The Florida Beef Council recently attended an event where it was able to talk beef with a group of influencers. In this week’s beef checkoff report, FBC’s director of beef marketing and promotions, Allyson Trimble, says it was a great opportunity for the council to spread information about how beef is important in a healthy diet. Sponsored ContentCattle Producers Proud …
Florida Producers Have until Aug. 1 to Enroll in ARC/PLC
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Florida Farm Service Agency (FSA) Acting State Executive Director (SED) Debby Folsom reminds farmers and ranchers that they have until Aug. 1 to enroll in Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) and/or Price Loss Coverage (PLC) programs for the 2017 crop year. These programs trigger financial protections for participating agricultural producers when market forces cause substantial drops …
Gulf Coast Turfgrass Field Day & Expo
The 23rd Annual Gulf Coast Turfgrass Expo & Field Day will be held Thursday, July 27th at the West Florida Research & Education Center in Jay, Florida. The Gulf Coast Turfgrass Field Day & Expo has become one of the greatest educational events in the Panhandle, hosted by the University of Florida, IFAS, and the Gulf Coast Golf Course Superintendents …
Researchers Hope to Help Find Sites to Grow Tomorrow’s Produce
by Brad Buck, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences University of Florida researchers are sounding a warning bell that fresh produce may be hard to come by in the future. Scientists with the UF Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences cite changes in our climate, loss of fresh water and competition for resources as major threats to farmers’ …
Young Farm Leaders Qualify for Statewide Award
Three finalists have been selected for Florida Farm Bureau’s 2017 Achievement in Agriculture Award and will compete in October for the top statewide honor at the Florida Farm Bureau Annual Meeting in Ponte Vedra. This year’s finalists are Brittany Lee (Alachua County), Jimmy Hancock (Pasco County) and Kelly Mosley (Clay County). The Achievement in Agriculture Award recognizes members of Florida …
Florida Commissioner’s Spotlight: FRESH! Recipe – Balsamic Watermelon
On this week’s Commissioner’s Spotlight, Florida’s Commissioner of Agriculture Adam Putnam is joined by Executive Chef Justin Timineri to talk about a tasty new way to enjoy watermelon, Fresh From Florida! Ingredients: Watermelon Slices 6-12 slices of fresh Florida watermelon 4-6 ounces feta cheese, crumbled Mint Oil 1/2 cup olive oil 20-25 fresh mint leaves 2 tablespoons fresh parsley Sea …
Florida Rep. Roth Recaps his First Year
Rick Roth, West Palm Beach native and vegetable farmer, has completed his first year in the Florida Legislature serving the 85th district. He discusses his first year as a representative and his plans for his second year serving Florida. Roth says he found the legislative process to be very exciting. “It was an information party,” he says. As a vegetable …
Hydroponics to Improve Yield, Minimize Water Use
Hydroponic growing systems are a means for growers to potentially improve yield, says Dr. Davie Kadyampakeni, an assistant professor at the Citrus Research and Education Center at the University of Florida. These systems are a way for farmers to grow crops without soil by using water and a nutrient solution. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Alternative Farming Systems Information Center …
Putnam Comments Re: Phosphorous Reduction in Everglades Agricultural Area
Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam released the following statement regarding the South Florida Water Management District’s announcement that for the Water Year 2017 monitoring period, the Everglades Water Quality Program achieved a 70-percent phosphorous reduction. “We continue to make headway in restoring the health of the Everglades, and the Everglades Agricultural Area has, yet again, exceeded state-mandated goals …
EAA Farmers Achieve Another Year of Water Quality Success for the Everglades
Environmental Agency Announces Everglades Agricultural Area Reduced Phosphorus by Nearly 3 Times the Goal The South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) announced that farmers in the Everglades Agricultural Area (EAA) achieved another successful year of water-quality success, announcing a 70 percent reduction in phosphorous for Water Year 2017. The reduction is nearly three times the 25 percent reduction goal set …