(NSF) — Measures are in place to offset potential blue-green algae blooms after the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers started Wednesday to schedule water releases from lower Lake Okeechobee, according to the state Department of Environmental Protection. A news release late Wednesday said the department and the South Florida Water Management District are prepared to use “innovative technology” if needed …
USDA Releases Final CSP Rule
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) released the final rule for its Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP). The rule makes updates to the popular conservation program as directed by the 2018 Farm Bill and integrates feedback from agricultural producers and others. CSP provides many benefits, including increased crop yields, decreased inputs, wildlife habitat improvements, and increased resilience to adverse weather. CSP is for working lands, including …
Assistance Helps Farmers and Ranchers Conserve Natural Resources
Application deadline for financial assistance is Nov. 20 (USDA/NRCS Florida) — Florida farmers, ranchers and forest owners can apply until Nov. 20 for financial and technical assistance from USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) for fiscal year 2021 funding. Although applications are accepted on a continuous basis for all programs, funding selections are typically made once a year. Through EQIP, …
Florida Closes on ‘Once in a Generation’ Land Deal
Wednesday, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection announced closing on a long-sought 17,088-acre tract in Franklin and Wakulla counties that includes a restrictive easement for the U.S. Air Force. According to the News Service of Florida, the $43 million deal with Ochlockonee Timberlands, a subsidiary of AgReserves, Inc., for the property was approved by Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Cabinet …
Keeping Your Kitchen Waste Out of the Landfill
Some things you can do with kitchen waste to keep it out of the landfill. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. Luckily, kitchen waste falls into many categories that are conducive for productive, useful waste cycling. There are lots of compostable items, such as paper bags, cardboard boxes, and food scraps. Also, there are tons of recyclable and …
Agriculture Helping to Reduce Carbon
As the election year debate rages over reducing carbon and other pollution, agriculture’s advocates say the sector has already made a huge impact on pollution. Agriculture, under pressure to reduce pollution from animal waste, fertilizer and carbon emissions for decades, has made huge strides, according to agriculture leaders. American Farm Bureau’s Andrew Walmsley says just in the past 20 to …
EPA Administrator Discusses Approach to Pesticides
The process the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) uses for evaluating the potential for health and ecological effects of a pesticide is called risk assessment. This program is crucial to the process of making decisions about pesticides, both new and existing. We had a story last week where EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler discussed what the agency is doing to move …
EPA Administrator on Agency Moving Into 21st Century
Due to COVID-19, there have been few opportunities for in-person visits on Capitol Hill the past few months, but Texas farm broadcaster Tony St James spent all last week there as a part of the 4th Annual All Ag, All Day DC Capitol Ag Tour. He met with members of Congress and agricultural industry leaders to discuss various topics. One …
General Mills to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions
General Mills announced a pledge to reduce absolute greenhouse gas emissions by 30% across its full value chain – from farm to fork to landfill – over the next 10 years. The company also committed to a long-term goal to achieve net-zero emission levels by 2050. The absolute greenhouse gas commitment was calculated using methodologies approved by the Science Based …
EPA Finalizes Interim Rules on Atrazine Use by Farmers
Atrazine is a widely used herbicide that farmers can apply before and after planting to control broadleaf and grassy weeds. It’s used primarily on corn, sorghum and sugarcane, and to a lesser extent, on residential lawns and golf courses. The Environmental Protection Agency released the Interim Registration Review Decision for atrazine, as well as propazine and simazine. With the rule, …