USDA Awards CIG Projects in Florida

Sabrina Halvorson Conservation, USDA-NRCS

Last week, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced it is investing $40 million this year for 31 new projects through its Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) program, one of the ways USDA brings together partners to develop innovative approaches to climate-smart agriculture. These projects, through USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), will support next-generation conservation efforts on working lands and develop market-based solutions …

Florida Lawmakers Working on the Budget

Sabrina Halvorson Florida, Legislative

Florida lawmakers last Wednesday reached the halfway point in this year’s 60-day legislative session. Both the House and Senate approved their individual budget proposals, which now sets the stage for negotiations on a final spending plan. The Senate proposal is $113.7 billion, while the House proposal totals $113 billion. Florida Cattlemen’s Association (FCA) Director of Governmental Affairs, Sam Ard, looks at …

Commissioner Wilton Simpson Announces Appointment of Rick Dolan as Director of the Florida Forest Service

Sabrina Halvorson Florida, Industry News Release

Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson announced the appointment of Rick Dolan as State Forester and Director of Florida Forest Forest, a division of the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. “I am pleased to announce Rick Dolan as our new Florida Forest Service Director. With his decades of experience, and proven leadership and emergency management skills, I am …

Last Chance to Pre-Register for Florida Grower Citrus Show is Friday

Sabrina Halvorson Citrus, Florida Grower Citrus Show

The last chance to preregister for the Florida Grower Citrus Show is Friday, April 7, at 12:00pm Eastern. The show itself will be held Thursday, April 13 starting at 8:00am with registration and breakfast, with the General Session starting at 9am. Then the lunch break will run from 11:10am – 2:00pm where the Tailgate Party will take place. The Florida Grower Citrus …

‘A Land Remembered’ Show Draws Large Crowd

Dan Florida

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

Dan Florida, Georgia, Industry News Release, Water

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

Dan Florida, Industry News Release

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 …