One of the issues being discussed in Tallahassee this week is the Amendment 1 spending plan. And Florida Farm Bureau President John Hoblick says there is a little bit of give and take on both sides. Download Audio
Animal Agriculture Tells House: It’s Time to Ditch the Rule
On Tuesday, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association Past President and Astoria, Illinois cattleman Steve Foglesong testified before the House Committee on Agriculture Subcommittee on Conservation and Forestry at their hearing titled, “Waters of the U.S. Rulemaking and its Impact on Rural America. Afterwards, Chase Adams talked with Foglesong about what all he discussed. Download Audio
Florida’s Amendment 1 Spending Plan Lands Mixed Reviews
FROM THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA By JIM TURNER THE CAPITAL, TALLAHASSEE, March 17, 2015………. Florida’s natural springs would get $50 million, the Kissimmee River is in line for $30 million, and a wastewater plan for the Florida Keys is up for $25 million, under a newly released House proposal that would help carry out a voter-approved increase in conservation …
NCC: “Waters of the U.S.” Proposed Rule Overly Burdensome
From the National Cotton Council: WASHINGTON, D.C. – National Cotton Council (NCC) Chairman Sledge Taylor testified here today that a rule proposed by the EPA and Corps of Engineers to define “waters of the United States” under the Clean Water Act would require costly federal permits for many commonplace and essential farming practices. Emphasizing that this rule will have a …
Florida Governor Scott: Tamiami Trail Project will Help Move Water South
From the Florida Department of Environmental Protection: TALLAHASSEE – Governor Scott today announced that the Florida Department of Environmental Protection recently issued a permit to the Department of Interior’s National Park Service, Everglades National Park, for the construction of 2.6 miles of bridging and road raising along the Tamiami Trail (U.S. 41) in Miami-Dade County. The project will deconstruct a …
Backroom Briefing: Water Not a Commodity for Late Session Bargaining?
FROM THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA By JIM TURNER and MARGIE MENZEL THE CAPITAL, TALLAHASSEE, March 12, 2015………. If the House and Senate can’t find common ground on water policy in the next 50 days, then they’ll try again next year, House Speaker Steve Crisafulli said this week. While the two chambers are looking at widely divergent proposals to enact …
Teamwork Restores Wetlands for Clean Water, Wildlife, Everglades
From USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service in Florida: GAINESVILLE, Fla., March 11, 2015 – Partnerships: they need a little give and take. Sometimes, they give a lot back. That was the case when the South Florida Water Management District teamed with USDA’s Natural Resource Conservation Service, (NRCS) to restore a 533-acre area on the Williamson Ranch about six miles northwest …
Water Quality
Corporate entities like a nationally known brewer are among those joining USDA as part of a National Water Quality Initiative. Cathy Isom looks at just how important this is. Download Audio
UF/IFAS Challenge 2050 Project
The University of Florida hosted executives from Limagrain, a global seed company, in Gainesville this week for a big announcement. Limagrain is the world’s fourth largest seed company, and its HM.CLAUSE Vegetable Seed branch is number two in vegetable seeds. In addition to touring the UF agricultural research facilities throughout Florida, they formally announced a unique
Florida House Likely to Pursue Limited Land Buying
FROM THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA By JIM TURNER THE CAPITAL, TALLAHASSEE, March 6, 2015………. A House committee that crafted a newly approved water-policy plan is now looking at how a voter-approved increase in conservation dollars should be used for land management. Just don’t anticipate a splurge on land buying, such as spending about $350 million on a proposal to …