The Ocala to Osceola Wildlife Corridor, or “O2O,” connects habitat supporting the Florida black bear, the red-cockaded woodpecker, eastern indigo snake and gopher tortoise. Landowners are encouraged to learn how a local nonprofit has teamed with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service in Florida (NRCS) and other conservation groups to create a greenway that protects the Florida …
Crawford Introduces Legislation to Reform H-2A Program
Legislation introduced in the House of Representatives would transfer jurisdiction for agricultural guest workers from the Department of Labor to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). The bill comes as the Labor Department Monday opened a comment period on proposed rulemaking changes to the program. The changes “strengthen protections” for workers. Meanwhile, the Agricultural Guest Worker Reform Initiative, or AGRI …
Perdue on the Department of Labor’s Proposed H2A Modernized Rule
Washington, D.C. (USDA) – U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue issued the following statement on the Department of Labor’s proposed rule to modernize the H-2A program to reflect stakeholder concerns and improve access to a legal source of agricultural labor: “President Trump once again shows his commitment to helping America’s farmers, ranchers, and producers continue to be the most productive …
Senators Introduce Legislation to Protect American Agriculture
(NAFB) — A bipartisan group of Senators introduced legislation to address a shortage of agricultural inspectors who protect the nation’s food supply and ag industries at the border. Ag inspectors work to prevent the intentional or unintentional entry of harmful plants, food, animals, and goods into the U.S. The Protecting America’s Food and Agriculture Act of 2019 would ensure the …
Trump: China Letting U.S. Down on Lack of Agricultural Purchases
(NAFB) — President Donald Trump says China “is letting us down” by not purchasing U.S. agricultural products. China is not buying U.S. ag products as Trump says its leaders promised as part of an effort to negotiate towards ending the trade war. Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping at the G-20 Summit last month agreed to move forward with negotiations …
VSC Expo Seminar Schedule Now Available
Growers seeking the latest information and research to help make them successful need look no further than the 2019 Vegetable and Specialty Crop Expo (VSC Expo) seminar program. Presented by experts from the University of Florida and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the VSC Expo seminars will explore the best production practices and upcoming threats and trends facing the industry. …
Ranch Rim Ditches Debated at South Florida Water Management Meeting
Thanks to south Florida ag news colleague Katrina Elskin at Lake Okeechobee News for this recap of this week’s South Florida Water Management District Governing Board meeting in West Palm Beach. WEST PALM BEACH — The South Florida Water Management District Governing Board once again turned their attention on the nutrient load from agricultural properties at their July 10 workshop …
Industry Reaction EPA Approval of Sulfoxaflor Use
Source: National Cotton Council? MEMPHIS, Tenn. (NCC) – The National Cotton Council (NCC) is grateful for EPA’s decision granting use on cotton of sulfoxaflor (commercially known as Transform©) – a uniquely designed insecticide that targets piercing/sucking insect pests such as aphids and plant bugs. “We appreciate EPA’s decision to make sulfoxaflor available for use on cotton,” said NCC Chairman Mike …
EPA Registers Long-Term Uses of Sulfoxaflor While Ensuring Strong Pollinator Protection
Registration provides benefits to growers and is supported by strong science that shows minimal risks for pollinators. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is issuing a long-term approval for the insecticide sulfoxaflor— an effective tool to control challenging pests with fewer environmental impacts. After conducting an extensive risk analysis, including the review of one of the agency’s largest datasets on …
Charles W. Obern Named 2019 Farmer of the Year
To be successful in farming requires a good deal of stamina, flexibility, and determination, along with a love of the art of growing things. Charles “Chuck” Obern, owner of C&B Farms, Inc., embodies all these qualities, in addition to curiosity—an instinctive awareness that research can provide previously undiscovered or underutilized methods to improve crop health and yields. Graduating from the …