Fried Releases FDACS & Biden Administration Partnership Plan

(FDACS) — Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried, an independently-elected member of the Florida Cabinet, hosted a press conference announcing the release of the FDACS Biden-Harris Administration Partnership Plan: Keeping Florida & America Growing, a state-federal partnership plan. The plan outlines areas of future collaboration between the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, The White House, and federal agencies including the U.S. Departments …

Florida Senators Question Governor’s Budget

We told you last week that Florida Governor Ron DeSantis had proposed a record 96.6-billion-dollar state budget for the upcoming fiscal year. Lawmakers this week started reviewing the proposal and after members of the Senate Appropriations Committee heard a presentation on his proposal, Senate budget chief Kelli Stargel signaled the Senate will take a more conservative approach when it draws up a …

Researchers Help Expand Indoor Gardening Trend Triggered by Pandemic

(UF/IFAS) — COVID-19 led many people to start gardening, and it’s no passing fancy. Recent research shows that about 80% of those who took up gardening since the beginning of COVID-19 will continue the pastime in 2021. Growing in the outdoor garden is one thing. Tending to plants indoors at home presents other challenges and opportunities. As they recognized the …

Florida Beef Council Ready for ‘Beef It’s What’s For Dinner 300’

The Florida Beef Council (FBC) is busy putting the finishing touches on a big Beef Checkoff promotional event coming next week. FBC Director of Education & Promotion DeAnne Maples says they have several folks from other states coming in to help out during the “Beef It’s What’s For Dinner 300” at the Daytona International Speedway. The “Beef It’s What’s For …

Florida Natural Resource Meeting Web Conference is March 3

USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Florida has announced it will conduct a State Technical Committee meeting on March 3 by web conference. The meeting, slated for 9:30 a.m. to noon, is available to the public. NRCS will solicit recommendations for establishing program criteria and priorities for conservation in Florida. The committee, chaired by NRCS Florida State Conservationist Juan …

Fairly Steady Beef Cattle Numbers in New Inventory Report

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) released their annual Cattle Inventory Report, and as of January 1, 2021, the number of all cattle and calves in the U.S. totaled 93.6 million head, down slightly from the 93.8 million head on January 1, 2020. All cows and heifers that have calved, at 40.6 million head, were slightly below the 40.7 million head on …

DeSantis Plan Would Address Climate Impacts

(NSF) — Gov. Ron DeSantis wants to spend $25 million next year and more in the coming years to set up a program that would help address coastal flooding and other climate-change impacts across the state. Money for the proposed Resilient Florida grant program would be in addition to $625 million that DeSantis is seeking from lawmakers to continue Everglades …

Weekly Livestock Market Report Week Ending 1-29-2021

Here are the weekly livestock market reports for Alabama, Florida, and Georgia, for the week ended January 29, 2021, compiled by the Livestock Market News Service for all three states. AL Livestock Market Report: At Alabama Livestock Auctions for the Week ended-January 29, 2021, receipts at 21 markets totaled an estimated 8,000 head compared to 15,227 last week and 12,498 …

Florida Governor Rolls Out $96.6 Billion Budget Plan

NSF – Florida Governor Ron DeSantis proposed a record 96.6-billion-dollar state budget on Thursday for the upcoming fiscal year. His spending plan offers a more upbeat picture of Florida’s finances than state lawmakers, who will have to stitch together a budget as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to hamper the economy. DeSantis’ proposal is a starting point for the legislative deliberations, …