The Lightsey family has been running cattle in central Florida since the 1850s, but with 1,000 people moving to Florida daily, development encroaches on their legacy and the natural resources that support it. Cary Lightsey and his brother Layne have put 90 percent of their land on 10 ranches into conservation easements with the help of USDA and other groups. These …
Ozark Restaurant Home to 2018 Bama’s Best Burger
Our Place Diner in Ozark, Alabama, has been named the winner of the 2018 Bama’s Best Burger contest with its dish, the Big Bopper Burger. The contest is sponsored by the Alabama Cattlemen’s Association and funded by the Alabama Beef Checkoff Program. A burger patty topped with bacon, multiple types of cheese, fried-to-perfection onion rings and all the fixings, the …
Assistance Available in Florida to Conserve Natural Resources
Florida farmers, ranchers and forest owners can apply until November 2 for financial and technical assistance from USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). Conservation Programs Specialist for NRCS in Florida, Nathan Fikkert, says this assistance is through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP). Assistance Available in Florida to Conserve Natural Resources Sponsored ContentFlorida Cattle Enhancement Board Provides Significant Support For …
NRCS Helping Landowners Improve Soil Health
Kenneth McAlister, a nationally recognized soil health champion from Texas, uses no-till and cover crops to diversify his operation and strengthen his bottom line. And when it comes to farming cotton, McAlister has his bases covered and most of his fields. In a story from USDA, he said “No-till really helped improve our soil health, but when we started planting …
Oriental Fruit Fly Eradicated in Miami-Dade County
The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) have declared eradication in the Oriental fruit fly outbreak in the predominantly agricultural Redland area of Miami-Dade County. Due to early detection and rapid response, no quarantine was required during this program. This successful Oriental fruit fly eradication is the second one during this …
RESTORE Council Approves Florida’s State Expenditure Plan
Plan providing $291M for 69 Projects across 23 Coastal Counties Last week, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Acting Administrator Andrew Wheeler sent a letter to Mr. Noah Valenstein, Secretary of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and Designated Alternate for the Governor of Florida to the Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council (RESTORE Council), approving the State of Florida’s State …
New NAFTA Faces Long Road Before Implementation
The updated North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) has many procedural hurdles to pass before farmers and ranchers can see any benefits. President Trump called the agreement a “promise kept” regarding his trade agenda, as NAFTA will become the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Free Trade Agreement, or USMCA. The late-night announcement Sunday allows the Trump administration to beat a self-set deadline. The administration …
Agriculture Awaits New Farm Bill as 2014 Bill Expires
While Monday was a good day for trade, it also marked the first day without a farm bill. Lawmakers failed to gain a consensus in the farm bill conference committee before the Sept. 30 deadline, as the previous farm bill expired. House Agriculture Committee Chairman Mike Conaway says he is willing to stay in negotiations this month, even though the …
Branstad Responds to China Newspaper Ad Against U.S. Trade Policies
The trade war between China and the United States continues to spill over into a Midwest-based newspaper. Following a four-page paid editorial from China, a U.S. official offered up an editorial in the Des Moines Register blasting China’s propaganda aimed at Iowa farmers. Terry Branstad, former Iowa Governor and U.S. ambassador to China, wrote in the editorial that “it is …
AFBF Seeking Farm Dog of the Year
The American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) is seeking the nation’s top farm dog. A new contest is asking farmers to submit their applications for the Farm Bureau Farm Dog of the Year contest. A partnership between AFBF and Nestle Purina PetCare, the contest “celebrates farm dogs who work alongside their people to bring nutritious food to our tables and our …