Forum Addresses Climate Change and Agriculture

Dan Education, Environment, Florida, Weather

By Ernie Neff Florida ag producers, scientists, Congresswoman Kathy Castor and others discussed agriculture in the face of climate change in a forum held Monday in Gainesville. The forum was Agriculture and Forestry in a Changing Climate: What the Future Holds for Florida. Jack Payne, senior vice president for agriculture and natural resources at the University of Florida Institute of …

Farmers Prevented From Planting Crops on More Than 19 Million Acres

Dan Drought, Economy, Environment, Industry News Release, Water, Weather

Agricultural producers reported they were not able to plant crops on more than 19.4 million acres in 2019, according to a new report released by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). This marks the most prevented plant acres reported since USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) began releasing the report in 2007 and 17.49 million acres more than reported at this time …

Reflecting on Hurricane Michael and UF/IFAS Extension’s Role in Recovery

Dan Florida, Industry News Release, Weather

GAINESVILLE, Fla. (UF/IFAS) — As each June brings a new hurricane season, the people of Florida begin to ready themselves for any storm that may target the state’s shorelines. Fresh in the minds of many this year, though, is Hurricane Michael, which struck the Panhandle with category 5 strength eight months ago and left many in recovery mode. This includes …

Legislative Leaders Meet on USMCA and Disaster Relief

Dan Economy, Exports/Imports, Florida, Georgia, Trade, Weather

It was a busy Friday in the Southeast for U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue as he and other legislative leaders sat down with representatives from Florida and Georgia agriculture on June 7. The day started with a meeting in Tallahassee, Florida, followed by a meeting in Doerun, Georgia. The main topics of discussion were the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) and …

Hurricane Outlook for 2019

Dan Weather

We’ve already seen one named storm before the 2019 Hurricane Season officially starts this Saturday, June 1st. But in a story from Stephanie Ho, USDA looks at what is expected this year in terms of hurricanes.  And Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross highlights how active and expensive 2018 was for hurricanes. Both of which, of course, affected many producers across the Southeast. …

Dry Weather, Dry Forecast Worry Wiregrass Corn Producers

Dan Alabama, Corn, Drought, Industry News Release, Peanuts, Soybeans, Weather

Expectations for higher-than-normal May temperatures have Wiregrass corn producers on edge as the spring growing season shapes up to be a dry one. Brandon Dillard, an Alabama Extension regional agent of agronomic crops, said farmers in the area were ahead of the planting schedule earlier in the season. “This was one of the best looking dryland corn crops I’ve seen …

Industry Reaction to U.S. Senate Approval of a Disaster Aid Package

Dan Economy, Industry News Release, Weather

U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) applauded Senate passage of a disaster supplemental that will provide much-needed funds to Florida’s Northwest communities, which were devastated by Hurricane Michael more than seven months ago. With Senate passage, Rubio urged the U.S. House of Representatives to swiftly approve the long overdue disaster relief package, and send the measure …