by Jim Turner, News Service of Florida With Gov. Rick Scott describing him as “passionate about the environment,” Noah Valenstein was named Tuesday as Florida’s next environmental secretary after a short interview with Scott and members of the state Cabinet. Valenstein, a former Scott aide who is executive director of the Suwannee River Water Management District, will take over at …
UF Experts Suggest Ways to Save Water During Drought
by Brad Buck, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences experts suggest ways you can maintain your landscape during this drought, including an irrigation audit and knowing the watering laws in your area. UF/IFAS Extension agents in your county can conduct the audit, said Mary Lusk, an UF/IFAS regional specialized …
State Preserves More than 5,000 Acres of Environmentally Sensitive Ranch Lands
The Governor and Cabinet approved the preservation of 5,211 acres of environmentally sensitive ranch lands in Okeechobee and Highlands counties 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 purchases are a part of the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program, where the state partners with …
Florida Beef Council Hires New Staff Member
Since the end of 2016, the Florida Beef Council has had an open position, one they have been working ever since to fill. And according to FBC CEO Jim Handley, that position has now been filled. Sponsored ContentFlorida Cattle Enhancement Board Provides Critical Funding To Enhance Brahman GeneticsApril 24, 2026Strong Relationship Exists Between the Florida Cattle Enhancement Board and …
AgNet Hosts ‘This Week in Agribusiness’ — An Epilogue
By Gary Cooper AgNet Media Founder and President I recently connected with Max Armstrong, host of the nationally syndicated “This Week in Agribusiness” television program, for a fast-paced rural area and farm tour in Central Florida. It turned out to be a great opportunity for all involved, especially for Florida, which deserves more and better national media attention as an …
Pasture Management series offered in Crestview and DeFuniak Springs
Walton and Okaloosa Counties are offering a class on managing pastures for hay and grazing. Sponsored ContentFlorida Cattle Enhancement Board Provides Critical Funding To Enhance Brahman GeneticsApril 24, 2026Strong Relationship Exists Between the Florida Cattle Enhancement Board and UF-IFASApril 17, 2026Florida Cattle Enhancement Board Provides Funding For Quicker Response to Research QuestionsApril 10, 2026Florida Cattle Enhancement Board Provides Opportunities That …
Agriculture Department Hit By Data Breach
From News Service of Florida Nearly 500 people may have had their Social Security numbers obtained in a data breach at the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. Also, the names of 16,190 concealed-weapon license holders — out of more than 1.75 million in the state — may have been acquired in the hack. Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam has …
Florida Commissioner’s Spotlight: FRESH! Recipe – Snap Beans
On this week’s Commissioner’s Spotlight, Florida’s Commissioner of Agriculture Adam Putnam is joined by Executive Chef Justin Timineri to talk about using what’s in season in his new Fresh! Recipe video: Snap Beans. You can follow Florida Commissioner Adam Putnam on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Discover more by visiting FreshFromFlorida.com. Image courtesy of FreshFromFlorida.com. Sponsored ContentFlorida Cattle Enhancement Board Provides …
Nelson Backs Speeding Up Dike Repairs
from The News Service of Florida U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson has followed Gov. Rick Scott, a potential 2018 election opponent, in imploring President Donald Trump to speed repairs to the Herbert Hoover Dike around Lake Okeechobee and to fund other Everglades restoration projects. Nelson wrote a letter to Trump on Friday that said the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers would …
AgNet Hosts ‘This Week in Agribusiness’ — The Antiques
By Gary Cooper AgNet Media Founder and President Editor’s note: Read the prologue to this article. Connecting with Max Armstrong, host of the nationally syndicated “This Week in Agribusiness” television program, and his cameraman Ryan Ruh for a whirlwind ag tour in Central Florida turned out to be a great opportunity to see a couple things that I seldom slow …