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June 21, 2020 By: Jim Frankowiak TAMPA – A new University of Florida/Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) grant program is providing over $1.2 million in funding to further research and education of emerging agricultural enterprises in Florida such as deer farming, oyster farming,…
Read More UF/IFAS Supports 19 Projects Focused on Emerging Agricultural Enterprises in Florida; Two in the Tampa Bay Area
June 20, 2020 By: Jim Frankowiak PASCO Fla. – The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) is conducting a series of prescribed burns through September on the Lower Hillsborough Flood Detention Area, which is located south of Cross Creek Boulevard between U.S. Highway 301 and…
Read More 11,800 acres will be burned in Polk, Sumer, Lake, and Pasco Counties
June 19, 2020 By: Staff Report The PIE Center has collaborated with the Southeastern Coastal Center for Agricultural Health and Safety (SCCAHS) to curate a large list of resources about COVID-19 specific to agricultural health and safety. The resource page also includes frequently asked questions with links to materials to…
Read More COVID-19 Resources for Agricultural Sector
June 18, 2020 By: Staff Report Tallahassee, Fla. — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the appointment of Chris Pettit, Director of the Office of Agricultural Water Policy at the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS), to the EPA’s Farm, Ranch, and Rural Communities Committee (FRRCC). “Thank you to Administrator…
Read More FDACS Water Policy Director Appointed to U.S. EPA Committee
June 15, 2020 By: Staff Report Setting prescribed fires in controlled settings can reduce the risk of wildfires burning out of control, as many Floridians witnessed during the state’s wildfire emergency in 2017. That’s why the Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) will be conducting…
Read More District Aims to Reduce Risk of Wildfires by Scheduling Prescribed Fires for Hillsborough County
June 11, 2020 By: Staff Report and Press Release Tallahassee, Fla. — Today, Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried held a press conference to announce the June 15 reopening of the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ Tallahassee regional licensing office. In addition to the reopening, the FDACS Division of Licensing online…
Read More Commissioner Nikki Fried Announces Reopening of Tallahassee Regional Office, Return of Online Concealed Weapons Licensing
June 4, 2020 By: Jim Frankowiak The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) is hosting a series of webinars to help Ag producers and stakeholder groups learn about the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP). The series begins June 5 at 3 p.m.…
Read More USDA Hosting CFAP Webinars for Ag Producers and Stakeholder Groups
June 4, 2020 By: Staff Report The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) is encouraging residents who irrigate their lawns to take advantage of the upcoming summer rainy season and “watch the weather, wait to water.” During the summer months of June, July, August and…
Read More Watch the Weather, Wait to Water
May 29, 2020 By: Jim Frankowiak The Florida Cabinet has approved funding that will help protect nearly 32,000 acres of Florida lands, including portions of Polk County’s Green Swamp, through the Florida Forever Program. Areas from the Panhandle’s Emerald Coast, North Florida’s springs country, to…
Read More Polk County’s Green Swamp Among 32,000 Acres Approved For Florida Forever Funds
May 29, 2020 By: Jim Frankowiak The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is providing up to $16 billion in direct payments to provide relief to Americans farmers and ranchers impacted by COVID-19. As part of a $19 billion Coronavirus Farm Assistance Program (CFAP), the…
Read More USDA Offers $16 Billion in Direct Assistance to Producers Impacted by COVID-19; Specialty Crops Included