Tallahassee, Fla.– Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried and the Florida Forest Service are urging Floridians to exercise caution due to the increased threat of wildfires. Fire danger has increased throughout the state due to windy conditions and critically low relative humidity over the coming days. Gusty conditions are possible in the Panhandle and Big Bend with the passage of a dry …
Farm Recovery Block Grant Deadline for Georgia Farmers is April 30
By Clint Thompson The Farm Recovery Block Grant deadline for Georgia farmers who were dealt financial losses by Hurricane Michael is Thursday, April 30. The Georgia Department of Agriculture is accepting online applications. The block grant funds include $347 million. This block grant program is designed to compensate producers for losses and expenses in seven categories of assistance, according to …
Florida Drought Leads to Water Restrictions in Lee County
By Clint Thompson Florida’s long drought has led to water restrictions on Lee County in the southwest part of the state. On Friday, the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) and Lee County announced mandatory irrigation restrictions. According to the press release, the restrictions addressed low aquifer levels. “On the coast, they rely a lot more on wells, well fields. …
Big Storm Could Bring Severe Weather to the South
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Lack of Rainfall Impacting Florida Agriculture
By Clint Thompson Lack of rainfall in March in Florida could have major implications for Florida agriculture. David Zierden, a state climatologist at Florida State University’s Center for Ocean-Atmospheric Prediction Studies, said most of the state is currently experiencing conditions that are drier than normal. “With these very warm temperatures we’ve seen in the month of March and only fractions …
Cover Crops Helped Alabama Growers During Rainy Winter
By Clint Thompson Alabama farmers who utilized cover crops this winter protected their soil during times of excessive rainfall, according to Audrey Gamble, an assistant professor and Extension specialist at Auburn University. “I think it’s very obvious to see that we’ve had record rainfalls across the state, and that in fields where we had cover crops, it helped with preventing …
Georgia Cattle Producers Urged to Sign Up for Block Grants
The Georgia Department of Agriculture (GDA) is currently accepting online applications for the Farm Recovery Block Grants program from farmers and forest landowners affected by Hurricane Michael. Georgia Cattlemen’s Association (GCA) Executive Vice President, Dale Sandlin, wants producers to know GDA has posted the veterinarian certification of damage information to the farm recovery website.  Georgia farmers and forest landowners …
Registration Ongoing for Georgia Farm Recovery Block Grants
By Clint Thompson Registration is ongoing for Georgia producers, who experienced crop losses to Hurricane Michael in 2018, to submit online applications to the Georgia Department of Agriculture (GDA) for the $347 million in Farm Recovery Block grant funds. All applications must be completed and submitted no later than Wednesday, April 8. According to the Georgia Department of Agriculture, farmers …
Excessive Rainfall Could Delay Spring Plantings
By Clint Thompson Excessive rainfall this winter could delay plantings for growers across the Southeast, according to Pam Knox, University of Georgia Cooperative Extension Agricultural Climatologist. Two days of steady rain on March 4 and 5 inundated much of Georgia with parts of Georgia receiving between 4 and 5 inches. The two-day deluge of moisture only highlighted a wet 2020 …
UGA Economist Says Block Grant Funds Will Help Georgia Producers
By Clint Thompson Georgia farmers hoping for financial relief from Hurricane Michael in 2018 can begin submitting online applications to the Georgia Department of Agriculture (GDA) for the $347 million in Farm Recovery Block Grant funds on March 18. Adam Rabinowitz, University of Georgia Cooperative Extension assistant professor and agricultural economist, believes the block grant funds will provide extra benefits …