Farmers Prevented From Planting Crops on More Than 19 Million Acres

Dan Drought, Economy, Environment, Industry News Release, Water, Weather

Agricultural producers reported they were not able to plant crops on more than 19.4 million acres in 2019, according to a new report released by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). This marks the most prevented plant acres reported since USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) began releasing the report in 2007 and 17.49 million acres more than reported at this time …

Agriculture and Forestry in a Changing Climate: What the Future Holds for Florida

Dan Education, Environment, Forestry, Industry News Release

GAINESVILLE, Fla. (UF/IFAS) — A forum that will highlight climate challenges to Florida’s farms, ranches, and forests and steps that the state’s producers are taking in response is set for Monday, Aug. 12, at the Hilton University of Florida Conference Center in Gainesville. Agriculture and Forestry in a Changing Climate: What the Future Holds for Florida is also expected to …

State Revives Red Tide Task Force

Dan Environment, Florida, Industry News Release, Lake Okeechobee, Water

(NSF) — A task force focused on red tide outbreaks along the Gulf Coast has been reorganized within the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Gov. Ron DeSantis announced the revised panel, tasked with studying the causes of red tide, during a press conference Friday at the SandBar Tiki & Grille in Englewood. The panel, comprised of researchers and scientists, …

Lawsuit Filed Over Lake Okeechobee Releases and U.S. Army Corps-Created Water Shortage

Dan Environment, Florida, Industry News Release, Lake Okeechobee, Water

Clewiston, Fla. (U.S. Sugar) – U.S. Sugar announced that it shared similar concerns with environmental groups who filed an earlier lawsuit over the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ complete disregard of its own policies and procedures governing Lake Okeechobee.   The Company filed a lawsuit this morning in federal district court. “Since November of 2018, the Corps has released unprecedented volumes …

Georgia NRCS Promoting New Soil App

Dan Environment, Georgia, USDA-NRCS

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Georgia wants to remind producers about the recent release of the iOS and Android SoilWeb app, version 2.0. While the app was first released back in 2010, it now has a cleaner and more modern interface with GPS-location-based links to access detailed digital soil survey data published by the NRCS. Dee Pederson, …

Soil Moisture Monitoring Discussed at Sunbelt Field Day

Dan Field Crops, Peanuts, Soil, Water

During last week’s Sunbelt Ag Expo Field Day in Moultrie, Georgia, one of the tram stops gave attendees updated information concerning monitoring of soil moisture in fields. Tyron Spearman did an interview which explains how sensors are helping producers with their irrigation needs. 2018 Sunbelt Ag Expo Field Day – Casey Cox Video by: Georgia Peanut Commission Casey Cox, Mitchell …

Blackbeard’s Ranch Receives Regional Environmental Stewardship Award

Dan Cattle, Environment, Florida, Industry News Release, Water

Florida Ranch Wins for NCBA Region II DENVER (NCBA) – Blackbeard’s Ranch, in Myakka City, Fla., has been selected as one of seven regional finalists of the Environmental Stewardship Award Program (ESAP). The award, announced during the 2019 Cattle Industry Summer Business Meeting July 30 recognizes the operation’s outstanding stewardship and conservation efforts. This year’s regional winners will compete for …

Big Cypress Plan Raises Sportsmen’s Ire

Dan Environment, Florida, Industry News Release

by Chris Felker, Lake Okeechobee News BIG CYPRESS PRESERVE — The Big Cypress Sportsmen’s Alliance Inc. (BCSA) is up in arms and alerting its members and the public to what it calls a secret conspiracy among federal agencies to “condemn or forcefully obtain 248 private inholdings within the boundaries of the preserve.” This post on social media Thursday, June 27, …

EPA Not Banning the Use of Chlorpyrifos

Dan Environment, Industry News Release

(NAFB) — The Environment Protection Agency last week announced it would not ban chlorpyrifos, although court battles likely are ahead to fight the action. EPA denied objections to the agency’s 2017 order denying a 2007 petition from the Pesticide Action Network North America, and the Natural Resources Defense Council to cancel all registrations for the insecticide. CropLife America says the …