Florida’s record $90.98 billion spending plan for next fiscal year and more than 100 new laws officially hits the books July 1, 2019. According to the News Service of Florida, the new laws passed by the Legislature this spring and signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis, deal with a variety of issues. Items of interest to agriculture in the state include: …
Finding More Pyrethroid-Resistant Mosquitoes in Florida
Researchers have suspected there would be pyrethroid-resistant mosquitoes in Florida. But according to a story from Stephanie Ho, they found more than expected.
‘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, …
Florida, Georgia Square Off Again in Water War
Florida says the case is the “last, best hope” to save the Apalachicola River region from destruction. Georgia says Florida’s arguments threaten to cause hundreds of millions of dollars in “real harm” to the Peach State. Now, a federal appellate judge based in New Mexico will have to sort out the long-running battle between Florida and Georgia over water in …
Florida Population Climbs to 21.3 Million
It wasn’t so long ago that Florida was trying catch New York. Now — at least in the population game — it has left New York in the dust. The U.S. Census Bureau on Wednesday released new estimates showing Florida had about 21.3 million residents as of July 1, cementing Florida’s place as the third most-populous state behind California and …
Florida and Georgia Renew Water Wars
Florida and Georgia have renewed their fight over the impact of Georgia’s water consumption on the Apalachicola River system. After the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in late June that Florida be given another chance to prove its case that Georgia’s overconsumption of water is damaging the Apalachicola region, the states filed a joint legal pleading this week before a federal …
Agri View: Florida – Georgia Water War Goes On
Everett Griner talks about the continuing water war between Florida and Georgia in today’s Agri View. Everett tells us some of the history of the water battle between the states, and why. Florida – Georgia Water War Goes On Many thought the longest water fight in the country would end. The Supreme Court threw the battle back to Georgia and …
Putnam Banks on ‘Florida First’ in Governor’s Race
Source: News Service of Florida Clad in jeans and a blue-checkered shirt with rolled-up sleeves, Adam Putnam easily blended into the rural North Florida residents attending the annual Wausau Possum Festival in early August. “I’m a farmer, a business owner,” the boyish-looking, 44-year-old Republican candidate for governor told the crowd in a brief speech. “The foundation of my campaign is …
Trump Immigration Furor Underscored in Florida
Amid escalating bipartisan demands for President Donald Trump to stop separating undocumented immigrant children from their families at the southern U.S. border, two high-ranking Florida Democrats were denied access Tuesday to a federal detention facility in Homestead housing an estimated 1,000 minors. The Trump administration family-separation policy — which has resulted in more than 2,000 children being warehoused throughout the …
Florida Forest Service Accepting Applications to Help Landowners Combat Devastating Southern Pine Beetle
To help combat the invasive Southern Pine Beetle, which is currently present in 52 infestation sites throughout six Florida counties, the Florida Forest Service is accepting applications for the 2018 Southern Pine Beetle Assistance and Prevention Program from non-industrial, private forest landowners through June 29, 2018. The program is limited to 44 northern Florida counties, the known range of the …