The Fresh Produce Association of the Americas (FPAA) and other allied groups such as the Border Trade Alliance continue to make misleading statements about the tomato suspension agreement in an apparent attempt to muddy the waters and stoke fear among other agricultural groups in the U.S. Here are a couple basic points to keep in mind: Support for the termination …
Trump to Tout Lake Okeechobee, Everglades Work
President Donald Trump will be in Florida this week to promote work on the Herbert Hoover Dike around Lake Okeechobee and a reservoir in the Everglades Agricultural Area, the White House confirmed Tuesday. Deputy Press Secretary Judd Deere tweeted that Trump is slated to “visit Lake Okeechobee Friday to tout work on dike repair, EAA reservoir.” The tweet linked to …
USDA Designates 11 Florida Counties as Primary Natural Disaster Areas
Emergency Support to Producers in Surrounding Counties/Border States Also Available Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue designated 11 Florida counties as primary natural disaster areas. Producers in Calhoun, Franklin, Gadsden, Gulf, Holmes, Jackson, Jefferson, Liberty, Okaloosa, Walton and Washington counties who suffered losses caused by Hurricane Michael that occurred on Oct. 10, 2018, may be eligible for U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) …
DeSantis, Cabinet Weigh Large Land Buy
Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Florida Cabinet next week are slated to consider buying 5,534 acres in Hendry County through the Florida Forever conservation program. Under the proposal, which is on the agenda for a Cabinet meeting Tuesday, the state would pay $14.775 million to Alico, Inc. for the land, which is part of what is known as the broader …
Land Conservation Funding in Florida Needs Your Voice
Week four of the 2019 Florida legislative session is taking place this week in Tallahassee, and many have been busy looking over the proposed state budgets for the upcoming fiscal year rolled out last Friday by both the House and Senate. The release of those budget proposals came after House and Senate subcommittees issued pieces of the spending plans earlier …
Lawmakers Getting Behind Hemp Industry
Looking at a potentially lucrative new industry, lawmakers are working on rules for farmers and businesses to grow and sell industrial hemp in Florida. The Senate Agriculture Committee on Monday approved a bill (SB 1020) that would create a regulatory framework for the industry, which is emerging after a federal law last year legalized industrial hemp as an agricultural product. …
New Judge for Florida-Georgia Water War
Earlier this month, we told you a new federal appellate judge, based in New Mexico, is tasked with sorting out the long-running battle between Florida and Georgia over water in the Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint river system. According to a story from the News Service of Florida, both sides recently filed briefs in the debate about whether limits should be placed on Georgia’s …
Weekly Livestock Market Report Week Ending 03-22-19
Here are the weekly livestock market reports for Alabama, Florida, and Georgia, for the week ended Mar 22, 2019, , compiled by the Livestock Market News Service for all three states. AL Livestock Market Report: At Alabama Livestock Auctions for the Week ended Mar 22, 2019, receipts at 21 markets totaled an estimated 14,500 head compared to 10,492 last week …
Watching Florida Budgets Talks
Agriculture has been busy closely scanning the proposed budgets released this week in both the Senate and House Appropriations Subcommittees during week three of the 2019 Florida Legislative Session. Florida Cattlemen’s Association (FCA) Director of Governmental Affairs, Sam Ard, looks at one budget issue they are concerned with. Sponsored ContentStrong Relationship Exists Between the Florida Cattle Enhancement Board and UF-IFASApril …
Conservation Easement Signup Underway in Florida
It was announced last week that applications are now being accepted to fund agricultural easements in Florida. USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) provides financial and technical assistance to conserve working lands and wetlands through two programs: Agricultural Land Easements and Wetland Reserve Easements. You have until April 25, 2019 to apply. Applications are available on the Florida NRCS website, or at your local …