The Free Press – Your Source For Tampa Area Local Breaking News, National Stories, Politics, Sports, Florida Agriculture, Legal, Florida Agriculture, and Jobs.
Hurricane Milton caused agricultural production losses with an estimated value between $190.4 million and $642.7 million in Florida, according to a preliminary report by the UF/IFAS Economic Impact Analysis Program (EIAP). The report is based on a diverse set of baseline data and surveys UF/IFAS…
Read More Hurricane Milton: Florida Agricultural Production Losses Top $190M, UF Economists Estimate
Florida’s citrus industry, once a cornerstone of the state’s economy and identity, is facing a steep decline, according to a new report by Florida TaxWatch. The report, The Continuing Decline of Florida’s Citrus Industry, sheds light on the challenges threatening the sector, including diseases, natural…
Read More Florida TaxWatch Highlights Alarming Decline Of State’s Citrus Industry
Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson announced the opening of the application cycle for the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program, inviting farmers and ranchers to apply for easements aimed at preserving working agricultural operations. Landowners can submit applications online through January 29, 2025, as…
Read More Application Cycle Open In Florida For Rural And Family Lands Protection Program
Governor Ron DeSantis and the Florida Cabinet on Tuesday approved a series of land deals totaling $318 million to protect 86,819 acres across Florida. The agreements include purchasing land and securing conservation easements to limit development while allowing continued agricultural use. Among the approved projects…
Read More Gov. DeSantis, Florida Cabinet Approve $318M In Land Deals To Protect Nearly 87,000 Acres
The Florida Cabinet has approved conservation easements protecting over 10,000 acres in Florida’s Northern Everglades and Kissimmee Valley, marking a major victory for land conservation efforts in the state. In collaboration with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS), the Florida Conservation Group…
Read More 10,000 Acres In Florida’s Northern Everglades Permanently Protected Through Conservation Easements
The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) announced on Friday that the state has allocated over $5.6 million to protect two significant agricultural properties. The funding, provided through the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program, will be used to purchase conservation easements on…
Read More Florida Invests In Land Conservation
Billie Rooney and her husband, Scott, run a 40-acre farm near Live Oak, where they grow blueberries, blackberries, and sunflowers and raise livestock. Farming is a second career for the Rooneys. So, they had a lot to learn. She and hundreds of other farmers and…
Read More UF/IFAS Field Days: Boosting Agricultural Knowledge For Florida Growers
After Florida Governor Ron DeSantis vetoed a proposal in June aimed at addressing housing for migrant farmworkers, Republican Senator Jay Collins has reintroduced the measure for the 2025 legislative session. The proposed bill, SB 84, seeks to prevent local governments from obstructing the construction of…
Read More Florida Senator Reintroduces Farmworker Housing Bill After DeSantis Veto
The University of Florida has once again proven its dominance in agricultural sciences and natural resources research, securing the top spot in the nation for the sixth year in a row. According to the National Science Foundation’s (NSF) Higher Education Research and Development (HERD) survey,…
Read More University Of Florida Tops Nation In Agricultural Sciences Research For 6th Consecutive Year
The USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) has selected a UF/IFAS-run center for food safety training to coordinate similar facilities across the country. The USDA’s decision means the Southern Center for Food Safety Modernization Act Training will continue serving as the Lead Regional…
Read More USDA Selects UF/IFAS To Lead Food Safety Education Program