New rules for the Technical Assistance for Specialty Crop Program are now in affect.
UF Modifies Plans for Cellulosic Ethanol Plant
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Plans for a new cellulosic ethanol research and demonstration plant to be built by the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences are being revamped for a location closer to Gainesville.
El Nino Weather Watch
In this report, USDA Radio’s Gary Crawford (photo) talks with Meteorologist Brad Rippey about the potential for an El Nino weather pattern to develop, and if it does, what the impacts on various areas of the U S may be.
Preventing Nutrient Loss
Growers are well aware that Nitrogen is a vital component to the success of many crops but Dave Schwartz, national products manager for SFP, says each year growers lose up to 50 percent of the applied nutrient.
Immigration Legislation Important to FL Agriculture
As a light on an immigration bill flickers to life, Florida Farm Bureau Assistant Director of Agricultural Policy, Joshua Craft, says immigration and labor are top priorities to the state of Florida.
FL NRCS Organic Deadline Approaching
Florida Natural Resources Conservation Service extended sign up for the new Organic Initiative is coming up on June 12, 2009. The 2009 Organic Initiative is a nationwide special initiative to provide financial assistance to National Organic Program (NOP) certified organic producers as well as producers in the process of transitioning to organic production.
Purpose of Organic Survey
Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan explains the purpose behind USDA’s first ever organic production survey.
Food Safety Enhancement Act & Looking at Late Peanut Varieties
Today Tyron Spearrnan has information concerning the Food safety Enhancement Act along with the variety selections that growers need to be thinking about if stll trying to get peanut seed in the ground. Safety Act: Varieties:
FL Commissioner’s Spotlight on Specialty Crop Grants
This week’s Commissioner’s Spotlight from Florida Agriculture Commissioner Charles Bronson is about the awarding of nearly $850,000 in federal funds for 2008 Specialty Crop Block Grant projects. More information is available on the web by clicking on Block Grants.
Water Wars Continue
Water continues to be a hot button issue as these two reports exemplify. The tri-state battle over the Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint river system that has raged since 1990 continues. A federal appeals court reinstated Florida water managers’ right to pump polluted water into Lake Okeechobee.