Gov. Ron DeSantis and the state Cabinet agreed Tuesday to spend $2.54 million from the Florida Forever conservation program to preserve land in Lake and Hamilton counties. The deals, approved with little comment, will pay $540,000 to Brian A. Richards for 83.4 acres in rapidly growing Lake County and $2 million to the owners of River Error Farms for 316 …
Bipartisan Senators Introduce Major Disaster Relief Package
President Trump Drives Effort For Disaster Relief Funding U.S. Senators David Perdue (R-GA), Johnny Isakson (R-GA), Doug Jones (D-AL), Marco Rubio (R-FL), Rick Scott (R-FL), Tim Scott (R-SC), Thom Tillis (R-NC), and Dan Sullivan (R-AK) introduced a bipartisan disaster relief package with the backing of President Donald J. Trump. President Trump, working with this bipartisan group of senators, has confirmed …
10 Big Issues to Watch During the 2019 Florida Legislative Session
Florida lawmakers will gather March 5 in the House chamber to hear Gov. Ron DeSantis give his first State of the State address, the traditional start of the 60-day legislative session. Led by Senate President Bill Galvano, R-Bradenton, and House Speaker Jose Oliva, R-Miami Lakes, lawmakers this year will deal with myriad issues, ranging from passing a state budget to …
Florida Cattlemen Preparing for Legislative Session
The Florida Cattlemen’s Association (FCA) is preparing for the 2019 Florida legislative session that begins next week in Tallahassee. Sam Ard, FCA director of governmental affairs, says the association’s theme this year is “hurricane relief and holding on to what we have.” Ard invites cattle producers across the state to join the Florida Cattlemen’s Association for its annual Boots on the …
Florida Farm Bureau Legislative Days
Florida Farm Bureau Federation (FFBF) members from across the state will be in Tallahassee for their annual Farm Bureau Legislative Days March 5-6. It is an opportunity for those involved to impact public policy at the state level and learn about current legislative issues. FFBF members will be visiting with lawmakers and engage in conversations that affect agriculture in the …
Florida Agricultural Conservation Easement Program Workshop
USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service in Florida invites landowners to attend an Agricultural Conservation Easement Program Workshop in Live Oak on March 15th. At the event, you will be able to learn how conservation easements can help your ag operation. This free event will be held at the John Hale Park Community Center in Live Oak starting at 9:00am. For …
Livestock Market Report 02-22-19
Here are the weekly livestock market reports for Alabama, Florida, and Georgia, for the week ended February 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 Feb 22, 2019, receipts at 21 markets totaled an estimated 7,400 head compared to 10,306 last week and …
Lake Okeechobee Levels Rising; Discharges to Increase
Army Corps of Engineers (ACOE) Colonel Drew Kelly, commander of the Jacksonville District, held a media conference call on Feb. 22 to explain a change to the discharge schedules for Lake Okeechobee, as water levels are rising in the lake. Listen to the audio clip below to hear the entire press conference, including questions from South Florida media and Southeast …
DeSantis Makes Three Key Appointments to SFWMD in Naples
Governor Ron DeSantis announced the appointments of Charlette Roman, Charlie Martinez and Cheryl Anne Meads to the Board of the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) in Naples. The Governor was joined by all three appointees as well as Secretary of the Department of Environmental Protection Noah Valenstein. “I’m pleased to announce the appointments of Charlie Martinez, Cheryl Anne Meads …
UF/IFAS Researchers Find Aromatic Strawberry Variety Grows in South Florida
As National Strawberry Day approaches on Feb. 27, University of Florida scientists have found another variety that can grow in South Florida. It’s largely unknown to American consumers, it’s temptingly tasty and it’s good for local markets, UF researchers say. Alan Chambers, an assistant professor of horticultural sciences with the UF Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, led a team …