The Governor and Cabinet approved the preservation of 2,523 acres of environmentally sensitive land within Corona Ranch in Okeechobee County through cost-effective conservation easements, which prevent future development of the land and allow agriculture operations to continue to contribute to Florida’s economy. The purchase is part of the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program, where the state partners with Florida’s …
UF, Invasive Species Centre Draw International Crowd to Invasive Pests Conference
Researchers from around the world will gather at what many consider to be a perfect storm for invasive aquatic plants. With 28 ports of entry and a tropical environment, Florida ranks first among states for invasive species. Thus, 250 scientists from 13 countries will gather at the 20th International Conference on Aquatic Invasive Species from Oct. 22 to 26 in …
USDA Holds Disaster Assistance and Hurricane Recovery Workshops
USDA Service Centers in Florida are holding disaster assistance and hurricane recovery workshops in 48 counties for farmers and ranchers impacted by Hurricane Irma during the next few weeks. The event is free and open to the public. To find meeting dates and locations, go to https://www.fsa.usda.gov/state-offices/Florida/state-events/index. Representatives from USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and Farm Service Agency (FSA) …
UF/IFAS-Led Team Wins National Award for Research on Heat-Tolerant Field Corn
Field corn is one of the world’s most important cereal grains, and efforts to develop new heat-tolerant varieties of this crop have earned national recognition for a scientific team led by University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences molecular geneticist Curt Hannah. On Thursday, Oct. 12, representatives of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and …
Putnam Recognizes Florida’s 17 Million Acres of Forests During Working Forests Week
Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam and the Florida Forest Service are celebrating the benefits of Florida’s more than 17 million acres of forests during Florida’s third annual Working Forests Week, which is Oct. 15 through Oct. 21. A working forest includes publicly or privately owned lands where sustainable production of timber is balanced with promoting healthy populations of …
Farmers May Get Loans to Help With Irma Damage
Florida farmers in 44 counties may be eligible for federal loans to help cover damage inflicted by Hurricane Irma, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced. Still, Florida might have to wait months for broader federal assistance to the agriculture industry, which sustained more than $2.5 billion in losses from the storm. U.S. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue notified Gov. Rick …
Researchers Request Grower Feedback
By Jaci Shreckengost Researchers at the University of Florida’s West Florida Research and Education Center (WFREC) are working to solve pest management issues with field crops. Silvana Paula-Moraes, an entomologist and professor at WFREC, said there are multiple projects, including grower surveys and pest trapping, to gain better knowledge of the pest issues Florida growers face. These projects will help …
Florida Commissioner’s Spotlight: October is Farm-to-School Month
On this week’s Commissioner’s Spotlight, Florida’s Commissioner of Agriculture Adam Putnam speaks on the importance of healthy school lunches and the role Florida’s farmers play in providing fresh, wholesome food to local schools. You can follow Florida Commissioner Adam Putnam on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Discover more by visiting FreshFromFlorida.com. Sponsored ContentCIR Agriculture Harvester ProductsJuly 1, 2026FL Cattle Enhancement …
Putnam Comments After USDA Issues Disaster Declaration for 19 Florida Counties
Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam released the following statement after the U.S. Department of Agriculture issued a natural disaster declaration for 19 Florida counties due to agricultural damage caused by Hurricane Irma: “I thank U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue for taking action to support Florida’s farmers and ranchers still picking up the pieces from Hurricane Irma. Our …
Farmers Could Get Irma Related Tax Breaks
Farmers could receive tax breaks on equipment damaged by Hurricane Irma and on fuel, under a proposal by Rep. Matt Caldwell, a North Fort Myers Republican who is running for agriculture commissioner next year. With the agriculture industry facing $2.5 billion in projected losses from Irma, Caldwell rolled out the proposal this week to offer cuts in Florida’s tangible personal …