Today (Friday, May 24, 2019) marked day two of Commissioner Nicole “Nikki” Fried’s first trade mission to Israel. Fried will spend several days meeting with government officials, agricultural research groups, and agriculture-related businesses before joining other Florida Cabinet members next week for a Cabinet meeting and business development meetings. Fried made this statement following yesterday’s trade mission kickoff: “I’m thrilled …
Continuous Signup Period Coming for Conservation Resource Program
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently announced it will soon begin signup of eligible lands under its continuous Conservation Reserve Program (CRP). Rod Bain has more details. USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) will accept applications beginning June 3 for certain practices under the continuous Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) signup and will offer extensions for expiring CRP contracts. The 2018 …
Florida NRCS Holding State Technical Committee Meeting
USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Florida will conduct a State Technical Committee Meeting this Tuesday, May 21 from 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m. at the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Doyle Conner Agriculture Building Auditorium in Gainesville. The meeting is open to the public and will give an overview of the 2018 Farm Bill programs and conservation easements. NRCS will solicit recommendations …
Hemp Research: ‘A Lot of Different Moving Pieces’
An update on industrial hemp research in Florida filled most of the auditorium at the Everglades Research and Education Center near Belle Glade on May 16. Zack Brym, University of Florida Institute of Food and agricultural Sciences assistant professor from Homestead, reviewed the latest information and answered questions from those attending in person and via webinar. Brym reviewed the progress …
NRCS Florida State Technical Committee Meeting is Tuesday
USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Florida will conduct a State Technical Committee Meeting on Tuesday, May 21 starting at 10 a.m. in the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Doyle Conner Agriculture Building Auditorium in Gainesville. The meeting is open to the public and will give an overview of the 2018 Farm Bill programs and conservation easements. Florida State Conservationist Russell …
Panel Advocates for Florida Ag to Florida Delegation
A panel of Florida agricultural leaders had a unique opportunity on May 16 to discuss Florida agriculture issues in front of the Florida delegation in Washington, D.C. The panel mainly focused on two topics: hurricane relief dollars and the impact of the U.S. Mexico Canada Agreement (USMCA) on Florida produce. Led by delegation co-chairs, Alcee Hastings and Vern Buchanan, Florida’s …
South Florida Water Managers Debate BMPs, Discuss New Regulations
by Gary Cooper In this new atmosphere of starting over from scratch with South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) leadership, a growing number of people in agriculture are asking more often and more loudly, “What’s going on?” Agriculture appears to be under the microscope, some say more like under attack, as a fast-growing urban sector reacts to what they don’t …
Fact Checking South Florida’s Water Politics – What Got Us Here?
by Gary Cooper Roots of Algae Debate Show Political Rhetoric Trumping the Facts Politically driven actions in recent months have undeniably brought major upheaval and confusion in South Florida’s water management circles. More than eight million people who are living in and invested in South Florida are directly impacted by these decisions in one way or another. Misinformation swirls about …
Cattle Industry’s Beef Quality Assurance Program Develops, Distributes Extensive National Manual
Checkoff-Funded Effort Is a Resource for Responsible Cattle Management An official manual for the Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) program that is both detailed and extensive is now being distributed nationwide throughout the cattle industry. The manual and the BQA program are both managed by the producer education team at the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, a contractor to the Beef Checkoff. …
USDA Seeking Feedback from Southeast Growers
Over the next few weeks, USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service will be seeking feedback from growers about 2019 crops, stocks, livestock inventories and values. NASS will be conducting two major mid-year surveys, the June Agricultural Survey and the June Area Survey. They will be contacting nearly 5700 producers across Alabama, Florida, Georgia and South Carolina in order to compile all of this information. …