FROM THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA: Proponents of the state using voter-approved Amendment 1 dollars to purchase U.S. Sugar land south of Lake Okeechobee said Friday they will continue to press lawmakers who haven’t shown interest in completing the deal. “They’ve been resistant to doing the will of the people, so that’s why we’re in this campaign mode, to try …
Secretary Vilsack and Former Agriculture Secretaries Veneman and Glickman Announce Bipartisan Efforts to Expand Trade
Bipartisan Group Urging Passage of Trade Legislation Critical to Agriculture Economy Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and former U.S. Secretaries of Agriculture Ann Veneman (George W. Bush Administration) and Dan Glickman (Clinton Administration) today announced new bipartisan efforts to expand trade and boost exports. The secretaries discussed the importance of new trade partnerships that will help to expand American exports, increase …
USDA Provides One-Time Extension of Deadline to Update Base Acres or Yield History for ARC/PLC Programs
From the U.S. Department of Agriculture: WASHINGTON, Feb. 27, 2015 — Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced today that a one-time extension will be provided to producers for the new safety-net programs established by the 2014 Farm Bill, known as Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC). The final day to update yield history or reallocate base acres has …
USDA Grant Helps Florida Panhandle
An Emergency Watershed Protection Program grant through USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service, will go to repair 18 projects in Escambia, Okaloosa, Calhoun and Jackson counties in Florida that were affected by last April’s rain storm. Download Audio
UF/IFAS Partners with USDA to Conduct Grant Workshop to Support Local Foods
From the University of Florida/IFAS: GAINESVILLE, Fla. – UF/IFAS Extension is working with federal partners to offer a workshop in Miami in April to help interested parties write and submit federal grant applications for the Farmers Market and Local Food Promotion programs. UF/IFAS is part of a national effort to train people in attaining these grants. Workshops are being conducted …
USDA to Invest $84 Million to Help Communities in 13 States Recover from Natural Disasters
From the U.S. Department of Agriculture: WASHINGTON, Feb. 26, 2015 – Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced today that USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service will invest an additional $84 million through the Emergency Watershed Protection Program (EWP) to help disaster recovery efforts
University of Florida OKs 3 New Blueberry Cultivars, 3 New Coleus Cultivars
From the University of Florida/IFAS: GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Three new cultivars each of blueberry and coleus have been approved for release by a University of Florida panel. The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Cultivar Release Committee approved
Bayer CropScience Receives Approval for New Cotton and Peanut Insecticide
Bayer CropScience is excited to announce the registration and introduction of Velum® Total insecticide/nematicide, which delivers wide spectrum, long-lasting control of nematodes and early season insects. Download Audio
USDA Announces $14 Million in Grants Supporting Economic Growth for Rural Communities
From the U.S. Department of Agriculture: WASHINGTON, Feb. 25, 2015 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) today announced nearly $14 million in grants to support four programs to increase prosperity in rural America through research, education, and extension
USDA Secretary to Keynote Commodity Classic General Session
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack will make his sixth visit to Commodity Classic, the annual convention and trade show for corn, soybean, wheat and sorghum growers. The secretary will deliver a keynote address to several thousand farmers and ag allies during the