GAINESVILLE, September 2, 2010 — The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Florida has set a cutoff date of October 29, 2010, to submit applications for several voluntary conservation programs that may help eligible participants pay for conservation practices to prevent soil erosion, improve water quality, restore wetlands and provide habitat for wildlife. Read the rest of this entry »
Citrus Industry magazine continues its 2010 series of articles for growers to earn CEU credits by reading the articles in the magazine or online, then submitting the accompanying CEU test online. The third CEU article of the year, “Why Should Pesticide Applicators Care About Heat Stress?” (test period expires 9/1/2011), is now available online at http://citrusindustry.net/ceu3.html.
Today Tyron Spearman updates how the peanut crop looks along with the average peanut price information. He also has news about an organic price coming next year.
Peanuts: Download Audio
Organic: Download Audio
Stephen Monroe of the Division of Animal Industries with the Florida Department of Agriculture, said when it comes animal disease traceability framework, they are waiting on USDA to establish the animal movement guidelines.
Russia is taking steps to ensure poultry imported from the U.S. is safe, along with also placing temporary curbs on imports of meat products from the U.S., Brazil, Poland and Argentina.
Congress will reconvene on September 13 after their August recess and they still have a lot on their agenda to accomplish. Farm Bureau Tax Specialist, Pat Wolff, says the pressure is on Congress to act to avoid the expiration of estate, individual income and ethanol tax breaks.
The expansion of specialty crops is continuing in Florida, but Dan Mullins, extension horticulture agent for Santa Rosa County, says their challenge now is to expand the growers knowledge beyond the field.
The University of Florida is now offering a Florida version of the website MarketMaker allowing farmers and seafood producers to set up profiles featuring details of their operation such as pictures and maps to allow buyers looking for specific products to find nearby producers.
Americans drink approximately 56 gallons of soft drinks a year per person, and nutrition and health education specialist, Tammy Roberts, says this can make what you drink as critical as what you eat when it comes to weight.
USDA’s Agriculture Risk Management Agency will offer an organic price election for four crops during the 2011 production year. Along with eliminating the current 5 percent surcharge for organic crops insured under ten crop insurance programs.
Beef checkoff revenues continue to drop in Florida and Carl McKettrick of Arcadia, who serves on the Florida Beef Council, encourages producers across the state to take part in the voluntary beef checkoff program.
Alabama Cattlemen’s Association President Mike Dee said their work on a strategic planning process continues as they are focusing on 10 main goals which includes strengthening local chapters.
As we get ready for football season, Ashley Hughes with the Georgia Beef Board says beef checkoff dollars are hard at work reminding consumers how great beef is for tailgating meals.
There are still questions concerning certified peanut acreage in some states as Tyron Spearman has the latest on that issue along with looking at how many peanuts from last year are still on loan and he updates the peanut calendar.
Acreage: Download Audio
Loan: Download Audio
Calendar: Download Audio
TALLAHASSEE — Florida Agriculture and Consumer Services Commissioner Charles H. Bronson today announced that eradication has been declared in the Mediterranean fruit fly (Medfly) outbreak in Palm Beach County. Regulations have been lifted and fruit movement is no longer prohibited. Eradication is achieved when three life cycles of the Medfly (approximately 60 days) have passed without finding another wild Medfly.
U.S. Senate candidate Marco Rubio has announced a six-point plan to help the agricultural community. And Florida Farm Bureau National Affairs Coordinator, Adam Basford applauds him making a stance by declaring agriculture important to the state and says many of his ideas are ones that they and producers have been focused on for quite some time.
Now that the primaries are over voters can focus on the general election coming up November 2, 2010. In this report we asked the Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Services candidates, Scott Maddox and Adam Putnam, to give our listeners an overview of who they are and what they hope to accomplish if elected.
Algae is being studied as a possible biofuel feedstock, and Alabama Cooperative Extension expert, Paul Mask, says the bioenergy resource could open some doors for Alabama producers.
University of Florida researcher Bob Rouse says the successful use of nutritional sprays to keep HLB-infected trees productive is dependent on keeping the psyllids that spread HLB under control.
This unique fruit is a white strawberry with red seeds that tastes a lot like a pineapple and may soon be on restaurant menus and sold at grocery stores and farmers’ markets across the country.
TALLAHASSEE — Florida Agriculture and Consumer Services Commissioner Charles H. Bronson today said two male Oriental fruit flies have been found in a trap in a grapefruit tree in the Pinellas County community of Safety Harbor. The flies (Bactrocera dorsalis (Hendel) (Tephritidae) were found during routine surveillance activities earlier this month conducted by the department’s Division of Plant Industry. Ernie Neff was able to talk with DPI’s Denise Feiber and has this report.
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service has been holding public meetings to get feedback concerning their animal traceability plan from those in the industry. Georgia State Veterinarian Dr. Carter Black was one of those who attended the recent meeting held in Atlanta and talks about what the challenges to all this are, while Josh White with the Georgia Cattlemen’s Association said he likes the fact plans are for a more state-focused program.
Also at that APHIS public meeting in Atlanta was Nate Jaeger with the Alabama Farmers Federation who said it’s important for them to be at the table and helping to develop the guidelines and regulations for this new proposed rule for Alabama producers.
Today Tyron Spearman updates how the peanut crop looks along with the average peanut price information. He also has news about an organic price coming next year.
Congress will reconvene on September 13 after their August recess and they still have a lot on their agenda to accomplish. Farm Bureau Tax Specialist, Pat Wolff, says the pressure is on Congress to act to avoid the expiration of estate, individual income and ethanol tax breaks.
The expansion of specialty crops is continuing in Florida, but Dan Mullins, extension horticulture agent for Santa Rosa County, says their challenge now is to expand the growers knowledge beyond the field.
Alabama Cattlemen’s Association President Mike Dee said their work on a strategic planning process continues as they are focusing on 10 main goals which includes strengthening local chapters. 
There are still questions concerning certified peanut acreage in some states as Tyron Spearman has the latest on that issue along with looking at how many peanuts from last year are still on loan and he updates the peanut calendar.
U.S. Senate candidate Marco Rubio has announced a six-point plan to help the agricultural community. And Florida Farm Bureau National Affairs Coordinator, Adam Basford applauds him making a stance by declaring agriculture important to the state and says many of his ideas are ones that they and producers have been focused on for quite some time.
Now that the primaries are over voters can focus on the general election coming up November 2, 2010. In this report we asked the Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Services candidates, Scott Maddox and Adam Putnam, to give our listeners an overview of who they are and what they hope to accomplish if elected. 
This unique fruit is a white strawberry with red seeds that tastes a lot like a pineapple and may soon be on restaurant menus and sold at grocery stores and farmers’ markets across the country. 
The flies (Bactrocera dorsalis (Hendel) (Tephritidae) were found during routine surveillance activities earlier this month conducted by the department’s Division of Plant Industry. Ernie Neff was able to talk with DPI’s Denise Feiber and has this report.
Also at that APHIS public meeting in Atlanta was Nate Jaeger with the Alabama Farmers Federation who said it’s important for them to be at the table and helping to develop the guidelines and regulations for this new proposed rule for Alabama producers.
