In recent weeks, South Florida farmers and residents continue to grow with nervous concern about misinformation circulating about Lake Okeechobee and related regional water issues. A couple of meetings taking place in recent days in local communities around the lake exemplify the growing rumble among grassroots residents and businesses throughout the entire region, especially those in rural areas. A growing …
Georgia Cotton Commission Approves 2020 Research
At its March 27th Board Meeting, the Georgia Cotton Commission Board of Directors approved $656,287 in research for the 2020 crop year and also approved $25,500 in supplemental research for 2019. This money will go to fund eighteen projects that will be conducted by researchers and extension specialists from the University of Georgia and the University of West Georgia. Projects …
Statement on the Tomato Suspension Agreement
The Fresh Produce Association of the Americas (FPAA) and other allied groups such as the Border Trade Alliance continue to make misleading statements about the tomato suspension agreement in an apparent attempt to muddy the waters and stoke fear among other agricultural groups in the U.S. Here are a couple basic points to keep in mind: Support for the termination …
USDA Designates 11 Florida Counties as Primary Natural Disaster Areas
Emergency Support to Producers in Surrounding Counties/Border States Also Available Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue designated 11 Florida counties as primary natural disaster areas. Producers in Calhoun, Franklin, Gadsden, Gulf, Holmes, Jackson, Jefferson, Liberty, Okaloosa, Walton and Washington counties who suffered losses caused by Hurricane Michael that occurred on Oct. 10, 2018, may be eligible for U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) …
USDA Provides Information for Producers and Veterinarians to Help Guard Against ASF
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Chief Veterinary Officer, Dr. Jack Shere is reminding pig producers and veterinarians of the signs and symptoms of a deadly swine disease that could dramatically impact the U.S. pig population. African swine fever (ASF) is a highly contagious foreign animal disease that affects both domestic and feral (wild) pigs. It does not affect human …
Farmers, Elected Officials Enjoy Taste Of Alabama
Legislators and state leaders sampled fruits of farmers’ labor during the Alabama Farmers Federation’s Taste of Alabama legislative reception in Montgomery March 20. The event highlights commodities grown in Alabama — and the farmers who grow them. At the annual reception, producers mingled with lawmakers and discussed local and agricultural issues. “The Farmers Federation was founded to work on public …
Money Could Flow to Environment, Water Quality
The Florida Senate is topping Gov. Ron DeSantis’ request for environmental funding, despite early concerns about a tight budget and the need to react to Hurricane Michael. The Senate Agriculture, Environment and General Government Appropriations Subcommittee on Wednesday released an initial $5.9 billion budget proposal that includes $656 million for Everglades restoration and water-quality efforts such as trying to reduce …
‘A Land Remembered’ Show Draws Large Crowd
Rick Smith put on his popular show on March 19 about his late father Patrick Smith’s book, “A Land Remembered,” at Sunrise Theatre in downtown Fort Pierce. With well over 1,000 people attending, it’s Rick’s largest audience yet out of his 269 performances to date. The book is fast becoming famous in Florida-native circles especially, and among new residents alike, …
USDA Announces Launch of the Start Simple with MyPlate Campaign
In a continuing effort to help Americans make healthy food choices, and in honor of National Nutrition Month®, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Sonny Perdue today announced a new campaign to help simplify the nutrition information that surrounds us each day. Start Simple with MyPlate is a new initiative to reduce confusion surrounding healthy eating and help people start with the …
Farm Bureau Leader Responds to Congressman’s “Menace” Remarks
Among many reactions to south Florida Rep. Francis Rooney’s (SW FL – District 19) recently reported comments about what he called the “menace” of agriculture in the Everglades Agriculture Area, Florida Farm Bureau President John Hoblick is reaching out to the Congressman requesting a meeting to discuss the facts directly. In his letter, Hoblick informed Rooney that the Congressman’s recent …