State Revives Red Tide Task Force

(NSF) — A task force focused on red tide outbreaks along the Gulf Coast has been reorganized within the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Gov. Ron DeSantis announced the revised panel, tasked with studying the causes of red tide, during a press conference Friday at the SandBar Tiki & Grille in Englewood. The panel, comprised of researchers and scientists, …

Lawsuit Filed Over Lake Okeechobee Releases and U.S. Army Corps-Created Water Shortage

Clewiston, Fla. (U.S. Sugar) – U.S. Sugar announced that it shared similar concerns with environmental groups who filed an earlier lawsuit over the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ complete disregard of its own policies and procedures governing Lake Okeechobee.   The Company filed a lawsuit this morning in federal district court. “Since November of 2018, the Corps has released unprecedented volumes …

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 ContentCattle Producers Proud of Efforts Funded Through The Florida Cattle Enhancement BoardMay …

Blackbeard’s Ranch Receives Regional Environmental Stewardship Award

Florida Ranch Wins for NCBA Region II DENVER (NCBA) – Blackbeard’s Ranch, in Myakka City, Fla., has been selected as one of seven regional finalists of the Environmental Stewardship Award Program (ESAP). The award, announced during the 2019 Cattle Industry Summer Business Meeting July 30 recognizes the operation’s outstanding stewardship and conservation efforts. This year’s regional winners will compete for …

Southeastern Growers Unite at USMCA Meeting

On July 30 farmers and industry leaders from throughout the Southeast gathered in Lake City, Florida to discuss the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) and the lack of protection for southeastern produce growers struggling to keep up with heavy Mexican competition. “The fight is real,” said Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Nikki Fried in an exclusive interview with AgNet Media Founder and President …

UF/IFAS Researchers Honored for Avocado Integrated Pest Management

(UF/IFAS) — University of Florida officials recognized a team of research scientists with a High Impact Research Publication award for an article published in the May 2018 edition of Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology, an international scholarly science journal. The publication, “Identification of the Achilles heels of the laurel wilt pathogen and its beetle vector,” introduces new pest management tactics for …

Florida Ag Commissioner Fried on USMCA

During a Monday morning teleconference put together by the Florida Democratic Committee, Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Nikki Fried and others discussed what was called “President Trump’s disastrous economic policies.” Hear Commissioner Fried’s comments: Fried answered Southeast AgNet’s Randall Weiseman’s question on what her message is to others in agriculture wanting to see the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) ratified as soon …

New Hemp Industry Buoyed by CBD Demand

TALLAHASSEE (NSF) — Hemp has been hyped as a lifesaver for Florida farmers, touted as a versatile crop that can be used to build houses, feed livestock and create clothing. But it’s the plant’s healing qualities that have sparked a second cannabis “green rush,” as the state’s hemp program gets off the ground. The nationwide craze for products containing CBD …