Livestock Industry Calls for Relief from EPA’s Overly Burdensome Regulations
The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association and the Public Lands Council filed comments this week to the EPA calling for immediate action on several burdensome regulations the agency put forward under previous Administrations. The groups said that the regulations, “inhibit job creation, are ineffective, are unnecessary, or impose costs that exceed the environmental benefits. Often, these regulations impose federal requirements on …
EPA Launches New ‘Waters of the U.S.’ Website
New site aims to provide transparency and information about EPA review of ‘WOTUS’ EPA is launching a new website (www.epa.gov/wotus-rule) to provide the public with information about EPA’s review of the definition of “Waters of the U.S.” (WOTUS) as set out in the 2015 “Clean Water Rule.” The site replaces the website developed for the 2015 rulemaking process. “EPA is …
NRCS Alabama Offers Funding to Protect Water Quality
USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Alabama has announced that the agency is providing funding to protect water quality for residents living in two key watersheds in North Alabama. Alabama State Conservationist, Ben Malone, notes designated sections of Swan Creek and Oakland Spring Branch-Beaver Dam Creek will be targeted. Eligible landowners are encouraged to visit their local USDA Service …
Scott Signs Major Water Bill Backed by Negron
from The News Service of Florida Gov. Rick Scott on Tuesday signed a priority of Senate President Joe Negron that will allow the state to bond money for a controversial reservoir intended to help clean South Florida waterways. The measure (SB 10) was one of 11 bills that Scott signed into law. The water bill allows Florida to bond up …
Landowners Encouraged to Learn More about CSP
We’ve been talking the past few weeks about how landowners with existing Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) contracts were being encouraged to renew those. But for those of you who do not have a CSP contract, USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Acting Chief Leonard Jordan encourages you to learn more about the program and how it can benefit your operation. Sponsored …
Soil Health Partnership Urges Farmers to Take USDA Survey
Whether you are a longtime advocate of cover crops—or have never even considered using them—the Soil Health Partnership is encouraging all farmers to participate in the USDA’s 2017 Cover Crop Survey. In its fifth year, the survey helps the USDA’s Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program understand why farmers choose to use cover crops, or the reasons that they don’t. …