Tampa, Fla. (FDACS) — Commissioner Nicole “Nikki” Fried joined key Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services officials to host the second public hemp rulemaking workshop at the Florida State Fairgrounds in Tampa. “The goal of these workshops is to hear from the public on the coming state hemp program — to create a successful and inclusive program, it’s essential …
Commissioner Fried Hosts First Hemp Rulemaking Workshop in South Florida
Pembroke Pines, Fla. (FDACS) –Commissioner Nicole “Nikki” Fried joined key Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) officials to host the first public hemp rulemaking workshop at Broward College in Pembroke Pines. “The upcoming state hemp program marks a new industrial revolution — after eighty years of stalled progress, we can finally put hemp to work for farmers, entrepreneurs, …
Vital Vibrant Vidalia Uses
Vidalia onions are unique premium sweet onions that have many uses. Gary Crawford has a report explaining this and a unique way to store them. Sponsored ContentCIR Agriculture Harvester ProductsNovember 1, 2025Florida Cattle Enhancement Board Funded Research Impactful for the Future of the Florida Cattle IndustryOctober 31, 2025Florida Cattle Enhancement Board Offers Unique Opportunity For Applied ResearchOctober 24, 2025
USDA Moves Cover Crop Harvest Date for Prevented-Planting Fields
Farmers who planted cover crops on prevented-planting acres can hay, graze or chop those fields earlier than November this year. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Risk Management Agency (RMA) adjusted the 2019 final haying and grazing date from Nov. 1 to Sept. 1 to help farmers who were prevented from planting because of excess rainfall this spring. RMA says …
How to Harvest and Store Homegrown Figs
Cathy Isom continues her series on figs by giving you her easy steps in how to harvest, and store, your homegrown figs. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. Figs are easy-going until harvest time. They can become a finicky crop when it comes to proper harvesting times, techniques, and storage. Make sure to follow these steps to ensure …
Commissioner Fried Statement to Congress on Cannabis Industry & Small Businesses
Tallahassee, Fla. (FDACS) – The U.S. House Committee on Small Business held a hearing on opportunities for small businesses within the cannabis industry. Commissioner Nicole “Nikki” Fried submitted a statement to committee chairwoman U.S. Rep. Nydia Velázquez for entry into the Congressional Record. Below is the statement in full, which can also be viewed on Twitter. Statement of the Honorable Nicole “Nikki” FriedU.S. House Committee …
Expensive Fruit You Can Grow at Home
Cathy Isom has a few great tips for you about the expensive fruit you can grow from home. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. For anyone who loves figs, they know they can be pretty pricey when purchased from the local supermarket. Instead of spending an arm and a leg on buying figs, consider growing your own. Figs …
Bees Required to Create an Excellent Blueberry Crop
BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA, (USDA/ARS)—Getting an excellent rabbiteye blueberry harvest requires helpful pollinators—particularly native southeastern blueberry bees—although growers can bring in managed honey bees to do the job, according to Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientists. This is especially true for commercial rabbiteye blueberry producers in Mississippi and Louisiana. With sufficient pollinators, they have been able to increase the percentage of flowers …
Fried Rallies Support for Hemp Industry
TALLAHASSEE (NSF) — Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried on Friday encouraged supporters of a new state hemp industry to tell Gov. Ron DeSantis to sign a bill that would lead to a regulatory framework for the crop. Fried said an envisioned hemp “revolution” needs the governor’s signature on the bill (SB 1020), which would create a hemp program within the Department …
U.S. Sugar Executive Re-Appointed to National Agricultural Trade Advisory Committee
Clewiston, FL (U. S. Sugar) – U.S. Sugar is proud to announce that Judy Clayton Sanchez, Senior Director for Corporate Communications and Public Affairs, was re-appointed to the Agricultural Technical Advisory Committee for Trade (ATAC) in Sweeteners and Sweetener Products by U.S. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue and United States Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer. Sanchez is serving her third term, which …