When consumers buy wheat products, such as bread or pasta, they expect to get protein with their purchase. But in a warming world with high atmospheric carbon dioxide levels, the genes required to keep wheat production high are the same ones that keep grain protein down, a University of Florida scientist says. By breeding wheat with specific traits, scientists can …
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 …
Weekly Livestock Market Report
**This report will not be issued next week due to markets being closed for the Thanksgiving holiday.** Here are the weekly livestock market reports for Alabama, Florida, and Georgia, for the week ended November 16, 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 …
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 …
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 …
Two Statewide Races Go to Manual Recounts
Floridians will have to wait a little longer to get official word about who will be the state’s next agriculture commissioner and who will serve in the U.S. Senate. Secretary of State Ken Detzner announced Thursday that manual recounts of “overvotes” and “undervotes” will be required in the two statewide races, as the margins between candidates were below 0.25 percent …
NRCS Programs Help after Natural Disasters
To help farmers and ranchers affected by the devastation caused by Hurricane Michael, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) staff in county, regional and state offices have been busy with a variety of programs to assist. One program through USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Alabama, Florida and Georgia has specific ways of helping. NRCS Acting Chief Leonard Jordan …
FDACS Accepting Applications for Specialty Crop Grants
Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam announced the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) is now accepting applications for $4 million in expected federal funding for the Florida Specialty Crop Block Grant program. The deadline to submit an application to the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program is Jan. 11, 2019. The grant, from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, …
First Florida NRCS Hurricane Assistance Signup Ends Friday
Florida farmers and ranchers who suffered damage to working lands and livestock mortality due to Hurricane Michael are being reminded the first sign-up period ends Friday, November 16. Agricultural producers in Bay, Calhoun, Franklin, Gadsden, Gulf, Holmes, Jackson, Leon, Liberty, Wakulla and Washington counties are eligible to apply for assistance through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) at the USDA …
Feast on Florida-Grown Foods This Thanksgiving
As we sit down to dine during the annual Thanksgiving feast, it’s worth noting that much of what we eat comes from Florida farmers, say University of Florida researchers. Better still, scientists with the UF Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences try to see if they can breed and grow certain crops in Florida to help growers and consumers. When …