(NSF) — Planning work to address flooding from rising sea levels, similar to how the state maps out road and bridge projects for five years, is being considered by the new Republican leaders of the Florida House and Senate. House Speaker Chris Sprowls, R-Palm Harbor, and Senate President Wilton Simpson, R-Trilby, expressed a desire Tuesday to establish work programs that …
Decision-Support Tool Using HiPerGator May Help Manage Devastating Avocado Disease
UF/IFAS researchers are working on a decision-support app to help policy makers and growers decide the best regional treatment options for laurel wilt disease, which is challenging Florida’s $35 million-a-year avocado crop. Laurel wilt disease is spread by several ambrosia beetle vectors. People, whether they grow avocados or not, can spread the beetles when they move infested wood products – …
New Conservation Concerns Tool Key for Farmers, Ranchers
The new Conservation Concerns Tool on the farmers.gov website provides farmers and ranchers a central online location to learn about the different types of conservation concerns that might impact their land. These concerns are divided into six different topic areas: Soil: Erosion or quality degradation Animals: Inability to meet livestock or wildlife habitat needs Air: Quality issues like greenhouse gases …
Florida NRCS EQIP Signup Ends Friday, Nov. 20
Florida farmers, ranchers and forest land owners are being reminded Friday, Nov. 20 is the deadline to apply for financial and technical assistance from USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP). EQIP applications are accepted on a continuous basis for all programs, but funding selections are typically made once a year. This is for fiscal year 2021 funding. Here is Florida …
Alliance Unveils Unprecedented Climate Policy Recommendations
Agriculture and environmental groups find ways that farmers, ranchers, forest owners and food sector can deliver and benefit from climate solutions (AFBF) — An alliance of groups representing farmers, forest owners, the food sector, state governments and environmental advocates today unveiled an unprecedented set of recommendations to guide the development of federal climate policy. The Food and Agriculture Climate Alliance (FACA) …
Asian Giant Hornets Arrive for Study and Preservation at ARS and Smithsonian Biorepository
(USDA/ARS) — Five Asian giant hornets (Vespa mandarinia), from the first nest found in the United States, have taken a trip across the country to a Washington, D.C. area Agricultural Research Service (ARS) facility and the Smithsonian for study and preservation. ARS research entomologist Matt Buffington with the ARS Systematic Entomology Laboratory in Beltsville, Maryland, accepted delivery of the flash …
USDA Reminds Dairy Producers of Deadline for 2021 Safety-Net Enrollment
September Triggers Fourth Dairy Margin Coverage Payment for 2020 Program Participants (USDA/FSA) — The U.S. Department of Agriculture reminds dairy producers that the deadline to enroll in Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) for calendar year 2021 is Friday, Dec. 11, 2020. USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) opened DMC signup in October to help producers manage economic risk brought on by milk price and …
NIHC Officially Recognized by USDA Foreign Ag Service
The National Industrial Hemp Council (NIHC) announced it received $200,000 in funds from the USDA’s Market Access Program. Those funds will support export market development for industrial hemp. “We are grateful for the USDA confidence and the recognition of NIHC as the industry leader in industrial hemp trade and marketing,” says Kevin Latner, Senior Vice President for Trade and Marketing. …
Registration Deadline Approaches for Hurricane Michael Timber and Irrigation Recovery Block Grant Programs
(FDACS) — The registration deadline for the Florida Timber Recovery Block Grant Program and the Florida Irrigation Recovery Block Grant Program is Friday, November 20. Since the program launched in August, more than 1,500 registrations have been received and nearly $10 million in crop loss payments have been issued to agricultural producers and forest landowners who suffered damage from Hurricane Michael in 2018. “I am incredibly proud of our …
Nominations Open for Outstanding Georgia Young Peanut Farmer Award
(GPC) — Nominations are now open for the Outstanding Georgia Young Peanut Farmer. The state winner will be announced at the Georgia Peanut Farm Show on Thursday, Jan. 21, 2021, in Tifton, Georgia. The award is sponsored by the Georgia Peanut Commission and BASF. The Outstanding Georgia Young Peanut Farmer Award is based upon the applicant’s overall farm operation; environmental …