UF/IFAS to Hold Industrial Hemp Workshops Last month, Governor Ron DeSantis signed SB 1020, which creates an industrial hemp program within the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. The 2018 Farm Bill allowed states to establish hemp programs and this has been a priority of Commissioner Nikki Fried. FDACS has recently held rulemaking workshops and is [...]
Leadership Development Of all the commodities we produce in Florida, the most important is leaders. People like John Hoblick, Brant Schirard, Adam Basford and Staci Sims are essential to the success of the other 300 commodities. The University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences invests so much in leadership development programs as a [...]
Researchers Discover Ingredient to Fight Johne’s Disease Researchers Discover Ingredient to Fight Johne’s Disease A new protein, 35 kDa membrane peptide, may be used as an ingredient in vaccinating cattle against Johne’s disease. The protein is on the surface of the bacterium Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (MAP), which causes Johne’s disease. USDA Agricultural Research Service [...]
Peat Protein Sweetens Greening Oranges Pea Protein Sweetens Greening Oranges Jones Laffin, an Albany-GA based ingredient science and research company has developed an innovative solution to address citrus greening. Through a long-term partnership with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), has created a pea protein that will restore the sweet taste of Florida oranges, [...]
DEP Collaborates with Landowners The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is working to enhance its effectiveness, collaboration, and transparency to promote and accelerate environmental protection and restoration, to “Achieve More Now.” One way we can achieve cleaner water, faster, is to reach out to different groups that affect and care about our state’s rivers, [...]
Florida Farm Bureau Pressures Congress on Disaster Relief Last week, three attempts to send a $19.1 billion disaster relief package to the President’s desk were thwarted by conservative Republicans in the House. In their objections, three different members from Texas, Kentucky, and Tennessee were incensed by the attempts to pass the bill by “unanimous consent.” [...]
Member Photo Contest is Open Florida Farm Bureau Federation’s 2019 Photo Contest is accepting photos for its online photo contest. The contest is open to all Florida Farm Bureau members who do not receive a regular income from photography. Categories for winning photos include On the Farm, Natural Florida and Wildlife and Children, Families and [...]
Inaugural Conference Connects Ag to Education The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Service will hold an inaugural Florida Farm to School Conference Nov. 7 and 8, 2019 at the Omni Orlando Resort at ChampionsGate. The first statewide Florida Farm to School Conference is a way for schools, distributors and producers to connect and learn [...]
A Safe Disposal for Unwanted Pesticides Operation Cleansweep provides farmers, nursery operators, golf course operators and pest control services a one-time safe and economical way to dispose of their canceled, suspended and unusable pesticides. Some materials are old and being stored in deteriorating containers. Chlordane and DDT are extremely toxic to humans and hazardous to [...]
National Hurricane Relief… The Disaster Continues Ongoing state and federal efforts to secure relief funding for farmers and ranchers affected by Hurricane Michael continue to hit various roadblocks. The Florida Legislature approaches the end of session with little to show for our Panhandle communities, and federal appropriators are halting an entire multi-billion dollar relief package [...]
