Lease Termination is an Important Step in Meeting the Expedited Construction Schedule for the Reservoir Project Tallahassee, FL (Office of FL Gov. Ron DeSantis-Oct. 3, 2019)— Governor Ron DeSantis, the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) announced the early termination of the Florida Crystals Lease for the stormwater treatment area (STA) component …
Commissioner Nikki Fried Unveils Major Energy & Climate Legislative Package
Tampa, FL (FDACS-Oct. 3, 2019) — Commissioner Nicole “Nikki” Fried unveiled an ambitious legislative package of bills to address energy efficiency, climate change, resiliency, and clean energy research. Speaking at a press conference in Tampa alongside U.S. Representative Kathy Castor, U.S. Representative Charlie Crist, and State Representative Margaret Good, Fried highlighted the urgency with which Florida and the nation must address energy and climate issues. The …
UF/IFAS Experts Help Farmers Cope with Mental Stress
ST. PETERSBURG, FL (UF/IFAS-Oct. 3, 2019) — When some people think of a farmer, they conjure an image of a stoic, tough-as-nails figure – one who can cope with any hardship. But that’s not always the case, particularly when cold, heat, drought, disease or a natural disaster strikes their crop or cattle. Sometimes, when a farmer or rancher’s livelihood is …
Facts of the Flow: Lake Okeechobee, 2019 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 Senator Shares Origins of Florida Cattle Enhancement BoardNovember 14, 2025CIR Agriculture …
Fried to Roll Out Climate Change Priorities
(NSF-Oct. 2, 2019) — Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried on Thursday plans to roll out legislative priorities focused on climate change. Warning of greater coastal flooding and more powerful hurricanes, the package will address issues such as renewable energy, farm resilience, climate adaptation, new funding sources and financial incentives, Fried said Wednesday as she helped open the Florida Energy and Climate …
Response to FDACS Open Burn Program Enhancements
Clewiston, FL (U.S. Sugar-Oct. 1, 2019) — In response to enhancements announced by Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) Commissioner Nikki Fried, U.S. Sugar Senior Director for Corporate Communications and Public Affairs Judy Sanchez released the following statement: “We applaud Commissioner Nikki Fried, her staff and the Florida Forest Service for their thoughtful review of the state’s open …
Major Changes to Prescribed Burning
Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried announced major changes and enhancements to the state’s prescribed burning program, which is authorized by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and the Florida Forest Service. Prescribed burning in Florida is a national model for successfully managing statewide forests and lands through safe, controlled, carefully managed prescribed fire. A scientifically sound practice, prescribed burning is …
Signup Underway for Healthy Forests Reserve Program in Florida
The sign up period for the Healthy Forests Reserve Program (HFRP) is open for applications through Oct. 15 for certain counties in Florida. Administered by U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), HFRP is a farm bill program that helps landowners restore, enhance and protect forestland resources through the purchase of conservation easements and financial assistance for management activities. …
Weekly Livestock Market Report Week Ending 09-27-19
Here are the weekly livestock market reports for Alabama, Florida, and Georgia, for the week ended September 27, 2019, compiled by the Livestock Market News Service for all three states. AL Livestock Market Report: At Alabama Livestock Auctions for the week ended September 27, 2019, receipts at 21 markets totaled an estimated 18,800 head compared to 12,616 last week and …
Commissioner Nikki Fried: New Energy Efficiency Conversation Needed
Tallahassee, FL (FDACS-Sept. 26, 2019) — Last week, the Office of Energy in the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) filed a brief required by the Florida Energy Efficiency and Conservation Act (FEECA). Since 1980, FEECA has directed Florida utility companies to develop meaningful energy efficiency and conservation measures. Every five years, most major utilities are required to …