The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is allocating $7.2 million to Florida as part of its effort to strengthen the nation’s infrastructure for pest detection and surveillance, identification, and threat mitigation, and to safeguard the U.S. nursery production system. Overall, USDA is providing $66 million in funding this year to support 407 projects in 49 states, Guam, Puerto Rico, and …
Florida, Georgia Square Off Again in Water War
Florida says the case is the “last, best hope” to save the Apalachicola River region from destruction. Georgia says Florida’s arguments threaten to cause hundreds of millions of dollars in “real harm” to the Peach State. Now, a federal appellate judge based in New Mexico will have to sort out the long-running battle between Florida and Georgia over water in …
Alabama Flood Resources
The recent rains over parts of Alabama increased the threat of flooding in many areas. Multiple flood warnings have been in effect after a week of significant amounts of rain in the northwest and north central parts of the state. Some of the hardest hit counties include Colbert, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Limestone and Morgan. Alabama Cooperative Extension System Regional Extension Agent …
Lake Okeechobee Levels Rising; Discharges to Increase
Army Corps of Engineers (ACOE) Colonel Drew Kelly, commander of the Jacksonville District, held a media conference call on Feb. 22 to explain a change to the discharge schedules for Lake Okeechobee, as water levels are rising in the lake. Listen to the audio clip below to hear the entire press conference, including questions from South Florida media and Southeast …
DeSantis Makes Three Key Appointments to SFWMD in Naples
Governor Ron DeSantis announced the appointments of Charlette Roman, Charlie Martinez and Cheryl Anne Meads to the Board of the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) in Naples. The Governor was joined by all three appointees as well as Secretary of the Department of Environmental Protection Noah Valenstein. “I’m pleased to announce the appointments of Charlie Martinez, Cheryl Anne Meads …
Lake Okeechobee Brouhaha Heats Up
by Gary Cooper The series of public meetings about Lake Okeechobee water levels and related issues continues this week in South Florida, hosted by the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers. According to last-minute media announcements this morning, Rep. Brian Mast (R-FL 18th District), is expected to attend the first of two public meetings today at 1:00 p.m. at Indian …
UF/IFAS Center to Take Integrated Approach to Solving Water, Land Use Issues
By taking a more holistic approach to challenging issues facing Florida, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences researchers will share more and better information about water and land use, including farming and urban landscapes, with the establishment of a new center. Jack Payne, UF senior vice president for agriculture and natural resources, said the center will galvanize …
Georgia Water Management Workshops
USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Georgia invites producers across the state to take part in the upcoming statewide Water Management Workshop Series. University of Georgia (UGA) and Fort Valley State University (FVSU) extension programs have partnered with NRCS to host these workshops. While they are geared towards smaller acreage and new/beginning farmers, they are open to all who wish to attend and learn. The …
South Florida’s Water Politics Raising Questions
By Gary Cooper One of several bombshells dropping at last week’s South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) governing board meeting was the resignation of district executive director Ernie Marks. In the audio clip below, Governing Board Member and Vice Chair Brandon Tucker echoed the feelings of several other board members about Marks’ resignation: There was no quorum at last week’s …
Irrigation and Water Management Survey – Respond by March 8
If you received a questionnaire for the Irrigation and Water Management Survey, Stephanie Ho reports USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) is asking you please make sure to respond by March 8th. Sponsored ContentNuseed Carinata Covers New GroundJuly 15, 2024CIR Agriculture Harvester ProductsJuly 1, 2024TriEst Ag Group: Partners in ProfitabilityApril 1, 2024