Hurricane Eta soaked Florida when it made landfall last November. Left in its wake were structures and facilities at Camp Timpoochee, a 95-year-old 4-H camp located along the shore of Choctwhatchee Bay in Niceville, Florida. Scott Angle, Vice President for Agriculture and Natural Resources at the UF/IFAS, provided an update on what it will take to rebuild and have up …
USDA Ready to Assist Farmers and Ranchers Affected by Winter Storms
(USDA) — The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) reminds rural communities, farmers and ranchers, families, and small businesses affected by the recent winter storms that USDA has programs that provide assistance. USDA staff in the regional, state and county offices are prepared with a variety of program flexibilities and other assistance to residents, agricultural producers, and impacted communities. “USDA is committed to …
Texas Freeze Leaves Citrus Crop in Trouble
The historic cold snap that has frozen Texas this week has left citrus growers with little hope for saving their crops. “We’ve had the perfect trifecta this season,” says Dale Murden, citrus grower and president of Texas Citrus Mutual. “We’ve endured the lingering drought, Hurricane Hanna and now the St. Valentine’s Day Massacre — all on top of the pandemic. It’s …
Saturated Soils: Georgia Farmers Sidelined Due to Wet Weather
Georgia farmers are sidelined right now because of excessive rainfall in January and February. This could become problematic with planting season just around the corner. “We’re at or above saturated conditions right now all around. Any extra rainfall we’re getting right now, we’re losing to run-off. Our ponds and reservoirs and creeks are all at full capacity. I don’t think …
GCC Encourages Participation in QLA Program
Georgia cotton producers impacted by Hurricane Michael in 2018 are encouraged to participate in the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Quality Loss Adjustment (QLA) Program. The QLA program provides financial assistance to crop producers who experienced quality losses caused by qualifying disaster events in 2018 or 2019. The Georgia Cotton Commission GCC encourages producers to participate, says executive director Taylor …
Expectation of La Niña and Florida Citrus
A moderate La Niña climate phase is expected through spring 2021. This indicates that slightly above average temperatures and slightly less rainfall than normal can be expected in Florida’s citrus belt. Multi-county citrus Extension agent Ajia Paolillo made that announcement during a virtual Dec. 22 OJ Break presented by the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS). …
USDA Designates Alabama Counties as Natural Disaster Areas
Losses resulting from Hurricane Zeta MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries Rick Pate announces that U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has designated 13 Alabama counties as primary disaster areas, due to damage and losses caused by Hurricane Zeta that occurred from October 28 through October 29, 2020. USDA reviewed the Loss Assessment Reports and determined that there were …
Commissioner Fried Comments on Hurricane Sally Secretarial Disaster Declaration
Tallahassee, Fla. – The U.S. Department of Agriculture granted Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried’s request on Tuesday for a Secretarial disaster declaration for several key counties impacted by Hurricane Sally. The Secretarial disaster declaration names Calhoun, Gadsden, Holmes, Jackson, and Washington Counties as primary disaster areas related to Hurricane Sally, as well as Bay, Gulf, Leon, Liberty, and Walton as …
Hurricanes Devastating on Alabama Cotton
Weather once again played a pivotal role in Alabama’s cotton crop this season. Most notably, the southern part of the state was devastated by multiple hurricanes that reduced yields and crop quality in those areas, says Steve Brown, Alabama Extension cotton specialist. “I think in late summer we felt like we had a pretty good crop, above average, if not …
GOP Leaders Look at Climate Change Plans
(NSF) — Planning work to address flooding from rising sea levels, similar to how the state maps out road and bridge projects for five years, is being considered by the new Republican leaders of the Florida House and Senate. House Speaker Chris Sprowls, R-Palm Harbor, and Senate President Wilton Simpson, R-Trilby, expressed a desire Tuesday to establish work programs that …