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 ContentCIR Agriculture Harvester ProductsJuly 1, 2026FL Cattle Enhancement Board Wraps up …
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 …
Vegetable Garden Bill Gets Green Light
In an issue stemming from a legal dispute in South Florida, the Senate on Thursday overwhelmingly approved a bill that would prevent local governments from regulating homeowners’ vegetable gardens. Senators voted 35-5 to support the measure (SB 82), sponsored by Sen. Rob Bradley, R-Fleming Island. Bradley took up the issue after a dispute between homeowners Hermine Ricketts and Laurence Carroll …
E-Verify Plan a Heavy Lift
Gov. Ron DeSantis’ campaign vow to require Florida businesses to use federal “E-Verify” checks on the immigration status of new hires remains a tougher lift than his call for a sanctuary-city ban, which is speeding through the Legislature. But he’s not giving up, even as he blames a lack of unanimity among Republican lawmakers for slowing the red-meat proposal that …
Money Could Flow to Environment, Water Quality
The Florida Senate is topping Gov. Ron DeSantis’ request for environmental funding, despite early concerns about a tight budget and the need to react to Hurricane Michael. The Senate Agriculture, Environment and General Government Appropriations Subcommittee on Wednesday released an initial $5.9 billion budget proposal that includes $656 million for Everglades restoration and water-quality efforts such as trying to reduce …