Regardless of what you may have been told about comments he “reportedly made…” you can now hear in the report below, in his own words, what University of Florida President Bernie Machen thinks of the Florida agriculture industry and the budget crisis facing the University and the State of Florida as a whole. Speaking to us here at Southeast AgNet …
Schafer Interested in Sugar Deal
New Secretary of Agriculture Ed Schafer says he’s willing to listen to a proposal being floated by US and Mexican sugar producers that would put some controls back on sugar and corn syrup trade between the two countries, controls that were lifted this year as the last part of the North American Free Trade Agreement went into effect. Report (1:30 …
Senate Ag Chair on Farm Bill
Senate Ag Committee Chairman Tom Harkin says the possibility of reverting to 1949 law is becoming more real as the farm bill process drags on and the administration threatens a veto, but he thinks the Senate could override a veto. Report (1:00 mp3) Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance co-chair Mike Stuart with Florida Fruit and Vegetable Association adds his comments …
Specialty Crops Waiting on Farm Bill
The Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance has been working for the past three years on getting recognition for specialty crops in the 2007 Farm Bill and while their efforts paid off, the bill is still not final. Report (1:30 mp3)
GA Agribusiness Council Atlanta Mtgs Draw Ag & Political Leaders
This week’s Annual Meeting and Legislative Breakfast events hosted by the Georgia Agribusiness Council in Atlanta drew a good crowd of the state’s agriculture leaders, numerous lawmakers and legislative staffers. One of the big news items of the day is the announcement by GA Governor Sonny Perdue that some of the watering restrictions in Georgia will be relaxed, for now …
FL Agriculture Very Concerned Over UF/IFAS Budget Cuts
We’ve been contacted by several farm groups and industry leaders who are urging farmers to contact University of Florida’s President and the Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives to say “no†to disproportionate cuts to the IFAS budget. Dade County Farm Bureau writes, “It seems that some people want to believe that agriculture in Florida is a dying industry. …
Final Veg and Melon Numbers
USDA has released its final report on fresh market vegetable and melon production for 2007. Report (1:00 mp3)
Specialty Crops Push for Farm Bill
The Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance wants to see the House and Senate farm bills reconciled to get a bill friendly to specialty crops signed by the president instead of reverting to old law or extending the current bill. Report (1:00 mp3)
Farm Bill & “Permanent Law”?
In this report, comments from Acting U S Agriculture Secretary Chuck Conner late last week, about the talk in some circles about the Farm Bill reverting to ‘permanent law’ should differences in House and Senate versions not get worked out. Report (2:00 mp3) Hear the entire Conner interview in a previous post to this website. BY THE WAY, BREAKING NEWS…Today …
Conner Talks Specialty Crops
Acting U S Agriculture Secretary Chuck Conner talked about specialty crops when he was in Florida last week. Report (1:00 mp3) FEBRUARY 4TH IS THE DEADLINE – HAVE YOU RETURNED YOUR QUESTIONNAIRE YET?