Madison County Farm Bureau President Jeffery Hamrick Madison County Farm Bureau (MCFB) President Jeffery Hamrick has always known one thing for certain, that he wanted to be a farmer. “Ever since I could remember, I knew that I wanted to farm,” Hamrick stated. And a farmer he became! Hamrick is a fifth generation hay and [...]
UF/IFAS Small Farms Academy The UF Small Farms Academy (SFA) was initiated in 2010 in response to the need to offer uniquely designed, hands-on training programs that will help sustain existing small farms and increase the number of new small farms. The initial training programs were developed and offered at the Suwannee Valley Agricultural Extension [...]
Secure Your Farm Farm security is important for biosecurity, the safety of livestock and people, and reputation management. Securing your farm means you want to protect the safety of your animals, people on your property and your livelihood. Good security measures include having proper lighting, motion detectors, security cameras and locks or key code access [...]
School Gardens Sought for a Golden Shovel The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Division of Food, Nutrition and Wellness will award golden shovel awards to school garden projects. In its third year, the Golden Shovel Awards will recognize gardens developed or sustained throughout the school year. Categories include: Best New Garden Best Revitalized [...]
Advocacy at the Capitol Hundreds of Florida Farm Bureau members from across Florida convened at the state Capitol to meet with legislators during Florida Farm Bureau’s annual Legislative Days in Tallahassee, March 7-8. Priority topics discussed with lawmakers included a land buying proposal that calls for the removal of 60,000 acres of productive farmland from [...]
Calhoun/Gulf Co. Farm Bureau President Cecil Bodiford Calhoun/Gulf County Farm Bureau (CGCFB) president, Cecil Bodiford, was born and raised in agriculture. He and his wife, Judy, live on the north central border of Calhoun County in the small town of Altha. “My granddaddy farmed before me and my parents and so on,” he stated. “We [...]
Farm Bureau Ready for 2017 Legislative Session Following a year when Florida Farm Bureau had every legislative priority pass the Legislature and receive approval from Gov. Rick Scott, 2017 offers a unique opportunity to start over and carefully consider the important and pressing challenges facing our state’s agricultural producers. With an unprecedented election season ushering [...]
Seeds of Trust Lead to Lower Imputs Jack Payne Before Dr. Natalia Peres put a single plant in the ground at the Gulf Coast Research and Education Center when she arrived more than a decade ago, she began planting seeds of trust with growers. Al Herndon managed a strawberry farm in Floral City at the [...]
Produce Safety Alliance Grower Training Fruit and vegetable growers and other individuals interested in learning about produce safety and the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) are invited to attend a one-day workshop in Arcadia on March 13. The course will provide a foundation of Good Agricultural Practices and co-management information, FSMA Produce Safety Rule requirements [...]
Manatee County Farmer Recognized for Nutrient Stewardship Gary Reeder of Palmetto is a recipient of the Fertilizer Institute’s 2017 4R Advocate award. The 4R Advocate Program helps raise awareness of excellent 4R Nutrient Stewardship practices on farms nationwide. According to a statement by TFI President Chris Jahn, the award “honors those in the industry who [...]
