Florida Farmers Brace for Cold Weather

Florida farmers were preparing Thursday for continuing cold weather, with temperatures expected to drop into the 30s overnight as far south as Fort Myers and Homestead. Many of Florida’s crops cannot handle freezing temperatures for long periods. Citrus and strawberry farmers are preparing harvests ahead of time, often running irrigation systems to create small layers of ice over the fruit …

U.S. Sugar Prepares for Cold Weather in South Florida

With South Florida expected to experience some of the coldest weather of the season, U.S. Sugar and its family of farmers have begun making preparations to limit any impact on crops. U.S. Sugar’s Senior Director for Corporate Communications and Public Affairs Judy Sanchez issued the following statement: “As the coldest weather of the winter thus far approaches, like most farmers …

Florida Georgia Water Battle to Supreme Court Monday

The U.S. Supreme Court will hear arguments Monday (1-8-18) in a long-running water battle between Florida and Georgia. The crux of the issue: Florida contends that Georgia is siphoning too much water in northern parts of the Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint river system, damaging the Apalachicola River and the oyster industry in Franklin County’s Apalachicola Bay. But a special master appointed by the …

Register for the 2018 Florida Agricultural Hall of Fame Banquet

The Florida Agricultural Hall of Fame Banquet will take place Feb. 13 in Tampa. This event will honor the 2018 inductees to the Hall of Fame. Four agricultural leaders have been chosen to enter the Hall of Fame this year. They are Alfonso Fanjul, J. Pepe Fanjul, Lowell Loadholtz and Harold K. Mikell. These four men have dedicated their lives …

Weekly Livestock Market Report

***The Weekly Livestock Market Reports will not be issued for the next two weeks due to the holidays. The next reports will be issued Friday January 12, 2018.*** Here are the weekly livestock market reports for Alabama, Florida, and Georgia, for the week ended December 22, 2017, compiled by the Livestock Market News Service for all three states.   AL …

Mike Sparks Comments on Federal Funding Delay

Although the House cleared federal relief funding on Thursday, the Senate will delay their decision until the new year. The $81 billion disaster-relief package includes money for Florida citrus growers impacted by Hurricane Irma. Mike Sparks, CEO of Florida Citrus Mutual, says although he is happy with the House passing the relief package, the delay in the Senate is disappointing. …

21 Counties in Florida as Primary Natural Disaster Areas with Assistance to Producers in Georgia

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has designated 21 counties in Florida as primary natural disaster areas due to losses and damages caused by Hurricane Irma that occurred from Sept. 9, 2017, through Sept. 12, 2017. Those counties are: Baker Hamilton Polk Citrus Hernando Putnam Clay Lafayette St. Johns Columbia Levy Seminole Dixie Manatee Suwannee Duval Nassau Union Flagler Pasco …

UF Studies Shows What Some Bugs Do for Love, Like Sacrificing a Leg

Males of many species must compete for mates, often using body parts scientists call “weapons” to defeat their opponent, survive and in some cases, produce more offspring, University of Florida researchers say. As an example, deer develop antlers, which help them compete with other male deer for female attention and to survive battles with predators in the wild kingdom. Now, …