With the popularity of the TV show Ugly Betty, some are saying that ugly is the new beautiful – something the producers of UglyRipe tomatoes have been trying to tell the Florida Tomato Committee for the past three years. Now the US Department of Agriculture has intervened on behalf of the unattractive but tasty tomatoes marketed by Santa Sweets of …
FL Commissioner’s Spotlight
Florida Agriculture Commissioner Charles Bronson talks about this year’s Florida State Fair, February 8th through the 19th in Tampa. More information about the fair can be found at: FloridaStateFair.com Report (1:00 wma)
GA Young Farmer Convention Starts Friday
The 37th annual Georgia Young Farmer convention is coming up Friday and Saturday – Jan 29 and 27 at the Augusta Marriot. More information is available on the Georgia Young Farmers Association website. Report (1:30 wma)
Alabama Conservation Tillage Workshops
Two one-day workshops are coming up for Alabama farmers who want to learn more about conservation tillage. January 25 – Landmark Park in Dothan – Call 334-774-2334 for information February 1 – U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services Visitor Center on Highway 67 between Decatur and Priceville – Call 256-353-6146 for information. Or contact your local NRCS or Soil and Water …
UF Agri-Marketing Students Attend Fertilizer & Agri-Chem Mtg
Members of University of Florida’s NAMA club (National Agri-Marketing Association) attended this week’s Winter Business Meeting of the Florida Fertilizer and Agri-Chemical Association (FFAA) in Tampa. The students worked the crowd to meet FFAA members and make them aware of what UF/NAMA is doing to teach students in UF’s College of Agriculture about marketing products to farm producers, and marketing …
FL AgNet Week In Review
In this week’s podcast, the Florida Beef Council starts work on a national cow and bull audit, Florida Farm Bureau works on issues before the session begins, and the Florida citrus industry looks at how the weather has affected west coast growers. Report (6:49 wma)
CSP Study Finds Room For Improvement
The Senate agriculture committee met this week to review USDA’s Natural Resource Conservation Service programs, specifically the Conservation Security Program and Environmental Quality Incentives Program. One of the witnesses was Dr. Kathleen Merrigan – Director of the Agriculture, Food and Environment Program at Tufts University who did a study of the CSP and found that farmers really like the program, …
Agronomist Discusses Cutting Nitrogen Costs
Saving costs on nitrogen fertilizer was a big topic for cotton growers at the Beltwide Cotton Conferences this year. Randall Weiseman discussed it with UGA Extension agronomist Glen Harris. Report (1:30 wma)
Cattlemen Continue the Fight for Disaster Relief
Many across the Southeast along with other areas of the country had hoped for federal disaster relief from the drought which never came. But due to the recent winter storms, efforts are once again underway for assistance.  Report (1:30 wma)
FL Citrus Commissioners Hold January Meeting
Florida Citrus Commissioners held their January meeting in Lakeland mid-week. Among the topics, the huge promotional campaign now underway for Florida Grapefruit along with the new book “The Best Life Diet” authored by Oprah’s fitness guru, Bob Greene. Commissioners also discussed efforts to obtain more citrus research funding from the state this year for “greening” research, and they talked about …