(USDA/NRCS) — USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) announced that it is investing $16,508,441 million in Florida for partner-driven conservation projects through its Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP). NRCS will leverage $20,822,664 million in partner contributions. “I’m excited to announce the first RCPP awards under the 2018 Farm Bill,” said Florida State Conservationist Rafael Vega (acting). “Through collaboration and aligning …
UF Surveys to Identify Impact of Pandemic on Florida’s Agriculture and Marine Industries
(UF/IFAS) — With agriculture and marine industries occupying a large portion of Florida’s economy, the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) wants to better understand how measures to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 are impacting these sectors. Starting today, faculty from the UF/IFAS Food and Resource Economics (FRE) department are deploying surveys to UF/IFAS Extension agents …
Commissioner Nikki Fried Reiterates Call for Cabinet, Clemency Meetings & COVID-19 Briefings
(FDACS) — Agriculture Commissioner Nicole “Nikki” Fried, an independently elected member of the Florida Cabinet, reiterated her call for immediately resuming meetings of the Cabinet and Clemency Board. The Florida Cabinet has not met since February 4, after which the Governor has canceled subsequent scheduled meetings. “The people of Florida expect their statewide leaders to work together during this unprecedented challenge. Successfully managing …
Fried Calls for Florida Cabinet to Jointly Address Coronavirus Issues
(NSF) — Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried has reiterated a call for Governor Ron DeSantis and the state Cabinet to jointly address issues related to the coronavirus pandemic. Fried, who has complained about a lack of communication between the statewide elected officials, says she’s been requesting weekly briefings from the governor’s office since before an April 7th Cabinet meeting was …
Commissioner Nikki Fried on “Urgently Needed” USDA Stimulus Funding
(FDACS) — Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nicole “Nikki” Fried sent a letter to U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue urging swift action in getting the $9.5 billion in direct assistance provided by the CARES Act stimulus bill into the hands of agriculture producers. Fried also shared with USDA several proposals from national and Florida agriculture industry partners highlighting the needs on the ground in response …
Facts of the Flow: Lake Okeechobee, 2020 Year-to-Date
(SFWMD) — Here is the latest update on inflows into Lake Okeechobee for the calendar year to date. This data is provided by SFWMD’s DBHYDRO database. There has been no back-pumping into Lake Okeechobee from the Everglades Agricultural Area this year. Source: South Florida Water Management District Sponsored ContentFlorida Cattle Enhancement Board Provides Funding For Quicker Response to Research QuestionsApril …
Farmers Give to Food Banks in Time of COVID-19
(UF/IFAS) — With the COVID-19 shutdowns increasing people’s need for food, some consumers rely on nonprofits for a bite to eat. To help, farmers in Florida and elsewhere are donating excess produce to food banks, said a UF/IFAS expert. In fact, some food banks are helping farmers by offsetting some of their costs, thus incentivizing growers to harvest food they …
Florida Looks to U.S. Supreme Court in Water War
(NSF) — Warning that a special master’s recommendation would “spell doom” for the Apalachicola River, Florida wants the U.S. Supreme Court to require Georgia to share more water in a river system that links the two states. Florida filed a 65-page brief Monday asking the Supreme Court to reject a December recommendation by Special Master Paul Kelly, who said Florida …
Florida Beef Council Promoting New Recipe Ideas
During this time of COVID-19, there are many consumers turning to social media to find new ways to prepare various meals. Florida Beef Council (FBC) Director of Education & Promotion, DeAnne Maples, wants folks to know about some new ideas when it comes to beef dishes. For more information about the Beef Checkoff go to the FBC website. Sponsored ContentFlorida …
Applying Insecticide in Furrow During Peanut Planting Helpful in Managing Thrips
By Clint Thompson Peanut planting season is upon us and farmers need to be wary of potential thrips pressure when they begin planting their crop, according to University of Georgia Cooperative Extension peanut entomologist Mark Abney. He wants producers to be prepared by applying an insecticide at planting. “If you plant peanuts, you’re going to have thrips. There’s a lot …