Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have cleared Florida-grown romaine lettuce. Their ongoing investigation into the multi-state E. coli outbreak has determined that the implicated romaine comes from areas of California. On Nov. 20, the CDC advised the public not to eat any romaine …
Lettuce Lessons – An AgNet Media Commentary
Florida growers of romaine lettuce are losing millions of dollars at the start of their season, even though harvest dates should clear the Florida crop in the present recall. By Gary Cooper The E. coli romaine lettuce scare coming out of the Center for Disease Control (CDC) last Tuesday effectively shut down the movement of this lettuce variety throughout nearly the …
Growing Alfalfa in the Southeast
During the recent Sunbelt Ag Expo, growing alfalfa in the Southeast was one of the topics discussed during sessions held in the cattle pavilion. Jennifer Tucker, assistant professor with the University of Georgia Animal and Dairy Sciences Department, and Kim Mullenix, beef cattle Extension specialist with Auburn University, teamed up to provide information on research efforts related to growing alfalfa. …
Florida Growers Angered with CDC, FDA E. Coli Announcement
Most have probably seen in the news that there has been another E. coli outbreak. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) is advising consumers to refrain from eating any romaine lettuce from any source until the origin of this outbreak is discovered. Florida growers are now going to suffer from a dried-up market, even though the tainted lettuce probably did …
Cost of Thanksgiving Meal
Tyron Spearman has a look at what the traditional Thanksgiving meal will cost many American’s this year. Cost of Thanksgiving Meal 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
Alabama Fruit and Vegetable Growers Conference Held in Chilton County
The Alabama Fruit & Vegetable Growers Association (AFVGA) held its annual conference and trade show in Clanton Nov. 15-16 where 250 attendees heard from industry leaders, elected officials and university & Extension professionals. “It was exciting to see the fruit and vegetable farmers from across Alabama come together for this event,” said AFVGA Executive Director Hunter McBrayer. “It was an …
Safety Rule Training for Georgia Produce Growers
Registration Deadline: November 30 WHAT: This free one-day workshop is being offered to produce growers. The training will cover the standardized curriculum designed by the Produce Safety Alliance, which meets the regulatory requirements of the Produce Safety Rule under FSMA (Food Safety Modernization Act). The course will provide a foundation of Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs) and co-management information, FSMA Produce Safety …
Putnam Testifies Before U.S. International Trade Commission
Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Adam Putnam testified before the U.S. International Trade Commission in Washington, D.C. to voice concerns about the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement’s potential negative economic impact on Florida’s produce industry. Excerpts from Commissioner Putnam’s remarks are below: “I’d like to address how the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement could further impact vital US farm sectors in the absence of measures …
FDACS Accepting Applications for Specialty Crop Grants
Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam announced the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) is now accepting applications for $4 million in expected federal funding for the Florida Specialty Crop Block Grant program. The deadline to submit an application to the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program is Jan. 11, 2019. The grant, from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, …
Feast on Florida-Grown Foods This Thanksgiving
As we sit down to dine during the annual Thanksgiving feast, it’s worth noting that much of what we eat comes from Florida farmers, say University of Florida researchers. Better still, scientists with the UF Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences try to see if they can breed and grow certain crops in Florida to help growers and consumers. When …