In the midst of an ongoing algae debate, it can be difficult to remember the community of people who live in the Glades area. These communities and families live and breathe agriculture. Below is a news release from Florida Crystals regarding the Pre-Harvest Celebration held this past Sunday. The account below shows the communal support for agriculture in that area. …
Fair and Festival-It’s What’s Going On
The peanut harvest is underway all across the tri-state area. There is also some celebrations. Fair and Festival-It’s What’s Going On The Georgia National Fair opens Thursday, October 4th, and continues through the 14th of October. The fair features a lot of livestock shows. The fair isn’t just agriculture. It has got something for everyone including livestock and horse shows. …
Putnam Says Trade Deal Falls Short for Florida Farmers
Florida Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam would like the renegotiated and rebranded North American Free Trade Agreement to do more to help the state’s farmers. And he’s not alone, as U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., also expressed concerns about the absence of relief for Florida agriculture in the revamped trade pact announced late Sunday. Putnam, who has long been a critic …
Benefits of the Annual Peanut Butter Challenge
by Dr. Nick Place We hear a lot about hunger. You’ve no doubt seen public service announcements on television, asking you to give to charitable organizations to help feed people. You’ve probably even seen crowdfunding efforts on digital media. It’s a fact of life: Some people around the world are starving – and not just in third-world nations. Some hungry …
Political Event Falls Short on Facts
A recent southeast Florida algae rally drew a small crowd. By Gary Cooper U.S. Congressman Brian Mast (R-Palm City) hosted a campaign event in Stuart on Sunday and visited other South Florida areas in recent days. He partnered with anti-farming group BullSugar.org and featured activist Erin Brockovich to help push his recently introduced Stop Harmful Discharges Act in Congress. The …
Has Farming Become a Political Whipping Boy?
By Gary Cooper Urban expansion is impacting agriculture throughout the Southeast. Florida appears to be the first state in this region to dramatically shift to a much more urban-thinking electorate. In light of this year’s primary elections, there are some points Florida agriculturists should be thinking about. I know many of you have been pondering some of this already, based …
Polston Lab ‘Recruits’ Insects as Allies for Plants in Food Security Project
A University of Florida lab spearheaded a campaign to recruit insects as allies that can aid in reducing plant stress to enhance food security. The initial, 12-month “recruiting” effort by Jane Polston, a professor of plant pathology at the UF Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, successfully completes the first of three phases of a scheduled four-year project under the …
Easements: Preserving Old Florida
The Lightsey family has been running cattle in central Florida since the 1850s, but with 1,000 people moving to Florida daily, development encroaches on their legacy and the natural resources that support it. Cary Lightsey and his brother Layne have put 90 percent of their land on 10 ranches into conservation easements with the help of USDA and other groups. These …
Oriental Fruit Fly Eradicated in Miami-Dade County
The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) have declared eradication in the Oriental fruit fly outbreak in the predominantly agricultural Redland area of Miami-Dade County. Due to early detection and rapid response, no quarantine was required during this program. This successful Oriental fruit fly eradication is the second one during this …
Florida Beef Council Excited About New Promotion
The Florida Beef Council (FBC) is excited about a new promotion that will take place in a couple of weeks. FBC CEO Jim Handley explains what it involves. Florida Beef Council Excited about New Promotion Sponsored ContentFlorida Senator Shares Origins of Florida Cattle Enhancement BoardNovember 14, 2025CIR Agriculture Harvester ProductsNovember 8, 2025Florida Cattle Enhancement Board Plays Critical Role To Extend …