TALLAHASSEE (FDACS)– More and more consumers are discovering the benefits of eating fresh fruits, vegetables and seafood at the peak of their harvest season. After all, in-season products are fresher and tastier, they provide optimal nutritional value, they encourage a diverse diet in harmony with nature’s production cycle, and are often more economical. A new web page launched by the …
Huge Turnout for 2009 FL Ag Hall of Fame Banquet at State Fair
As you’ll hear in this report by Erin Best, this week’s Florida Agriculture Hall of Fame Banquet at the Florida State Fair was a HUGE success. A record crowd of agriculture producers and ag industry leaders joined Florida Agriculture Commissioner Charlie Bronson for fellowship and dinner to honor four more deserved inductees into this prestigious group of industry leaders. This …
Commissioner Sees Potential in Cellulosic Energy
Agriculture Commissioner Charles Bronson says that with one Cellulosic Ethanol Plant already designed for the west coast of Florida and others in discovery phases, the potential benefits go beyond the environment and expand to agri-business and the state as a whole.
FL Legislative Session Needs Input / FL Farm Bureau Day March 17
As Chair of the Natural Resources Appropriations Committee in the Florida House of Representatives this year, Rep. Ralph Poppell says he expects some healthy discussion as more budget cuts are debated. He urges agriculture producers to take time to participate in the process this year in particular, saying lawmakers need direct input to keep things properly focused with the grass …
FL Cattlemen Excited about FRESP
In one Florida county, an effort has been underway called the Florida Ranchlands Environmental Services Project (FRESP), which is the result of a nationally-funded NRCS Conservation Innovation Grant that was awarded to the World Wildlife Fund. In Okeechobee County, the FRESP project is a partnership between ranchers addressing water quality concerns on grazing lands in the northern Everglades, something that …
USDA: More Freeze Follow Up on Florida Citrus Crop
It’s important most of the time to hold off on any early predictions of damage from freeze events in Florida citrus country. Crop statistics folks have had more time to assess cold impact on citrus from recent freezes. Hear more about it in this story.
Emergency Watershed Protection Program Helpful for Florida
With Florida often receiving the brunt of various natural disasters, State Conservationist Carlos Suarez says that the Florida Natural Resource and Conservation Service’s Emergency Watershed Protection Program can be a great resource. For more information regarding EWP or other NRCS programs log on to their website or visit your local NRCS office.
FL Citrus Crop Forecast Reduced in February
CLICK HERE to go to the Citrus Statistics page at the Florida Agriculture Statistics Service website where all the monthly citrus crop updates are stored…AND click the play icons below to hear from Citrus Statistics Administrator Candi Erick about the February numbers. USDA NASS Sponsoring this news report:
Florida Agricultural Hall Of Fame To Induct Four Tonight
The Florida agricultural leaders who will be inducted into the Hall of Fame are: — Dr. James Griffiths of Winter Haven (deceased) — Richard Kelly of Tallahassee (deceased) — Kay Richardson of Evinston — Mason Smoak of Lake Placid (deceased) “Florida agriculture owes an immense debt of gratitude to these outstanding leaders,” Florida Agriculture Commissioner Charles Bronson said. “Their dedicated …
FL Ag Census Shows Growth in Women, Minority & Family Farms
In this fourth and final segment of a four part series, Florida Agriculture Statistics Director Jeff Geuder discusses the growth in diversity of Florida’s farms and farmers since the last Census of Agriculture five years ago. 2007 Census of Agriculture data was released last week, and we talked to Geuder about it just after his briefing with Agriculture Commissioner Charles …