Friendly Reminder from the Florida Beef Council

With the end of 2018 nearing, Florida Beef Council CEO Jim Handley has a friendly reminder for producers across the state. Friendly Reminder from the Florida Beef Council Image credit: Florida Beef Council / Grilled Porterhouse Steaks with Garlic Herb Peppercorn Crust / Get the Recipe Sponsored ContentFL Cattle Enhancement Board Wraps up Funding YearJune 30, 2026Florida Cattle Enhancement Board …

Senator Takes Aim Again at Garden Regulations

After being unable to get the House to go along during the 2018 legislative session, state Senator Rob Bradley, R-Fleming Island, will try again to prevent local governments from regulating homeowners’ vegetable gardens. Bradley last week filed a bill (SB 82) that would largely bar regulations on vegetable gardens on residential property. The bill stems from a legal dispute between …

UF/IFAS Economists Issue County-Level Estimates for Hurricane Michael Agricultural Losses

Hurricane Michael devastated coastal communities along the Florida Panhandle but the storm also caused significant agricultural crop losses well inland, as shown by a new report from the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS). County-level estimates from the UF/IFAS Economic Impact Analysis Program (EIAP) indicate that none of the four hardest-hit counties – Jackson, Gadsden, Suwannee …

Fried Looking Forward to Serving Florida Ag Community

After the manual recount was completed Sunday, Nikki Fried saw her lead over Republican candidate Matt Caldwell increase in the race for Florida Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Services. Since Caldwell has conceded the race, Fried is now focusing on the future as commissioner-elect. She told Southeast AgNet’s Randall Weiseman she looks forward to being the spokesperson and advocate for …

Caldwell Concedes Ag Commissioner Race to Fried

Republican Matt Caldwell pointed to a need for political “sanity” and a “peaceful transfer of power” Monday as he conceded the race for Florida agriculture commissioner to Fort Lauderdale lawyer Nikki Fried, the only Democrat to win statewide this year. Caldwell, a real-estate appraiser from North Fort Myers who has served the past eight years in the Florida House, said …

Fried Maintains Hold in Ag Race After Manual Recount

Former medical-marijuana lobbyist Nikki Fried is on the verge of being the only Florida Democrat to capture a statewide win, gaining votes over Republican state Rep. Matt Caldwell in the race for agriculture commissioner after a manual recount was completed Sunday. The manual recount also had no effect on the outcome of three razor-thin legislative races, in which Democrat Janet …

Farm Service Agency Accepting Emergency Forest Restoration Program Applications

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) Acting State Executive Director Justin Teuton announced that 17 Florida counties are accepting applications for the Emergency Forest Restoration Program (EFRP) to address damages from Hurricane Michael. EFRP provides payments to eligible owners of nonindustrial private forest (NIPF) land to enable the owners to carry out emergency measures to restore land …

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U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Surveys Florida Timber Damage with Department Representatives

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue and representatives from the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and the Florida Forest Service, including State Forester Jim Karels, surveyed timber damage caused by Hurricane Michael and met with members of the timber industry. The Florida Forest Service, a division of the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, had over 500 personnel involved …