Gov. Ron DeSantis and the state Cabinet next week will be asked to spend $2.54 million in the Florida Forever conservation program to buy land in Lake and Hamilton counties. The proposals, which the Cabinet will take up Feb. 26, would lead to paying $540,000 to acquire 83.4 acres in Lake County and paying $2 million for 316 acres in …
U.S., China to Continue Trade Talks This Week
The U.S. and China will continue talks this week that will hopefully lead to an end to the trade war between the two economic superpowers. A Reuters article says sources from both sides feel the recent negotiations kept things moving forward. The Trump Administration still seems committed to the March 1 deadline to reach a deal or raise tariffs on …
Senate Reauthorizes Pesticide Registration Improvement Act
The Senate Ag Committee and its leadership, including Chair Pat Roberts and Ranking Member Debbie Stabenow, announced that the Senate passed the Pesticide Registration Improvement Act. In the announcement, the Senators said, “The unanimous Senate passage of the bipartisan PRIA legislation provides certainty to farmers, consumers, and many other stakeholders. We’re urging our colleagues in the House to pass the …
UF/IFAS Center to Take Integrated Approach to Solving Water, Land Use Issues
By taking a more holistic approach to challenging issues facing Florida, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences researchers will share more and better information about water and land use, including farming and urban landscapes, with the establishment of a new center. Jack Payne, UF senior vice president for agriculture and natural resources, said the center will galvanize …
UF/IFAS Master Gardeners Gear Up for Spring Festivals, Plant Sales
Spring is around the corner, and Master Gardeners across central Florida are gearing up for festivals and plant sales. The UF/IFAS Extension Master Gardeners Volunteer program, part of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, is celebrating 40 years in Florida. There are approximately 4,000 Master Gardener volunteers across the state, said Wendy Wilber, UF/IFAS Extension state …
Farmland Values Stable, but Risks to Outlook Remain
Farmland values in the Federal Reserve’s Tenth District held steady in the fourth quarter of 2018 despite risks to ongoing stability, according to the Kansas City Fed’s quarterly Agricultural Credit Survey. While demand for farmland remained relatively strong across the district, weaknesses in the crop sector continued to dampen the overall agricultural economy. The report says that risks to the …
Farm Income Down 20-Straight Quarters
The Midwest and the Mid-South parts of the country saw farm income decline in the fourth quarter of 2018. In spite of the pressure on farm incomes, the value of quality farmland, ranchland, and pastureland rose. Those observations come from the latest Agricultural Finance Monitor, which is published by the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis. The 22 agricultural banks …
GCC Disappointed by Inaction on Michael Relief
The Georgia Cotton Commission (GCC) is disappointed by a lack of response to the aftermath left by Hurricane Michael from our partners in the federal government. Over four months after the storm wreaked havoc to communities in southwest, central, and east Georgia, farms and agribusinesses are left with more questions than answers on federal assistance. GCC Chairman Bart Davis, a cotton …
Students Set to Celebrate Agriculture and Leadership During FFA Week
Agriculture is part of our daily lives—from the food we eat to the clothes we wear. On Saturday, nearly 670,000 FFA members across the country will begin to share the story of agriculture as part of National FFA Week. Whether it is through service projects or community gatherings, National FFA Week is a time for FFA members to raise awareness …
Mike Tate to Lead the National Cotton Council in 2019
Mike Tate, a cotton producer from Huntsville, Ala., was elected National Cotton Council (NCC) chairman for 2019. Named during the NCC’s 2019 annual meeting, held in San Antonio, Texas on February 8-10, Tate moves up from NCC vice chairman to succeed Ron Craft, a cotton producer from Plains, Texas. A graduate of the NCC’s Cotton Leadership Program, Tate previously served …