The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is seeking nominations for the Christmas Tree Promotion Board to fill six seats for members and an importer whose terms expire on Dec. 31, 2017. The 12-member board is composed of 11 producer members from three regions and one importer. Five producer members are from the Western region, four are from the Eastern region …
Trump Administration Imposing Tariff on Canada Lumber Products
The Donald Trump administration intensified a decades-old trade dispute with Canada this week, announcing tariffs up to 24 percent on imported softwood lumber. Bloomberg News reports the step escalates an economic battle among neighboring countries that normally have one of the friendliest international relationships in the world. It follows a fight over a new Canadian milk policy that U.S. producers …
State Says Wildfires Likely to Get Worse
By Lloyd Dunkelburger, News Service of Florida With the state battling 106 wildfires covering 124,000 acres as of Wednesday, Florida’s top forestry official warned the fire season has yet to reach its peak. Jim Karels, director of the Florida Forest Service, said Florida is experiencing an “active early fire season,” with drought conditions throughout the state. “We tend to peak …
Putnam Turns to Public for Help with Wildfires
Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Adam Putnam, while in Tallahassee this afternoon, is turning to the public for help with the state’s situation with the wildfires: “There are over 124,000 acres under active fire as of today, and we’re asking for the public’s help. If you’re riding down the road and see a fire starting, call 9-1-1. If you have information …
Agri View: Costly Brush Fire Disasters
Everett Griner talks about brush fires costly to farmers this year in today’s Agri View. Back in late February I did the best update I could on agriculture losses in that series of tornadoes that struck all the way from Louisiana into Georgia. You know the general news media never gives a report on farm losses in weather …
Scott Declares Wildfire Emergency
by Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida More than 100 wildfires were burning across Florida as the week began, with 23 consuming more than 100 acres. And the state has yet to get into the lightning-filled warmer months. On Tuesday, the Cabinet kicked-off a pre-planned “wildfire awareness week” with Gov. Rick Scott issuing an executive order that declared a …
Southeast Landowners Continue to Restore Longleaf Forests
USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service continues to work with agricultural producers and conservation partners to restore longleaf forests through the Longleaf Pine Initiative (LLPI), a program that was launched back in 2010. NRCS Associate Chief for Conservation, Leonard Jordan, says NRCS provides technical and financial assistance to producers, helping them implement a variety of conservation practices. Sponsored ContentFlorida Cattle Enhancement …
Ag Subcommittee Evaluates Effectiveness of Forestry Initiatives
Rep. Frank Lucas (OK-03), Chairman of the House Agriculture Committee’s Subcommittee on Conservation and Forestry, held a hearing to evaluate the effectiveness of the forestry initiatives in the 2014 Farm Bill. This hearing is a continuation of the committee’s hearing series to set the stage for the next farm bill. The subcommittee heard from a broad panel of experts who …
Alabama NRCS Reminds Landowners about Long Leaf Pine Initiative
While the regional drought monitor looks much better today than it did a few weeks ago, there are still many areas in the Northern half of Alabama in the severe to extreme drought category. And Tim Albritton, state staff forester with USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Alabama, knows some forest owners have been able to fair the drought …
Wildfire Season
From: Florida Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam I recently toured damage caused by a wildfire in Polk County that burned 5,500 acres and destroyed more than 10 homes. I was reminded that we can’t underestimate the danger that wildfires pose, and we can’t be more grateful to our heroes who run toward danger to protect us. Last week, the Florida Forest Service responded to …