(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 …
UPDATE: FDACS Announces Farmworker COVID-19 Testing Efforts
Tallahassee, Fla. – Commissioner Nikki Fried and the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) are announcing additional COVID-19 testing sites for farmworkers in St. Lucie and Miami Dade County as the fall harvest season begins. The product of a partnership with the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS), the Florida Division of Emergency Management (FDEM), and local county governments, today’s announcement follows COVID-19 testing for farmworkers that was made available earlier …
Commissioner Fried Urges Farmers to Apply for 2018, 2019 Disaster Recovery Assistance
Tallahassee, Fla. – Ahead of the Friday, Oct. 30 deadline, Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried is urging farmers to apply for assistance through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Wildfire and Hurricane Indemnity Program – Plus (WHIP+) for 2018 and 2019 losses. “For generations, Florida’s farmers have worked to feed our communities, country, and the entire world, and their success has come despite challenges like hurricanes, droughts, and wildfires,” shared Commissioner Nikki Fried. “But despite being adaptive in the face of adversity, as …
Florida Beef Council Taking Part in National Event
Various plans and promotions through the Beef Checkoff are being discussed this week during a national meeting. DeAnne Maples, director of education & promotion for the Florida Beef Council (FBC), says normally this event would have been held in Denver. But this year it is a virtual event. For more information about Beef Checkoff promotions in Florida, contact the FBC …
USDA Crop Report Forecasts Are Within Industry Expectations
USDA released their October crop forecasts last Friday, and according to a story from Stephanie Ho, the corn and soybean numbers are within industry expectations. Here are key findings for the Southern Region from the October Crop Production report: Alabama: Corn area planted for all purposes is estimated at 340,000 acres, down 30,000 acres from the previous estimate. Production is forecast …
Weekly Livestock Market Report Week Ending 10-09-2020
Here are the weekly livestock market reports for Alabama, Florida, and Georgia, for the week ended October 09, 2020, compiled by the Livestock Market News Service for all three states. AL Livestock Market Report: At Alabama Livestock Auctions for the Week ended-October 09, 2020 receipts at 21 markets totaled an estimated 14,100 head compared to 14,241 last week and 15,292 …
Sunbelt Ag Expo Monthly Blog Series
In September, the Sunbelt Ag Expo announced their new monthly blog series. Due to the fact this year’s Expo will not be held because of Covid-19, a decision was made to do a monthly online event. Each month a new topic will be presented, and this month they are discussing backyard gardening. The blog series takes place every Tuesday on …
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 …
Florida FWC Puts Hold on Oyster Harvesting Decision
(NSF) – Looking to address additional concerns from area residents, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission delayed a vote Wednesday on finalizing a suspension of wild-oyster harvesting in Apalachicola Bay for five years. Commission Executive Director Eric Sutton said some people in the Northwest Florida area have had late concerns and “we’d like to take some more time to shore …