Feed from Florida Farm Bureau News
BERMUDAGRASS STEM MAGGOT An invasive fly, the Bermudagrass stem maggot, scientific name Atherigona reversura, was first discovered in 2010 damaging bermudagrass pasture and hay fields in Georgia. This was the first record of this species in North America. Since then, it has become a serious pest of Bermudagrass forage, hay and turf. It has since [...]
WHIP Deadline Approaching The sign up period for the 2017 Wildfires and Hurricanes Indemnity Program (WHIP) will end on November 16, 2018. It is imperative that producers contact their local FSA office if they incurred damage from Hurricane IRMA in 2017. If your FSA office is having communication issues due to Hurricane Michael, it is [...]
FARM BUREAU COMMITTED TO HELPING OUR PANHANDLE FARMERS For the second consecutive year, Florida agriculture was devastated by a strong hurricane. Last year, it was Hurricane Irma that caused more than $2.5 billion in damage to the agriculture industry alone. A few weeks ago, Hurricane Michael, a Category 4 monster that seemingly came out of [...]
IN MEMORIAM Pete Clemons, the popular owner and operator of the Okeechobee Livestock Market, passed away on Sept. 16 at age 91. Clemons, a 2008 Florida Agricultural Hall of Fame inductee, was formerly a champion rodeo competitor. His career included citrus and beef cattle production. He was also a long-term, well-respected member of the Okeechobee [...]
New Law Creates Increase Fines for Bee Hive Theft Tony Hogg, Chair of the Florida Farm Bureau Apiculture Advisory Committee says that commercial beekeepers are experiencing declining profits due to increased bee deaths and stolen hives. “Anything that gives us tools to our toolkit to try to discourage, or prevent, or punish theft is a [...]
Polk County Farm Tour Polk County Farm Bureau in cooperation with Polk County Extension hosted a farm tour featuring four This Farm CARES recipients. Representatives from various local offices were able to enjoy the tour and speak with local farmers about their operation and issue that they face. The tour included a listening session with [...]
Constitutional Ammendments The process to amend the state constitution is quite quirky in Florida, as there are multiple avenues to change our state’s overarching governing document. The three main ways to revise the state constitution is through a citizen petition, the Florida Legislature and the once-every-20-year process known as the Constitution Revision Commission (CRC), the [...]
Constitutional Amendments The process to amend the state constitution is quite quirky in Florida, as there are multiple avenues to change our state’s overarching governing document. The three main ways to revise the state constitution is through a citizen petition, the Florida Legislature and the once-every-20-year process known as the Constitution Revision Commission (CRC), the [...]
The 2014 Farm Bill Expired. Now What? For over a year, the agriculture industry has implored Congress to act before September 30, 2018 to assure a new, five-year guarantee for the nation’s agricultural policy. However, that deadline came and went over the weekend, so what now? Actually, many programs receive appropriated funds beyond the authorized [...]
GROWING INDUSTRIAL HEMP COULD BE BIG BUSINESS FOR FLORIDA FARMERS Nationally, hemp is moving towards a billion-dollar enterprise and Florida could very well be a leader, due to its environment, world market access and innovative farming. The Cannabis sativa plant is cultivated as a fiber and grain crop. It may be used for building materials, [...]
