(NSF) — State Forester Erin Albury warned Thursday that the threat of wildfires remains from fallen timber still strewn across areas of Northwest Florida decimated by Hurricane Michael more than two years ago. Albury cautioned residents in the region to keep property clear of debris as the volume of timber left by the Oct. 10, 2018, storm will continue to …
Ten Big Issues for 2021 Florida Legislative Session
The 2021 Florida Legislative Session starts Tuesday, March 2, and lawmakers will take up a wide range of issues during the 60-day session. At the top of that list is of course the budget. According to the News Service of Florida (NSF), with the economic fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic reducing expected tax revenues, legislative leaders have warned they will …
Supreme Court Weighs Arguments in Water Battle
(NSF) — The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday plunged back into a years-long water battle between Florida and Georgia, at times sounding skeptical of arguments that more water should be directed to Florida in a river system shared by the states. The fight is rooted in a collapse of the iconic oyster industry in Apalachicola Bay at the southern end …
UF/IFAS, FDACS to Help Teach Science, Engineering Through Aquaculture
Through a $64,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Farm to Schools program, the University of Florida and the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) will help some Florida K-12 educators who teach science, technology, engineering, math, and agriculture start or strengthen aquaculture education programs. To apply for the program, follow the steps. The deadline for applications …
Weekly Livestock Market Report Week Ending 2-19-2021
Here are the weekly livestock market reports for Alabama, Florida, and Georgia, for the week ended February 19, 2021, compiled by the Livestock Market News Service for all three states. AL Livestock Market Report: At Alabama Livestock Auctions for the Week ended-February 19, 2021, receipts at 21 markets totaled an estimated 2,000 head compared to 10,591 last week and 9,650 …
Fried & FDACS Launch Bilingual Farmworker Vaccine Education Campaign
With the COVID-19 vaccine becoming available for at-risk populations in Florida, Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried and the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services launched a bilingual vaccine education campaign to encourage COVID-19 vaccination among Florida’s farmworkers and agriculture community. A recent study found that food and agricultural workers are among those most at risk of death from COVID-19, facing a 39 percent increase in excess …
Timpoochee: 4-H Camp in Need of Repairs Following Eta
Hurricane Eta soaked Florida when it made landfall last November. Left in its wake were structures and facilities at Camp Timpoochee, a 95-year-old 4-H camp located along the shore of Choctwhatchee Bay in Niceville, Florida. Scott Angle, Vice President for Agriculture and Natural Resources at the UF/IFAS, provided an update on what it will take to rebuild and have up …
Commissioner Nikki Fried on Tropical Storm Eta Secretarial Disaster Declaration
On Wednesday, the U.S. Department of Agriculture informed Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried it has granted a Secretarial disaster declaration for several key counties impacted by Tropical Storm Eta, rain, flooding, and wind that occurred from Nov. 7 through Nov. 10. The storm was projected to cause at least $85 million in crop losses, especially in seasonal produce. Those counties include Collier, Hendry, Lee, and Miami-Dade …
Crop Insurance Town Hall Held by Commissioner Nikki Fried and USDA
(FDACS) — Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried held a town hall meeting on crop insurance issues at Chipola College in Marianna, Florida. Fried was joined via Zoom by Acting Administrator Richard Flournoy of the USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA) and other RMA senior and regional leaders to answer questions from agriculture producers on crop insurance and risk management. Photos/Video: A video recording and high-res …
Beef Industry Receives Lots of Exposure at Daytona
The “Beef It’s What’s For Dinner 300” NASCAR race took place this past Saturday at the Daytona International Speedway. While beef industry personnel from across the country were on hand for the big event, the Florida Beef Council (FBC) helped to spearhead a majority of the big Beef Checkoff promotional effort. Over the past few weeks, we’ve talked with FBC …