Category: Florida Agriculture

State officials next week could direct nearly $100 million to secure more than 35,500 acres of primarily ranchland for the growing statewide Wildlife Corridor, while keeping agricultural operations on the properties in place. Twelve land deals on the May 23 agenda before Gov. Ron DeSantis…

Read More Florida Wildlife Corridor Expansion Eyed

Production numbers for Florida’s orange crop continue to decline as the citrus industry’s storm-battered season nears an end. The U.S. Department of Agriculture on Friday issued a forecast that said Florida growers this season are on pace to fill 15.65 million boxes of oranges, which…

Read More Florida Citrus Industry Numbers Continue To Sag

Today, Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson announced the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) is now accepting applications from Florida educators to participate in a collaborative aquaculture education training workshop July 26-28, 2023, to help Florida teachers bring aquaculture and aquaponics into…

Read More Florida Ag Commissioner Simpson Announces Aquaculture Education, Grants Available To Teachers

Black farmers in Florida who didn’t make the cut last year could have another opportunity to vie for medical-marijuana licenses, under a bill approved by lawmakers in the final days of the 2023 legislative session. The bill, which awaits a decision by Gov. Ron DeSantis,…

Read More Bill Could Help Black Florida Farmers Get Pot Licenses

Today, Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson and the Florida Forest Service are highlighting the dangers of wildfire arson during Arson Awareness Week, May 7-13, 2023. “Under the current weather conditions, even the smallest spark has the potential to start a dangerous wildfire,” said Commissioner…

Read More Drought Conditions Put Florida At High Risk Of Wildfire Danger

Seven Florida farm families were honored for their sustainability efforts with a County Alliance for Responsible Environmental Stewardship (CARES) award during the 22nd Annual Suwannee CARES Celebration at the UF/IFAS North Florida Research and Education Center- Suwannee Valley. According to the Florida Farm Bureau, the event drew in more…

Read More North Florida Farmers Recognized For Environmental Stewardship Efforts

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis announced the award of more than $13.6 million for innovative technologies and short-term solutions to aid in the prevention, cleanup, and mitigation of harmful algal blooms. When DeSantis took office, he created the Blue-Green Algae Task Force to address the issue of…

Read More DeSantis Attacking Florida Algal Blooms With New Technologies

Florida Citrus Mutual remains undeterred by the latest monthly citrus forecast, which reflected last year’s hurricanes exacerbating already-low crop production. But the Bartow-based organization continues to express concern that growers are still waiting for federal assistance for Hurricane Ian damage. “Month after month, we expect…

Read More Florida Citrus Growers Feel The Squeeze Waiting For Relief From 2022 Hurricanes

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Tuesday signed a bill that will direct $200 million to help link hiking and biking trails to a planned statewide wildlife corridor. A priority of Senate President Kathleen Passidomo, R-Naples, the bill (SB 106) will expand Florida’s Greenways and Trails…

Read More Florida Gov. DeSantis Signs Wildlife Corridor Expansion

The Florida Senate on Tuesday unanimously approved a proposal intended to prohibit the sale of agricultural land and property within 20 miles of military bases to interests tied to the Chinese government or other nations on a list of “countries of concern.” A priority of…

Read More Florida Farmland Sales Tied To Chinese Government Targeted