Training for Fresh Produce Microbial Pathogen Testing Upcoming

Gary Cooper General, Specialty Crops, Vegetables

Fresh Produce Microbial Pathogen Testing Webinar Set for November 20, 2008 DAVIS, CA (October 21, 2008) – The UC Davis Postharvest Technology Research & Information Center, in collaboration with the Center for Produce Safety is proud to announce the first in a series of distance-education Fresh Produce Executive Forum Webinars. Starting November 20, 2008 with launch of the first webinar …

Halloween Stories

Randall Weiseman General, Specialty Crops

As if the economy and the elections aren’t scary enough – it’s Halloween! Here are some holiday tales from John Davis and “This Land of Ours” to get in the spirit! Pumpkins are more pricey this year – 2 reports: What it takes to grow a great pumpkin: A little Halloween history – 2 reports: Sponsored ContentFlorida Cattle Enhancement Board …

Redneck Fishing Tourney in South FL Fast Approaching Nov 7-8!

Gary Cooper Beef, Cattle, Citrus, Florida, General, Nursery Crops, Specialty Crops, Sugar, Vegetables

Organizer Robert Murray provides us with the following information about this year’s 7th Annual Redneck Invitational, November 7th and 8th, 2008 at Cabbage Key. This one day invitational tournament is sponsored by and for anglers in the agricultural industry in Florida. The Redneck Invitational Inc. was established in 2002 by a group of growers and ag sales representatives as a …

Better Bee Nutrition

Randall Weiseman Specialty Crops

Nutrition could be a contributing factor to colony collapse disorder in honey bees so researchers have developed a bee smoothie with balanced nutrition to help improve bee health. Two reports: Sponsored ContentFlorida Cattle Enhancement Board Expands the promotion and educational work of the Florida Beef CouncilNovember 21, 2025Florida Senator Shares Origins of Florida Cattle Enhancement BoardNovember 14, 2025CIR Agriculture Harvester …

New FFVA Board Members

Randall Weiseman Specialty Crops

The Florida Fruit and Vegetable Association has appointed four new producer members to its board of directors: Hank Scott, Paul Allen, Charles Lucas, and Maurice Turgeau. Listen to report: Sponsored ContentFlorida Cattle Enhancement Board Expands the promotion and educational work of the Florida Beef CouncilNovember 21, 2025Florida Senator Shares Origins of Florida Cattle Enhancement BoardNovember 14, 2025CIR Agriculture Harvester ProductsNovember …

FL Farm Bureau Keeping Eye on Trade

Randall Weiseman Specialty Crops

Trade issues could be used on the federal level to help jump start the economy, which could be a concern for Florida specialty crop producers, according to Pat Cockrell with the Florida Farm Bureau. Sponsored ContentFlorida Cattle Enhancement Board Expands the promotion and educational work of the Florida Beef CouncilNovember 21, 2025Florida Senator Shares Origins of Florida Cattle Enhancement BoardNovember …

FARM BILL IMPLEMENTATION – Progress as of October 2008

Gary Cooper Alabama, Citrus, Cotton, Field Crops, Florida, General, Georgia, Specialty Crops, Sugar

This just in from USDA… Within weeks of the late June enactment of the Farm Bill, USDA began delivering program benefits for 2008 and will deliver additional program benefits in 2009. The 2008 Farm Bill has 15 titles — and more than 600 provisions: 50 percent more than the 2002 Farm Bill. Sponsored ContentFlorida Cattle Enhancement Board Expands the promotion …

Citrus Concerns Grow Over Specialty Crop Research Allocations

Gary Cooper Citrus, Florida, General, Specialty Crops

There is a growing rumble in Florida and particularly in citrus country over recent allocations of specialty crop research monies. CLICK HERE to read the entire USDA news release that outlines where some 28-million research dollars are being awarded. Some industry and congressional sources tell us the allocations overlook critical and timely needs for research into citrus greening disease, or …

John Deere Introduces New Compact Tractors for Market Niches

Gary Cooper Alabama, Citrus, Dairy, Field Crops, Florida, General, Nursery Crops, Specialty Crops, Vegetables

In Sarasota, Florida this week John Deere officials displayed hundreds of tractors, many of them new models to become available in 2009, many of them geared toward the ‘lifestyle’ rural crowd and folks involved in things like citrus, nursery, vineyards and other agriculture operations. According to John Deere representatives on hand for the event, the new models coupled with the …

USDA Awards More Than $28 Million in Specialty Crop Research

Gary Cooper Alabama, Citrus, Florida, General, Georgia, Specialty Crops

WASHINGTON, Oct. 8, 2008 – Agriculture Secretary Ed Schafer today announced that USDA has awarded more than $28 million through the Specialty Crop Research Initiative (SCRI) to solve critical specialty crop agriculture issues, address priorities and solve problems through multifunctional research and extension. The Specialty Crop Research Initiative was established by the 2008 Farm Bill to support the specialty crop …