Many Topics Discussed at Farm Bill Hearings

Field hearings to review U.S. agriculture policy for the process of writing the 2012 Farm Bill have been underway the past few weeks, as Tyron Spearman looks at some of the topics discussed thus far. Download Audio News post sponsor: AGROTAIN® controls nitrogen loss for higher yields. Sponsored ContentCIR Agriculture Harvester ProductsJuly 1, 2026FL Cattle Enhancement Board Wraps up Funding …

Florida Opens Summer Oyster Areas Early

TALLAHASSEE (FDACS) — Florida Agriculture and Consumer Services Commissioner Charles H. Bronson and Chairman Rodney Barreto of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) today announced that the summer oyster harvesting areas in the Apalachicola Bay System will open at 12:01 a.m. Friday — 11 days early. Download Audio Sponsored ContentCIR Agriculture Harvester ProductsJuly 1, 2026FL Cattle Enhancement Board …

FL Bronson Seeks Early Opening of Summer Oyster Area

TALLAHASSEE — Florida Agriculture and Consumer Services Commissioner Charles H. Bronson today announced that he has asked the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWCC) to open the summer oyster harvesting area in the Apalachicola Bay system now in response to the oil leak out in the Gulf of Mexico. The summer oyster area is normally open for harvest 92 …

FL Concerned about Economic Impact on Tourism & Seafood Industry

— Florida reminds residents and visitors that Florida’s coasts are clean and seafood is safe — TALLAHASSEE — State agency leaders are concerned that people across the United States falsely believe the state has been impacted by oil from the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Florida’s beaches and fishing grounds remain open to residents and visitors to enjoy. Currently, there are …

Citrus Crop Forecast Update: No Change at 131.6 Million Boxes

Here’s Florida Citrus Mutual’s review of today’s USDA citrus crop update: LAKELAND, Fla. (May 11, 2010) –The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today released its May orange forecast for the 2009-2010 season showing no change to the 131.6 million box crop. The early and midseason orange crop remained unchanged at 68.6 million boxes while Valencias stayed at 63 million boxes. …

Grower Shares Concerns About New Citrus Black Spot Find

Jim Ellis’ citrus grove is about 100 miles from recent citrus black spot finds, but he’s concerned now that the fungal disease has been found in two Florida counties. He’s not alone in his worry that black spot will spread across the citrus industry. He shares his thoughts in this interview. Download Audio Post sponsor: Copper coverage with Less Metallic …

EPA and Atrazine: “The War on a Weed Killer”

This came to us early this week from the Agriculture Committee Republican Press Office in the U S House of Representatives in WASHINGTON – The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) continues its attack on American farmers and ranchers. Most recently, the EPA has begun an assault on Atrazine, one of the oldest, most well-established agricultural chemicals on the market. Despite completing …

FDACS Hopes to “Save the Guac” From Threatening Avocado Pest

TALLAHASSEE — Florida Agriculture Commissioner Charles H. Bronson, like many people, enjoys fresh Florida guacamole and wants the public to know that a plant disease called laurel wilt is threatening one of its host trees, the Florida avocado. The Department’s Division of Plant Industry (DPI) has created a “Save the Guac” campaign to educate the public about this disease and …

Putnam: EPA’s Proposed Water Rules could Cost Floridians Billions

WASHINGTON – Congressman Adam Putnam today said a new study by the State of Florida shows that proposed federal water regulations that would apply only to Florida could cost residents billions of dollars and result in the loss of more than 14,000 jobs. Sponsored ContentCIR Agriculture Harvester ProductsJuly 1, 2026FL Cattle Enhancement Board Wraps up Funding YearJune 30, 2026Florida Cattle …

Citrus Economists: OJ Situation OK Even With HLB

“The dismal science.” That’s how economics is often described. But 30 global economists left a recent gathering in Lake Alfred with a fairly optimistic outlook on the future of orange juice, even in the face of greening disease. Florida Department of Citrus economist Mark Brown summed up the economists’ view of the Florida OJ industry. In the first report, he …