The University of Florida IFAS department of animal sciences is hosting the 66th Annual Florida Beef Cattle Short Course this week in Gainesville. It starts Wednesday and runs through Friday at the Straughn IFAS Extension Professional Development Center. Both small and large beef producers are invited to hear experts discuss hot topics and current research related to the beef industry. …
Caldwell to Run for Agriculture Commissioner
by Jim Saunders, News Service of Florida Setting up a primary battle against fellow lawmaker Denise Grimsley, state Rep. Matt Caldwell announced Monday he will run for agriculture commissioner next year. The announcement was not a surprise: Caldwell, R-North Fort Myers, has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars in recent months for a political committee that could play an important …
Working to Meet the Florida Budget Deadline
The Florida legislative session is in its final week, and the Senate president and House speaker stepped in Sunday afternoon to take over budget negotiations as lawmakers have been working to meet a Tuesday deadline to finish work on a nearly $83 billion spending plan. According to a story from the News Service of Florida, while agreements on spending levels …
Time to Celebrate a Year-Round, Healthy Snack – the Strawberry
by Brad Buck, University of Florida/IFAS May is National Strawberry Month, a time to reflect on the history of this sweet, nutrition-packed fruit that grows well in Florida – and to extol its health benefits. Strawberries originally grew in Europe. In France, people regarded them as the highest-quality aphrodisiac. People believed Alpine strawberries provided various medicinal benefits. While some used the leaves, …
Environmental Budget Talks Falter
by Brandon Larrabee, News Service of Florida Negotiations between the House and Senate about funding for environmental and water programs imploded Saturday, as talks over a new state budget moved up the ladder ahead of a Tuesday deadline. A visibly irritated Sen. Rob Bradley, R-Fleming Island, announced Saturday that he would ask for all of the issues that once separated …
Request from the Florida Conservation Group
With time running out on the 2017 Florida legislative session, the Budget Conference Committee is in negotiations to finalize the final details of the budget. But there are concerns with some in agriculture that the budget does not include funding for conservation easements. And Southeast AgNet Tallahassee Intern, Josie Tomkow, talked with their Vice Chairman, Jim Strickland, who is asking …
Hashing Out Final Details of Florida State Budget
The Florida legislative session is down to its last week, as it is scheduled to end Friday, May 5. Work continues on the state budget, as the Budget Conference Committee has started their negotiations, but there is not a lot of time left for them to work out the details in order to adjourn on time. The budget has to …
Backroom Briefing: Putnam No Fan of NAFTA
by Jim Turner, News Service of Florida Florida Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam, who may be getting closer to announcing a bid for governor, continued lambasting the North American Free Trade Agreement this week as President Donald Trump backed off, for now, on withdrawing the U.S. from the pact. Putnam’s office said Wednesday he has implored U.S. Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross …
Gianna Rivera Wins “Fresh From Florida” Student Chef Cook-Off
The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services today announced that Gianna Rivera of Bloomingdale High School in Hillsborough County is the 2017 “Fresh From Florida” Student Chef Cook-Off champion. Rivera competed against four other regional finalists from across the state. Rivera’s winning Citrus Chicken Taco with Watermelon Salsa will be served in a school cafeteria, and the recipes of …
Florida Forever Update from Rep. Albritton
With just a week and a half left to the Florida legislative session, various bills continue to work their way through the process. Yesterday, Southeast AgNet Tallahassee Intern Josie Tomkow caught up with Representative Ben Albritton from District 56, which includes Hardee, Desoto, and southern Polk counties. He has an update concerning the Florida Forever program. Sponsored ContentFlorida Cattle Enhancement …