florida

Florida Seeks to Speed Up Wetlands Case

Dan Florida, Water, Wetland

(NSF/TALLAHASSEE, FL/March 13. 2024) — Florida is asking a federal judge to speed up a final ruling in a high-stakes case about permitting authority for projects that affect wetlands, as the state sets the stage for a likely appeal. U.S. District Judge Randolph Moss on Feb. 15 ruled that federal officials did not follow required steps in 2020 before transferring …

nrcs

NRCS Seeking Public Comment on Conservation Practices

Dan Cattle, Conservation, Environment, Livestock, Pasture, USDA-NRCS, Water, Wetland

USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is seeking public comment on proposed revisions to eight national conservation practice standards. Proposed revisions to the national conservation practice standards include: Comments should be submitted via regulations.gov or via mail by March 4, 2024. NRCS regularly reviews all national conservation practices to seek opportunities to increase flexibility and incorporate new technologies to help the nation’s farmers, ranchers, and private …

Improving the Bottom Line with FieldNET Irrigation Technology

Sabrina Halvorson Irrigation

If you’re looking to save time and money in the new year, look to your irrigation system. According to Director of Ag Technology Sales for Lindsay, Tanner Oliphant, advancements in the FieldNET irrigation system can save growers both. “If the pivot gets stuck in the middle of the night, they’re going to get a text message. Before, they may be …

Animal Agriculture

Nominations Open for Animal Agriculture Water Quality Committee

Dan Beef, Bison, Cattle, Dairy, Equine, Irrigation, Livestock, Pork, Poultry, Rabbits, Sheep-Goats, USDA-EPA, Water

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published a Federal Register Notice on November 16 establishing the Animal Agriculture Water Quality Subcommittee. It’s under the umbrella of the Farm, Ranch, and Rural Communities Federal Advisory Committee. Nominations are open for members who want to serve on the subcommittee. The primary subcommittee goal will be to develop recommendations that will inform the Agency’s …

florida

Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Announces Final Project Acquisition List for Rural and Family Lands Protection Program

Dan Agri-Business, Florida, Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS), Forestry, Wetland

(FDACS/TALLAHASSEE, FL/Nov. 20/2023) — Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson announced the final project acquisition list for the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program following the program’s final public meeting which was held in Tallahassee to create a ranked list of agricultural lands eligible for protection. “Today is an important milestone in our pursuit of preserving Florida’s productive agriculture lands. …

nppc

Concerns Raised Over EPA’s Proposed Wastewater Regulation

Dan Beef, Cattle, Environment, Livestock, National Pork Producers Council (NPPC), Pork, Poultry, USDA-EPA, Water

Many in the livestock industry are very concerned about a proposed wastewater regulation from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) concerning wastewater from meat and poultry processing facilities. It is expected to require meatpackers and processors to install millions of dollars of upgrades to their wastewater management systems. So, the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) Chief Legal Strategist, Michael Formica, along with representatives from the U.S. Poultry …

Georgia counties

North Georgia Counties Designated as Primary Natural Disaster Areas Following Recent Drought

Dan Agri-Business, Drought, Economy, Funding, Georgia, Georgia Department of Agriculture (GDA), Irrigation, Water, Weather

(GDAC/Atlanta, GA/Nov. 10, 2023) — United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack has issued a natural disaster declaration for 11 Georgia counties following a sustained period of drought, adding to the four Northwest Georgia Counties already declared primary natural disaster areas last week. Impacted counties include Bartow, Cherokee, Dawson, Fannin, Floyd, Gilmer, Gordon, Lumpkin, Murray, Pickens, and Whitfield, which have sustained eight …

southeast

Much Needed Rains Headed to Southeast Quadrant

Dan Water, Weather

While in some cases the weather forecast is calling for only spotty showers in the Southeast, other areas in a stretch from the Texas Gulf Coast along the coastal Southeast could see beneficial precipitation yet this week. Rod Bain has more details.