(PLC) — The Public Lands Council (PLC) released the following statement in response to the expected nomination of Tom Vilsack as the next U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary: “Livestock producers have a long history of working with Former Secretary Vilsack at the Department of Agriculture. Few have the breadth and depth of experience he has in facing issues confronting multiple …
Cabinet Eyes ‘Devil’s Garden’ Land Deal
(NSF) — Nearly 6,500 acres of land, with the vast majority in the Devil’s Garden area south of Lake Okeechobee, are in line to be the state’s next Florida Forever conservation deals. Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Florida Cabinet — Attorney General Ashley Moody, Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried and Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis — will be asked Tuesday to …
AFBF Welcomes Nomination of Tom Vilsack for Agriculture Secretary
(AFBF) — President-elect Joe Biden is expected to nominate Tom Vilsack to serve as Secretary of Agriculture. The following statement may be attributed to American Farm Bureau President Zippy Duvall: “The American Farm Bureau Federation welcomes the news that Tom Vilsack will be nominated to be Secretary of Agriculture. His leadership as the 30th Secretary of Agriculture and as Governor …
Increase to Certain Incentive Payments for Continuous CRP Announced
(USDA/FSA) — The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is increasing incentive payments for practices installed on land enrolled in the Continuous Conservation Reserve Program (CRP). USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) is upping the Practice Incentive Payment for installing practices, from 5 percent to 20 percent. Additionally, producers will receive a 10 percent incentive payment for water quality practices on land …
Blueberry App Developed to Help Growers Battle Diseases and Pests
(UF/IFAS) — A new University of Florida app will help the state’s blueberry growers identify and manage disease and insect injuries commonly encountered in Florida before their crop is ruined. Collectively, blueberries are a $60 million-per-year crop in Florida. Patricio Munoz, the UF/IFAS blueberry breeder and an assistant professor of horticultural sciences, came up with the vision for, and supervised …
Treatment Introduced by Researchers to Prevent Parasites in Sheep
(USDA/ARS) — The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agriculture Research Service (ARS) announced a groundbreaking treatment that prevents anemia, weight loss, poor wool and meat production, and even death in sheep. ARS researchers partnered with Virginia Tech and the University of Massachusetts’ Medical School to solve H. contortus parasite infection, which also happens to be the number one health problem in the U.S. sheep industry. …
NCBA Commends Selection Of Vilsack To Lead USDA
(NCBA) — The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) issued the following statement in support of Tom Vilsack’s pending nomination as Secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA): “Former USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack is adding another chapter to an already storied career in agriculture. He has the unique skill set to be able to hit the ground running on day …
UF Scientist Request Citrus Grower Help to Set Research Directions for 2021
(UF/IFAS) — University of Florida entomologist Lauren Diepenbrock is looking to the future of her research program and needs citrus industry professionals to help her see a clear picture. Since arriving at the UF Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Citrus Research and Education Center (CREC) in 2018, she has worked with many growers to identify best practices for successful …
Hemp Program Lighting Up Florida Agriculture
(NSF) — Hemp is blazing among Florida’s agriculture inventory in the seven months since it was first allowed to be legally grown in the Sunshine State, Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried told business leaders Tuesday. Fried said 22,078 acres are currently licensed for hemp, nearly equal to the acreage in Florida of tomatoes, watermelon and snap peas, and double the …
Farm Bureau Stepping Up in Dean Foods Legal Proceedings
The American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) is getting involved in the Dean Foods legal proceedings. The major dairy processor filed for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy in November of 2019. Dairy farmers who had previously sold milk to the company have been sent letters demanding repayment of previous milk checks. In the letters, producers are being threatened with legal action if they …