The Free Press – Your Source For Tampa Area Local Breaking News, National Stories, Politics, Sports, Florida Agriculture, Legal, Florida Agriculture, and Jobs.
Commissioner Nikki Fried submitted written testimony on the State of Florida’s request to assume administration of the Clean Water Act’s Section 404 program from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). In her comments, Commissioner Fried noted her concerns with the Florida Department of Environmental Protections’ (DEP) proposal, highlighting the fact that the only other two states which have…
Read More Commissioner Nikki Fried Submits Testimony to EPA on Florida Clean Water Act
VERO BEACH, Fla. – Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried and the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) announced Veronique Sallin as the 2020 Woman of the Year in Agriculture. For 36 years, this recognition has been awarded to women who have made exceptional contributions to Florida agriculture. Honorees come from throughout…
Read More Veronique Sallin – 2020 Woman of the Year in Agriculture
PASCO COUNTY, Fla. – Does not knowing enough about insects bug you? Explore the world of entomology with a free, new virtual offering from the UF/IFAS Pasco County 4-H. Insectathon Club for youth, ages 5 to 18, begins October 20, 2020. WHAT: 4-H Insectathon Club,…
Read More Does Not Knowing Enough About Insects Bug You? Join The Insectathon Club
HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, FL. – Ahead of the Friday, October 30th deadline, Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried is urging farmers to apply for assistance through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Wildfire and Hurricane Indemnity Program – Plus (WHIP+) for 2018 and 2019 losses. “For generations, Florida’s farmers have worked to feed our communities, country, and the entire world, and their success…
Read More Florida AG Commissioner Urges Farmers: Apply for Final Opportunity for 2018 & 2019 Disaster Recovery Assistance
POLK COUNTY, Fla. – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) released the initial citrus crop forecast for the 2020-21 season. Friday’s USDA forecast of 57 million boxes of oranges for the 2020-21 season is down 16 percent from the 67.6 million boxes harvested last season. The…
Read More USDA Releases Citrus Forecast, Oranges Down 16% in Harvested Boxes
HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, Fla. – Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried announced new efforts to provide COVID-19 testing for farmworkers as the fall harvest season begins, in partnership with the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS), the Florida Division of Emergency Management (FDEM), and local county governments. Beginning this week,…
Read More Florida Agriculture Commissioner Announces Farmers COVID-19 Testing Efforts
By: Brad Buck, 813-757-2224, bradbuck@ufl.edu, 352-875-2641 (cell) HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, Fla. – As laborers return to the fields this fall in Florida, both unauthorized workers and those authorized to plant and pick crops through a guest workers visa are vulnerable to the coronavirus. In fact, an…
Read More COVID-19 Risk factors Vary by Farm Workers’ legal Status
by: Brad Buck FLORIDA, UNITED STATES – Yiannis Ampatzidis and his research team combined their collective minds to find the artificial intelligence technology to best help farmers save money and better care for their crops. Out of that process, they invented a system known as…
Read More New AI technology ‘Agroview’ named UF Invention of the Year
PASCO COUNTY, FL. – Step up your gardening game while learning at home with free, online offerings from UF/IFAS Pasco County Cooperative Extension Service during the Gardening 365 Virtual Educational Festival Saturday, October 3, 2020. Join highly-trained Master Gardener Volunteers and UF/IFAS Horticulture team members…
Read More UF/IFAS Pasco Extension Gardening 365 Educational Festival
U.S. NEWS – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced up to an additional $14 billion for agricultural producers who continue to face market disruptions and associated costs because of COVID-19. Signup for the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP 2) has now begun and…
Read More $14 Billion Available for AG Producers Amidst COVID-19 Struggles