BREAKING NEWS: Special Session Set for Budget Deal

From News Service of Florida Florida lawmakers will hold a special session next week after Gov. Rick Scott, Senate President Joe Negron and House Speaker Richard Corcoran announced Friday they have reached the outline of a budget deal. The three-day session is scheduled to start Wednesday. Lawmakers passed an $82.4 billion budget on May 8, but Scott was angered by …

Fate of Budget Now in Scott’s Hands

From News Service of Florida With a narrowing deadline and an uncertain outcome, Florida legislative leaders on Wednesday sent the new $82.4 billion state budget to Gov. Rick Scott, as education leaders urge a veto of all or major parts of the spending plan. Scott has not tipped his hand. But the Republican governor remains angered over the Legislature’s decision …

Local Farmers Unite for Agriculture

Florida farmers, ranchers, and small business owners united as the voice of agriculture last week during the annual Field to the Hill advocacy trip in Washington, D.C., May 23-25. More than 80 Farm Bureau members representing 24 counties in the Sunshine State traveled to the nation’s capital to visit with the Florida Congressional delegation to discuss federal policy issues such …

Florida Farmers Turn Out for Putnam in Large Numbers

Florida Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam made his bid for the governor’s office official last week, following up the announcement from his hometown of Bartow with a whirlwind bus tour of the state from one end to the other. I caught up with Putnam at the end of his final tour stop at a farm in north-central Florida for a sit …

Alabama Lawmakers Pass Several Ag Bills

The 2017 Alabama legislative session wrapped up last Friday, and Leigha Cauthen with the Alabama Agribusiness Council says several ag bills saw passage this session.   And Leigha also wants to remind everyone about the Alabama Agribusiness Council’s annual meeting coming up June 25-27 in Orange Beach. Sponsored ContentFlorida Cattle Enhancement Board Awarded Researcher Discusses New World Screwworm OverviewJune 19, …

Alabama Legislature Heads into Final Week

Next week the Alabama Legislature will head into their final full week, as only four days remain in the 2017 session. Leigha Cauthen with the Alabama Agribusiness Council has an update on what transpired this past week. Sponsored ContentFlorida Cattle Enhancement Board Awarded Researcher Discusses New World Screwworm OverviewJune 19, 2026Verdant Robotics Offers Growers Targeted Application of Herbicides or Beneficials …

Florida Ag Commissioner Officially Announces Run for Governor

Among a large crowd of state agriculture leaders, grassroots producers and others at the courthouse in his hometown of Bartow, Florida Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam made official today his expected bid for governor.   Some observers in Florida’s agriculture industry note today’s historical perspective, in that Florida is now third in population in the United States and urbanizing. Therefore, it …

Alabama Cattlemen attend Legislative Session

The Alabama Cattlemen’s Association held their spring quarterly Board of Directors meeting Tuesday in Montgomery. This was the final board meeting for outgoing ACA Executive Vice President, Dr. Billy Powell, as he will officially retire from that position on June 30th. Southeast AgNet’s Randall Weiseman talked with him.   Sponsored ContentFlorida Cattle Enhancement Board Awarded Researcher Discusses New World Screwworm …

Roberts Suggests no New Farm Bill Funding

Leadership of the Senate Agriculture Committee indicated there would be no additional money to spend in the next farm bill while touting the cost savings from the most recent farm bill. During a farm bill field hearing in Michigan over the weekend, Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Pat Roberts said: “The reality is we are going to have to do more …