Six of the seven projects are within the newly designated Florida Wildlife Corridor (Tallahassee/Sept. 21, 2021-NSF) — Governor Ron DeSantis and the Florida Cabinet approved seven Florida Forever land acquisitions and conservation easements that will protect Florida’s fragile natural environments in Hardee, Hendry, Indian River, Leon, Okeechobee, and Santa Rosa counties. The properties approved today, totaling nearly 20,000 acres, will …
Commissioner Fried / FDACS Submit 2022-23 Legislative Budget Request
(Tallahassee, FL/Sept. 20, 2021-FDACS) — Last week, Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried and the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) submitted the department’s Legislative Budget Request (LBR) for Fiscal Year 2022-2023. “Despite the challenges of operating through a continuing pandemic, our core mission remains the same: to safeguard the public and support Florida agriculture. Our budget priorities are solutions-oriented and critical not only to our …
Florida Producers Invited to NRCS Local Working Group Meetings
USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Florida invites local landowners and managers to attend Local Working Group Meetings. During these meetings, farmers, ranchers, forest landowners, conservation partners and the public can discuss natural resource needs and priorities for their county. Florida State Conservationist Juan Hernandez says these meetings are their major source of information. There are a variety of Local Working Group Meetings being …
Livestock Market Reports for Week Ended 9-17-2021
Here are the weekly livestock market reports for Alabama, Florida, and Georgia for the week ended September 17, 2021, compiled by the Livestock Market News Service for all three states. AL Livestock Market Report: At Alabama Livestock Auctions, for the week ending Sep 17, 2021, receipts at 21 markets totaled an estimated 16,500 head compared to 16,508 last week and …
DeSantis, Cabinet Eye Conservation Deals
(TALLAHASSEE/September 15, 2021) — A series of land preservation deals, covering nearly 20,000 acres from the Devil’s Garden southwest of Lake Okeechobee to forest land in the Panhandle, will go before Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Florida Cabinet next week with a combined price tag of $53.1 million. The proposals, which would mostly be funded through the Florida Forever program, …
Florida Senior Beef Ambassador Promoting the Industry
Getting young people involved in the beef industry in Florida is an important aspect for the future of the industry. That’s why each year a Beef Ambassador Contest is held, and this summer Emile Limoges from Zephyrhills was chosen as the 2021-2022 Senior Beef Ambassador. He talked to Southeast AgNet’s Randall Weiseman about his role as a state ambassador for …
Livestock Market Reports for Week Ending 9-10-2021
Here are the weekly livestock market reports for Alabama, Florida, and Georgia for the week ended September 10, 2021, compiled by the Livestock Market News Service for all three states. AL Livestock Market Report: At Alabama Livestock Auctions, for the week ending September 10, 2021, receipts at 21 markets totaled an estimated 16,200 head compared to 10,500 last week and …
Local Working Groups Set Conservation Priorities in Florida
When it comes to solving natural resource problems, local landowners and managers know best. That’s why the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Florida gives them a seat at the table at local working group meetings. At these meetings, farmers, ranchers, forest landowners, conservation partners and the public discuss natural resource needs and priorities for their county. NRCS and soil and water …
Florida Producers Encouraged to Apply for USDA Pandemic Assistance
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently announced updates to the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program-2 (CFAP-2), which includes expanded eligibility and increased flexibility. But a deadline of October 12, 2021 was set for eligible producers to apply or modify CFAP-2 applications. The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) encourages eligible producers in Florida to review the program modifications and to apply via …
Andra Johnson Named Dean of UF/IFAS Extension and Director of Florida Cooperative Extension Service
(GAINESVILLE, FL/September 7, 2021) — Andra Johnson, associate director of Penn State Extension, will be the next dean of UF/IFAS Extension and director of the Florida Cooperative Extension Service, the University of Florida announced on Tuesday. Johnson will assume the role on November 1. Johnson will lead UF/IFAS’ statewide network of more than 650 faculty educators and scientists, whose programs …