The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) announced that it is working closely with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) regarding an atypical case of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE), a neurologic disease of cattle, in a six-year-old, mixed-breed beef cow in Florida. This animal never entered slaughter channels and at no time presented a risk to the food supply, …
Caldwell, Fried Ready to Battle for Agriculture Commissioner
State Rep. Matt Caldwell topped a four-way Republican primary for agriculture commissioner Tuesday, while lawyer and medical-marijuana lobbyist Nikki Fried had an easier time emerging from a field of three Democrats to become her party’s nominee for the Cabinet post. The two will now go head-to-head in November to replace term-limited Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam, who lost a bid for …
More Help for Pecan Growers Affected by 2017 Weather Events
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that additional assistance has been made available for pecan growers to replant and replace trees through the Tree Assistance Program (TAP) as they recover from the impacts of 2017 weather events, which was made available by the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2018. “Pecan orchards were hard hit in by storms in 2017. I saw first-hand …
Rubio, Nelson Raise Concerns About Mexico Trade Deal
While President Donald Trump on Monday hailed a tentative trade deal with Mexico, U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., and U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla., raised concerns about whether the deal would adequately protect Florida farmers. Rubio and Nelson sent a joint letter to U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer requesting that he work “diligently to ensure Florida’s agriculture community is fairly …
Election Day Commentary: Career Politicians or Dedicated Public Servants?
By Gary Cooper, Founder/President AgNet Media Sometimes the timing of events can really make us think. Over the weekend, our nation lost one of its greatest public servants. Senator John McCain was nothing less than a statesman his entire adult life. Not once in all the recent news media coverage did I see him referred to as a “career politician.” …
FCA Hosts Rally for Gubernatorial Candidate Adam Putnam
The Florida Cattleman’s Association (FCA) hosted a rally today to support gubernatorial candidate and current Florida Agricultural Commissioner Adam Putnam. Jim Handley, executive vice president of FCA, says the goal of the rally is to encourage voters to get out to the polls. Handley adds that the FCA is proud to support Putnam in this election, due to his extensive …
Crop-Damage Assessment System Will Speed Reporting After Disasters
In the wake of Hurricane Irma, economists with the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) realized that its Extension colleagues needed a better system for reporting damages and losses suffered by producers – something faster, more focused and more standardized. Today, that better system is in place. A team with the UF/IFAS Food and Resource Economics …
Florida-Grown Foods Part of Rich Tailgating Tradition
Set up the grill; it’s tailgating season. Chicken, burgers, corn, slaw, potato salad, chips – and maybe some fresh fruits and vegetables — are just some staples for the weekly ritual that coincides with football season. Some will win before the games start by eating Florida-grown foods. College football enthusiasts nationwide can take comfort in tips from University of Florida …
Florida’s Algae Blooms and Red Tide: Consider the Facts
The algae and red tide blooming along Florida’s coastal waterways are concerning to everyone, including those of us in agriculture. It is understandable that many Floridians are upset and are anxious for answers, but misinformation is being circulated by anti-farmer activists that erroneously points to farmers in the Everglades Agricultural Area (EAA), south of Lake Okeechobee, as the cause of …
Putnam on Importance of Rural Florida
Florida Commissioner of Agriculture, Adam Putnam, has been on the campaign trail across the state in his bid for Governor. While at a stop in Pensacola Friday morning, Southeast AgNet’s Randall Weiseman talked with him about the importance of rural Florida. Adam Putnam on Importance of Rural Florida Sponsored ContentStrong Relationship Exists Between the Florida Cattle Enhancement Board and UF-IFASApril …