On Monday, Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nicole “Nikki” Fried, State Senator George Gainer (R-Panama City), State Representative Brad Drake (R-DeFuniak Springs) and Florida Forest Service Director Jim Karels toured Hurricane Michael-damaged Jackson County and surrounding areas and discussed hurricane damage and ongoing recovery efforts and needs. The group toured several agricultural operations including timber, cotton and soybean farms in Jackson and Calhoun counties, and met with state forest …
Land and Water Money Considered in Storm Recovery
Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried indicated Monday she could back a legislative proposal to use money voters designated for land and water projects to help recovery efforts from Hurricane Michael. After reviewing agricultural damages Monday, Fried said at Chipola College in Marianna that her office was looking into a proposal (SB 376) by Sen. Bill Montford, D-Tallahassee, that would designate at …
Florida to Be Well Represented at Cattle Industry Convention
The 2019 Cattle Industry Convention & NCBA Trade Show officially starts Wednesday, Jan. 30, in New Orleans. According to Florida Cattlemen’s Association Executive Vice President Jim Handley, Florida will be well represented at the annual event. Sponsored ContentStrong Relationship Exists Between the Florida Cattle Enhancement Board and UF-IFASApril 17, 2026Florida Cattle Enhancement Board Provides Funding For Quicker Response to Research QuestionsApril 10, 2026Florida Cattle …
Weekly Livestock Market Report
Here are the weekly livestock market reports for Alabama, Florida, and Georgia, for the week ended January 25, 2019, compiled by the Livestock Market News Service for all three states. AL Livestock Market Report: At Alabama Livestock Auctions for the Week ended Jan 25, 2019, receipts at 21 markets totaled an estimated 7,300 head compared to 12,373 last week and …
Florida Legislators Discuss Ag Issues
By Gary Cooper Red tide, blue-green algae, hemp and hurricanes were among the items discussed in recent days during legislative committee meetings in Tallahassee, Florida. Lawmakers and state officials are getting down to business and looking forward to the start of the legislative session in early March. Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried on Tuesday gave senate agriculture committee members a status …
UF College of Agriculture Roche Scholars
The new Roche Teaching Scholars program is a very important part of the University of Florida’s College of Agricultural and Life Sciences. UF/IFAS Senior Vice President for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Jack Payne, says it’s a way they promote not just teaching, but excellent teaching. Sponsored ContentStrong Relationship Exists Between the Florida Cattle Enhancement Board and UF-IFASApril 17, 2026Florida Cattle Enhancement Board …
Commissioner Nikki Fried Continues Building New Administration
Commissioner Nicole “Nikki” Fried is announcing another round of hires for the administration, with new additions in her office’s external and legislative affairs departments. Stephanie McClung will serve as External Affairs Director, Shahra Anderson Lambert and Ricardo Alvarez as Regional Directors for Southwest and South Florida respectively, and Matthew Alford and Carlos Nathan as Deputy Legislative Affairs Directors. “We’re building a Department that’s …
Next Steps Eyed in Fight Against Water Woes
Local governments have spent $17.3 million the state provided to combat outbreaks of red tide and toxic blue-green algae, which have caused massive fish kills and fouled waters in coastal areas for more than a year. And as red tide lingers in some Southwest Florida areas, and just $1.7 million of $19 million in state funding remains unspent by the …
Younger Generation Bringing New Energy to UF/IFAS Master Gardeners
Program Celebrates 40 Years in Florida Angie Dixon, 38, was working long hours as a project manager, but would spend weekends trolling plant shows and local community gardens. Though she loved everything about plants, she knew nothing about gardening. “I figured gardening would be a cool activity to do with my 5-year-old son,” said Dixon, of Orlando. “So, I bought …
UAV-based Remote Sensing Can Help Avocado Growers by Detecting Asymptomatic Pathogen
Remote imaging can effectively detect a pathogen that endangers the $100 million-a-year Florida avocado industry – even before the trees show symptoms — University of Florida scientists say. Yiannis Ampatzidis, an assistant professor of agricultural and biological engineering at the UF Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, led recently published research that shows that multispectral cameras can detect laurel wilt …