Indian River Research and Education Center Director Named

Gary Cooper Citrus, Florida, Specialty Crops, Vegetables

May 7, 2008 – GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Peter Stoffella has been named director of the Indian River Research and Education Center, an appointment that became effective May 5. Stoffella, a horticulture professor with the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, had served as the center’s interim director for 11 months. He served as an associate director for …

Specialty Crops May Get Their Farm Bill

Randall Weiseman Specialty Crops, Vegetables

Prospects for a new farm bill with provisions for specialty crops are alive again as conference committee members believe they are close to a compromise bill that could be wrapped up by the end of the week. Committee Chairman Senator Tom Harkin updated farm broadcasters meeting in Washington on Wednesday. Report(1:00 mp3) Sponsored ContentWhat Sets Provysol® Fungicide ApartJuly 8, 2025CIR …

California Freeze Damage

Randall Weiseman Specialty Crops, Vegetables

Peaches, prunes, pears, walnuts, lettuce and artichokes are among the crops affected by a freeze last week in California. Report (1:00 mp3) Sponsored ContentWhat Sets Provysol® Fungicide ApartJuly 8, 2025CIR Agriculture Harvester ProductsJuly 1, 2025Nuseed Carinata Covers New GroundOctober 1, 2024

Safe FEAST Act Introduced

Randall Weiseman Florida, General, Specialty Crops, Vegetables

Congressman Adam Putnam of Florida this week introduced legislation to modernize America’s food safety network. The Safe Food Enforcement, Assessment, Standards and Targeting Act, or “Safe FEAST Act,” would establish new food safety requirements for domestically produced and imported food to identify and prevent potential sources of food-borne illness. Read more here. Report (1:00 mp3) Sponsored ContentWhat Sets Provysol® Fungicide …

Latest on the Farm Bill

Randall Weiseman General, Peanuts, Specialty Crops, Vegetables

Big differences still remain between congress and the administration over the Farm Bill, and agriculture Secretary Ed Shafer says unless they get closer to a compromise by next week, a long term extension of the current farm bill is likely. Report(1:00 mp3) Meanwhile, the House has finally named members for a farm bill conference committee. Report 1 (:30 mp3)    Report 2 (1:00 …

H2A Comment Period Extended

Randall Weiseman General, Specialty Crops, Vegetables

The U.S. Department of Labor has granted a two-week extension of the comment period for the proposed overhaul of the migrant farm worker visa program. The original deadline was Monday. Under the program changes, employers would be required to seek U.S. employees for a longer period of time before they could recruit foreign workers. The H-2A visa program is designed …

FFVA President on Trade

Randall Weiseman Florida, Specialty Crops, Vegetables

Agriculture Secretary Ed Schafer today announced the appointment of members to the Agricultural Policy Advisory Committee for Trade, including Mike Stuart with the Florida Fruit and Vegetable Association. Report (1:00 mp3) Sponsored ContentWhat Sets Provysol® Fungicide ApartJuly 8, 2025CIR Agriculture Harvester ProductsJuly 1, 2025Nuseed Carinata Covers New GroundOctober 1, 2024

FFVA Concerned About IFAS Budget

Randall Weiseman Florida, Specialty Crops, Vegetables

Mike Stuart with the Florida Fruit and Vegetable Association says they are keeping a close eye on this year’s Florida legislative session to make sure cuts for research programs at the University of Florida IFAS are not too severe. Report (1:00 mp3) Sponsored ContentWhat Sets Provysol® Fungicide ApartJuly 8, 2025CIR Agriculture Harvester ProductsJuly 1, 2025Nuseed Carinata Covers New GroundOctober 1, …