(ASA) — The sugarcane fields of south Florida are home to more than just high-quality sugar. The tall stalks provide a habitat to countless creatures that call the region home. Birds, reptiles, and small mammals all live in the farm fields, sharing their habitat with humans that grow cane. It’s been like this since sugarcane was commercially cultivated in the …
SFWMD Starts Public Process to Revise Rules for Northern Everglades and Coastal Estuaries Water Quality
Schedule of public workshops and interactive website announced where public can participate and provide input as District works to amend a Northern Everglades and Estuaries Protection Program rule (SFWMD) — The South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) initiates a public rule-making process to support water quality improvements in the Northern Everglades, which includes the Lake Okeechobee Watershed and the St. Lucie …
Funding Fight Begins for Florida Forever
(NSF) — A proposal to designate $100 million a year of voter-approved money to the Florida Forever conservation program began moving through Senate committees Monday. However, even after past funding proposals failed and as legislative leaders remain vague about future spending, environmentalists are pushing for three times that amount, seeking to match what Florida Forever received annually more than a …
Florida Natural Resources Meeting Cancelled
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service in Florida has announced the State Technical Committee Meeting that was scheduled for Nov. 19 at the Florida Farm Bureau in Gainesville has been cancelled. It will be rescheduled at a later date. For more information, e-mail Nina Bhattacharyya or call 352-338-9554. Sponsored ContentFlorida Senator Shares Origins of Florida Cattle Enhancement BoardNovember 14, 2025CIR …
World’s First True Red Spinach Variety Released
(USDA/ARS) — USDA Red, the world’s first true red spinach variety has been developed and released by the Agricultural Research Service. Spinach has always been known as a green leafy vegetable. There are leafy vegetables often called red spinach. But these are actually red-leaf amaranths (Amaranthus spp.) or other plants such as Red Goosefoot (Blitum rubrum), not true spinach (Spinacia …
Beijing Considers Axing Extra Tariffs on U.S. Ag Products to Boost Imports
(NAFB) — The head of a government-sponsored trade association in China says Beijing could remove extra tariffs on U.S. farm goods to smooth the way for importers to potentially buy up to $50 billion in products. A Reuters article says Beijing would make that move instead of directing importers to purchase specific amounts of goods. President Donald Trump said earlier …
Farm Bankruptcies up 24 Percent Since Trade War Start
(NAFB) — Farm bankruptcies are at the highest level seen since 2011. Data compiled by the American Farm Bureau Federation shows farm bankruptcies surged 24 percent since the trade war with China began. For the 12-month period ending September 2019, Chapter 12 farm bankruptcies totaled 580 filings, the highest level since 676 filings in 2011. AFBF Chief Economist John Newton …
BQA Campaign Seeks Greater Understanding of Industry Efforts
Strengthening the link between beef industry, consumers (NCBA) – About 85 percent of U.S. beef today comes from Beef Quality Assurance (BQA)-certified farmers or ranchers. But do American consumers know that? Just as important, do they know what BQA is – and what it stands for? Those are the kinds of questions a new Beef Checkoff-funded campaign from the National …
Georgia Counties Designated as Primary Natural Disaster Areas
Emergency Support to Producers in Surrounding Counties/Border States Also Available (USDA/FSA) — Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue designated 24 Georgia counties as primary natural disaster areas. Producers who suffered losses due to recent drought may be eligible for U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) emergency loans. The Georgia counties with the primary natural disaster designation include Banks, Bartow, Carroll, …
Commissioner Fried Announces $500,000 Food Recovery Grant Legislation
(FDACS) — Agriculture Commissioner Nicole “Nikki” Fried toured Pero Family Farms, a fifth-generation family farm and sustainable producer of fresh seasonal produce such as peppers, tomatoes, and cucumbers, some of Florida’s leading seasonal crops. Fried was joined by Pero Family Farms CEO Peter Pero and Executive Vice President Frank Pero, Feeding South Florida CEO Paco Vélez, Boynton Beach City Commissioner Ty Penserga, and representatives of State Senator Lori Berman, State Representatives David …