UF/IFAS Extension to Help Teach Updated Farm Safety

Dan Education, Florida, Industry News Release

Farm workers can learn updated safety rules from faculty with the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Extension and others at a Dec. 18 conference in Sebring. UF/IFAS Extension faculty from several Central Florida counties – including Highlands, Hardee and Palm Beach — will work with emergency management officials to teach agricultural safety to farm laborers, said …

Florida Hurricane Michael Relief Fund

Dan Economy, Florida, Industry News Release

Families in North Florida have suffered unprecedented losses due to Hurricane Michael. In response, Florida Farm Bureau has created a relief fund that will help North Florida farm families recovering from agricultural-related losses from the storm. Applications are now open for farmers and ranchers in North Florida who have been impacted by Hurricane Michael. Applications are limited to North Florida agriculture …

EQIP Signup Continues in Florida

Dan Economy, Florida, USDA-NRCS

USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Florida reminds farmers, ranchers and forest owners across the state to know you can sign up now for funding through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP). Conservation Programs Specialist with Florida NRCS, Nathan Fikkert, notes while EQIP is a continuous signup program, this special batching period signup deadline is December 21. EQIP Signup …

Weekly Livestock Market Report

Dan Alabama, Cattle, Florida, Georgia

Here are the weekly livestock market reports for Alabama, Florida, and Georgia, for the week ended November 30, 2018, compiled by the Livestock Market News Service for all three states. AL Livestock Market Report: AL Livestock Market Report At Alabama Livestock Auctions for the Week ended Nov 30, 2018, receipts at 21 markets totaled an estimated 20,500, last week No …

Commissioner-elect Nikki Fried Announces Full Transition Team

Dan Florida, Industry News Release

Commissioner-elect Nikki Fried announced her full transition team as she prepares to take office as Florida’s next Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Services. “We have brought people together from all corners of our state and all walks of life to help build a Department that will respect the priority issues of the people and work hard to deliver results,” shared Commissioner-elect Nikki Fried. “From …

Florida Eyes Deepwater Horizon Money for Land Deal

Dan Environment, Florida, Forestry, Industry News Release

Florida officials are looking at using money from the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill to help shield timber land in Dixie County from future development. Gov. Rick Scott and the Cabinet next week will decide whether to spend $6.4 million to purchase what is known as a “conservation easement” on nearly 20,000 acres of timber land near the Suwannee River …

Florida Romaine Gets Cleared, New Labeling Approaches

Randall Weiseman Florida, Vegetables

Florida-grown romaine lettuce has been cleared as safe to eat according to a release from the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) sent out earlier this morning. The clearing came from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) after concluding the outbreak came from a region in California. The …

Florida-Grown Romaine Cleared as FDA Continues E. coli Outbreak Investigation

Dan Florida, Industry News Release, Vegetables

Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have cleared Florida-grown romaine lettuce. Their ongoing investigation into the multi-state E. coli outbreak has determined that the implicated romaine comes from areas of California. On Nov. 20, the CDC advised the public not to eat any romaine …