(FDACS/TALLAHASSEE, FL/April 27, 2023) — Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson issued the following statement regarding the Conservation Reserve Program Amendments Act introduced by Senator Marco Rubio, Representative Scott Franklin, and Representative Darren Soto to conserve citrus groves that are at risk of development: “Food security is national security, and we’re working here in Florida to preserve for future generations as much …
Florida Farmers Challenge Feds Over Wage Rule
(NSF/TALLAHASSEE/April 25, 2023) — Warning about a “looming disaster,” Florida farmers and agriculture groups have filed a lawsuit seeking to block a new federal rule about wages for farmworkers. The lawsuit, filed Friday in federal court in Tampa, centers on a minimum wage related to temporary farmworkers coming into the United States under what are known as H-2A visas. The …
Florida Lawmakers Working to Finalize the Budget
Florida lawmakers will be working this week to finalize the budget for the upcoming fiscal year. The 60-day legislative session is scheduled to end next week. Florida Cattlemen’s Association (FCA) Director of Governmental Affairs, Sam Ard, explains what should happen this week, and also provides an update on what is known as the Tax Exempt Ag Materials, or TEAM card. The new fiscal …
Weekly Livestock Market Report Week Ending 04-21-2021
Here are the weekly livestock market reports for Alabama, Florida, and Georgia, for the week ended April 21, 2021, compiled by the Livestock Market News Service for all three states. AL Livestock Market Report: At Alabama Livestock Auctions, for the week ended-April 21, 2023, receipts at 21 markets totaled an estimated 11,700 head compared to 8,693 last week and 8,159 …
Conservation Easement Program Sign-up for Florida Landowners is Underway
Florida landowners interested in aligning their land uses with conservation values have an opportunity to apply for a conservation easement program in partnership with the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Florida (NRCS-FL) and the North Florida Land Trust (NFLT). Applications are now being accepted for the fiscal year 2023 NRCS Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP). U.S. held easements will be accepted and evaluated by NRCS …
Weekly Livestock Market Report Week Ending 04-14-2021
Here are the weekly livestock market reports for Alabama, Florida, and Georgia, for the week ended April 14, 2021, compiled by the Livestock Market News Service for all three states. AL Livestock Market Report: At Alabama Livestock Auctions, for the week ended-April 14, 2023, receipts at 21 markets totaled an estimated 8,600 head compared to 11,802 last week and 11,561 …
Florida Grower Citrus Show is Today
The Florida Grower Citrus Show is taking place today, April 13th, in Fort Pierce in the parking lot between the University of Florida/IFAS Indian River Research and Education Center and the USDA Agricultural Research Service U.S. Horticultural Research Laboratory. The trade show opens at 8:00am, where coffee and breakfast will be served. The general session begins at 9:00am, then from 11:00am until 2:00pm the trade …
Possible Changes to North Florida Beef & Forage Field Day Schedule
The Florida Panhandle Ag Extension Team will host the 2023 Beef & Forage Field Day Thursday, April 13th at the North Florida Research and Education Center’s Beef Unit near Greenwood, Florida. There are six stops scheduled for the field tour and the event will conclude with lunch. But, organizers have received a number text messages and calls with questions about the …
Florida Beef Cattle Short Course Coming Next Month
The University of Florida’s Department of Animal Sciences invites those interested to their 72nd Annual Florida Beef Cattle Short Course on May 10-12, 2023. The Short Course, held in Gainesville, Florida, is considered to be one of the premier beef cattle educational events in the Southeast and Gulf Coast regions. Producers, extension specialists and agents, researchers, students, and allied industry members are welcome …
Florida Lawmakers Working on the Budget
Florida lawmakers last Wednesday reached the halfway point in this year’s 60-day legislative session. Both the House and Senate approved their individual budget proposals, which now sets the stage for negotiations on a final spending plan. The Senate proposal is $113.7 billion, while the House proposal totals $113 billion. Florida Cattlemen’s Association (FCA) Director of Governmental Affairs, Sam Ard, looks at …