U.S. Sugar Completes Deal Amid Legal Fight

Dan Florida, Sugar

(NSF/TALLAHASSEE) — U.S. Sugar Corp. has completed a $315 million purchase of another large player in the sugar industry as the federal government continues to fight the merger on antitrust grounds. Attorneys for Clewiston-based U.S. Sugar said in a court filing Tuesday that it had completed the acquisition of the assets of Imperial Sugar Co. The filing came after a …

Preliminary Damage Assessment for Florida Agriculture Following Hurricane Ian

Dan Agri-Business, Aquaculture, Beef, Cattle, Citrus, Dairy, Economy, FDACS, Field Crops, Florida, Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS), Forestry, Herbs, Hydroponics, Livestock, News from Our Sponsors, Specialty Crops, Sugar, Vegetables

(FDACS/Tallahassee, FL/Oct. 24, 2022) — The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) and Commissioner of Agriculture Nikki Fried released the FDACS preliminary damage assessment for agriculture following Hurricane Ian. The assessment considered losses to agriculture production and infrastructure and are estimated between $1,180,714,303 and $1,888,305,886. “While today’s assessment is a preliminary snapshot of the losses to Florida agriculture, it is a critical first step …

Farmers, Ag Organizations Against EPA Proposal

Dan Agri-Business, Environment, Field Crops, Regulation, Specialty Crops, Sugar, USDA-EPA, Vegetables

More than 16,000 farmers and agricultural organizations recently united against EPA’s proposed revision to its 2020 atrazine registration review decision. The farmers and agricultural organizations representing corn, citrus, grain sorghum, sugar cane, and other crops, submitted comments calling for the agency to base decisions on credible scientific evidence. Efforts to help farmers speak out against the proposal were coordinated by …

Florida Ag Producers Impacted by Hurricane Ian May be Eligible for Emergency Conservation Program Assistance

Dan Aquaculture, Cattle, Economy, Emergency Conservation Program (ECP), Field Crops, Florida, Fruits, Hemp, Herbs, Hydroponics, Livestock, Nursery Crops, Organic, Pollinators, Specialty Crops, Sugar, USDA-FSA, Vegetables

Agricultural producers who suffered severe damage from Hurricane Ian, may be eligible for assistance under the Emergency Conservation Program (ECP) administered by USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA). But, to be eligible, USDA approval is required before producers can begin repair efforts. Deborah Tannebaum, State Executive Director of the Farm Service Agency (FSA) in Florida, explained to Southeast AgNet’s Randall Weiseman what land is …

Farmers Try to Sort Out Hurricane Damage

Dan Cattle, Citrus, Field Crops, Florida, Forestry, Fruits, Livestock, Nursery Crops, Organic, Pollinators, Specialty Crops, Sugar, Vegetables

(NSF/TALLAHASSEE, FL/Oct. 06, 2022) — A week after Hurricane Ian stormed across Florida, farmers and ranchers continue waiting for flood waters to recede to get a full picture of the destruction to citrus groves and cattle operations. The storm killed at least 200 cows at a dairy farm in Myakka City, while beef cattle counts remain uncertain until herds can …

Florida Commissioner Nikki Fried Shares USDA Disaster Assistance Programs for Agricultural Producers, Urges Early Reporting of Losses

Dan Aquaculture, Beef, Cannabis, Cattle, Citrus, Corn, Cotton, Crop Insurance, Dairy, Economy, Eggs, Equine, FDACS, Field Crops, Florida, Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS), Forestry, Fruits, Hemp, Herbs, Hydroponics, Industry, Livestock, Pasture, Peanuts, Pecans, Pork, Poultry, Rabbits, Sheep-Goats, Soybeans, Specialty Crops, Sugar, Tree Nuts, USDA, USDA-FSA, USDA-NRCS, Vegetables, Weather, Wheat

(FDACS/Tallahassee, FL/Sep 30, 2022) —  In the aftermath of Hurricane Ian, Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried is sharing important resources from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to assist Florida agricultural producers who suffered losses due to the storm. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) reminds communities, farmers and ranchers, families and small businesses affected by Hurricane Ian that USDA has multiple programs to provide assistance in the wake of …

Florida on Alert as Hurricane Ian Threatens

Dan Agri-Business, Cattle, Citrus, Corn, Cotton, Equine, Field Crops, Florida, Forestry, Fruits, General, Hemp, Herbs, Livestock, Nursery Crops, Peanuts, Pollinators, Poultry, Soybeans, Specialty Crops, Sugar, Vegetables, Weather

(NSF/TALLAHASSEE, FL/Sept. 26, 2022) — Gov. Ron DeSantis urged Floridians to be aware of local evacuation orders as Hurricane Ian is expected to strengthen into a “major” storm in the eastern Gulf of Mexico as early as Tuesday. DeSantis said during a media briefing just before noon Monday that Ian will bring heavy rain, strong winds, flash flooding, storm surges …

Judge Rules U.S. Sugar Deal Can Move Forward

Dan Florida, Sugar

Last Friday, a judge rejected an attempt by federal antitrust officials to block the U.S. Sugar Corporation from purchasing another large player in the sugar industry. According to the News Service of Florida (NSF), U.S. District Judge Maryellen Noreika ruled against the U.S. Department of Justice, which filed a lawsuit last year in Delaware to try to prevent the combination …

Candy is Big Business in U.S., Sugar Industry Concerned about Policy

Dan Specialty Crops, Sugar, This Land of Ours

American candy makers are doing quite well, but is there a threat to the sugar industry? That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. It seems the U.S. has a sweet tooth, and that means big profits for candy makers. According to the National Confectioners Association, U.S. confectionery sales will reach $44.9 billion by 2026, which is a more than 20 …