Florida’s 2017 legislative session starts today, March 7. A major issue to be discussed during the session is Florida Senate President Joe Negron’s land acquisition proposal. Sugar farmers in the Everglades Agricultural Area (EAA) are fighting for their land as Sen. Negron’s proposal moves through the Senate and the House. Senate Bill 10 proposes the purchase of 60,000 acres of …
USDA Increases Fiscal Year 2017 Specialty Sugar TRQ
The Department of Agriculture Friday announced an increase in the fiscal year 2017 specialty sugar tariff-rate quota, or TRQ. Sponsored ContentFlorida Cattle Enhancement Board Encourages Research into Producers QuestionsJune 5, 2026Cattle Producers Proud of Efforts Funded Through the Florida Cattle Enhancement BoardMay 29, 2026Florida Cattle Enhancement Board Funding Crucial For Forage DevelopmentMay 22, 2026Florida Cattle Enhancement Board Provides Funding to …
Negron Water Plan Filed in House
Rep. Thad Altman, R-Rockledge, filed a House bill Friday to match a controversial $2.4 billion proposal — backed by Senate President Joe Negron — to buy farmland south of Lake Okeechobee. The aim of the bill (HB 761) is to prevent the return of toxic algae blooms in Treasure Coast waterways, just south of Altman’s district. Sponsored ContentFlorida Cattle Enhancement …
Governor Rick Scott Appoints Barbara Miedema to District Board of Trustees, Palm Beach State College
Governor Rick Scott announced the appointment of Barbara Miedema to the District Board of Trustees, Palm Beach State College. Sponsored ContentFlorida Cattle Enhancement Board Encourages Research into Producers QuestionsJune 5, 2026Cattle Producers Proud of Efforts Funded Through the Florida Cattle Enhancement BoardMay 29, 2026Florida Cattle Enhancement Board Funding Crucial For Forage DevelopmentMay 22, 2026Florida Cattle Enhancement Board Provides Funding to …
Sugar Farmers Balk at Selling Land for Reservoir
By Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida Sugar farmers who own land in an area targeted by Senate President Joe Negron for a reservoir south of Lake Okeechobee said Monday they won’t be “willing sellers” to the state. Sponsored ContentFlorida Cattle Enhancement Board Encourages Research into Producers QuestionsJune 5, 2026Cattle Producers Proud of Efforts Funded Through the Florida Cattle Enhancement …
What They’re Really Saying: Florida’s Leaders Are Not Buying Senate Plan to “Buy The Land”
As the Florida Senate considers Senate Bill 10, which calls for the purchase of up to 153,000 acres of farmland south of Lake Okeechobee, several state and national leaders have expressed strong concerns over the idea that “buying the land” is the right approach. Here’s what Florida leaders are saying about the misguided, multi-billion-dollar plan to “buy the land”: Sponsored …
Trump Reportedly Taps Perdue as Ag Secretary
President-elect Donald Trump has reportedly picked former Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue to be Agriculture Secretary under the incoming administration. While the USDA landing team has yet to confirm the nominee, multiple media outlets attributed a senior transition official as saying Trump will nominate Perdue to the post. The American Farm Bureau strongly endorsed the nomination of Perdue following the news. …
Global Sugar Prices are a Roller-Coaster
Now that we are in a new year, many are optimistic as to what the year can bring. But when it comes to sugar, and more specifically prices for that product, American Sugar Alliance Director of Media Relations, Phillip Hayes says they look like a roller-coaster on the global market. Sponsored ContentFlorida Cattle Enhancement Board Encourages Research into Producers QuestionsJune …
No Actions Under Feedstock Flexibility Program
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Commodity Credit Corporation announced that it does not expect to purchase and sell sugar under the Feedstock Flexibility Program in fiscal year 2017. Federal law allows sugar processors to obtain loans from USDA with maturities of up to nine months when the sugarcane or sugar beet harvest begins. Upon loan maturity, the sugar processor …
U.S. Sugar Welcomes Home Historic Steam Engine, Launches Restoration Project
U.S. Sugar welcomed home the return of Engine No. 148, a steam locomotive it used in the 1950s to haul sugarcane from the fields to its mill. U.S. Sugar re-acquired the steam engine from a private owner and plans to spend the next year or more restoring the retired Florida East Coast engine. Eventually, U.S. Sugar hopes to make the …