Thanks to funding from the U.S. Forest Service and the U.S. Navy, Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam announced that the Blackwater River State Forest will expand by 800 acres due to the acquisition of the Florida Forever Project Area Wolfe Creek Forest. The Florida Forest Service partnered with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Santa Rosa County, the Naval …
Agri View: Christmas Tree Crop Problems
Everett Griner talks about problems with the 2018 Christmas tree crop in today’s Agri View. Everett explains how the problems with the drought, and other problems, will affect the price of the trees this year. Christmas Tree Crop Problems Here is an early warning. There is likely to be a price hike on Christmas trees. Not this year. Not next …
Putnam Promotes Operation Outdoor Freedom
During a quick campaign stop in Pensacola this morning, Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Adam Putnam took time to also promote Operation Outdoor Freedom. Putnam Promotes Operation Outdoor Freedom Sponsored ContentFlorida Cattle Enhancement Board Provides Significant Support For ResearchDecember 19, 2025Florida Cattle Enhancement Board Considers Efforts Important to Cattle Producers in FloridaDecember 12, 2025Commitment From Florida Cattle Enhancement Board Members Seeks …
Congressman Yoho on Longleaf Pine Initiative
Landowners across the Southeast are always encouraged to take part in the Longleaf Pine Initiative through USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). And during a recent interview with Southeast AgNet, U.S. Congressman and member of the House Agriculture Committee, Ted Yoho from Florida, talked about their efforts to include even more pine species in the initiative. Congressman Yoho on Longleaf …
USDA Forest Service Announces New Strategy for Improving Forest Conditions
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service (USFS) announced a new strategy for managing catastrophic wildfires and the impacts of invasive species, drought, and insect and disease epidemics. Specifically, a new report titled Toward Shared Stewardship across Landscapes: An Outcome-based investment Strategy (PDF, 3.7 MB) outlines the USFS’s plans to work more closely with states to identify landscape-scale priorities for targeted treatments in …
New Florida Regulations for Harvesting Saw Palmetto Berries
The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, along with the Endangered Plant Advisory Council, recently added saw palmetto to the Department’s commercially exploited plant list. The new requirements took effect July 17, 2018. OFFICE OF AGRICULTURAL LAW ENFORCEMENT LEGAL BULLETIN 2018-02 SAW PALMETTO After receiving input from public and private landowners, conservation interests, and other interested parties, the Endangered Plant Advisory …
Restoring and Protecting Longleaf Pine Forests
In June of 2017, USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) released a two-year implementation strategy to help private landowners restore and protect 400,000 acres of longleaf pine forests. Through the strategy, NRCS furthers its ongoing effort to use existing Farm Bill programs and other resources to increase the abundance and improve the health of longleaf pine forests in nine Southeast states, including Alabama, Florida …
Benefits of Sustainably Harvesting Non-timber Forest Products
A new report by USDA Forest Service researchers provides science-based information to help decision-makers, practitioners, and researchers to promote the sustainable harvest of non-timber forest products. The Assessment of Nontimber Forest Products in the United States Under Changing Conditions synthesizes the best available science for managing non-timber forest resources in the U.S. “Many private landowners harvest non-timber products to generate income from …
WHIP Signup Officially Open
Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue announced that agricultural producers affected by hurricanes and wildfires in 2017 now may apply for assistance to help recover and rebuild their farming operations. Signup begins July 16, 2018, and continues through November 16, 2018. “Hurricanes and wildfires caused billions of dollars in losses to America’s farmers last year. Our objective is to get relief funds …
Levy County Forester Named Florida Farmer of the Year
Lynetta Usher Griner has received a prestigious honor for her business success and her contributions to her community. Earlier this month a panel of judges selected Griner as the 2018 Florida Farmer of the Year. Officially titled the Swisher Sweets/Sunbelt Ag Expo Florida Farmer of the Year, the award recognizes outstanding agriculturists in each of the 10 states in the Southeast. …