On Thursday, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced the investment of $26.6 million by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) into 45 projects that will spur innovative conservation initiatives on both rural and urban farms across the country. The investment is made through USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) program, which fosters innovation in conservation tools and strategies …
Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Winning Fight Against Destructive, Disease-Carrying Snail
From the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services: MIAMI, Fla.–Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam announced today that more than 164,000 giant African land snails (GALS) have been eliminated in Florida since the invasive snail was discovered in Miami-Dade County in 2011. In addition to threatening more than 500 varieties of plants and agricultural commodities, GALS consume plaster …
USDA Awards Grant for Development of Citrus Harvesting Equipment
USDA announced that 76 small businesses around the country will receive $7.4 million in grants to conduct research related to food security, natural resources, and agricultural issues. The grants are made through the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program, a competitive funding source that is coordinated by the Small Business Administration and administered by 11 federal agencies including the U.S. …
Transplanting System Saving Labor, Increasing Yields
A company continues to test its automated lettuce transplanting system on the Central Coast. The Plant Tape system takes a lot of labor out of the transplanting process and company representatives say the process also increases yields. Sponsored ContentVerdant Robotics Offers Growers Targeted Application of Herbicides or Beneficials through SharpShooter™June 16, 2026Florida Cattle Enhancement Board Provides Resources To Researchers For …
Agriculture Industry Reminded to Get Tickets for UF Game
The University of Florida Athletics and the Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) wants to remind everyone in the agricultural industry about the 2016 Agriculture and Gardening Day at the University of Florida Gators homecoming football game October 15 verses the Missouri Tigers. If you have yet to get discounted tickets for this big event, then do so before …
Florida Producers Reminded to Practice Mosquito Control
As the number of locally transmitted Zika cases continues to climb in Florida, some may wonder if this is an issue of concern for livestock. So we asked Dr. Diane Kitchen, Florida Department of Agriculture’s Veterinarian Manager of Bovine Programs, that very question. Download Audio Sponsored ContentVerdant Robotics Offers Growers Targeted Application of Herbicides or Beneficials through SharpShooter™June 16, 2026Florida …
EQIP Signup Continues in Florida
USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service in Florida reminds landowners that the signup for 2017 funding through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) continues. Al Oliver, NRCS District Conservationist out of the Lake City service center, has more details. Download Audio Sponsored ContentVerdant Robotics Offers Growers Targeted Application of Herbicides or Beneficials through SharpShooter™June 16, 2026Florida Cattle Enhancement Board Provides Resources …
Commodities Come Together on Phenotyping Initiative
From the National Corn Growers Association: The Multi-Commodity Phenotyping Initiative kicked off joint activities by hosting an educational webinar for representatives from member organizations on the current state of phenotyping science and current U.S. government phenotyping programs. This first step, which was organized by the National Corn Growers Association, provided a strong foundation for the coalition moving forward. The Initiative …
Florida Collegiate Cattlewomen to Help Promote Beef
It’s always great when young people become involved in agriculture. And Ashley Hughes with the Florida Beef Council talks about a group of young women she’s excited to work with in promoting beef in the state. Download Audio Sponsored ContentVerdant Robotics Offers Growers Targeted Application of Herbicides or Beneficials through SharpShooter™June 16, 2026Florida Cattle Enhancement Board Provides Resources To Researchers …
Congress Back in Session This Week
After a seven-week recess, Congress returns to session this week as many have little expectation lawmakers will accomplish much of anything with the November elections looming. Topping the discussion is likely to be the highly debated Zika virus funding, marred in a spat between Democrats and Republicans over last-minute additions to the bill. For agriculture, Sponsored ContentVerdant Robotics Offers Growers …