Bio-Fuels Future
The development of bio-fuel has just begun. Today Everett Griner looks at the future of bio-fuel.
The development of bio-fuel has just begun. Today Everett Griner looks at the future of bio-fuel.
The Georgia Cotton Commission encourages growers to participate in the Georgia Cotton referendum on continuation of the cotton program.

State Senator Carey Baker has withdrawn from the race for Florida Agriculture Commissioner, but says he will remain committed to fighting for Florida Agriculture.
Florida House Representative Leonard Bembry says that EPA’s proposed nutrient water standards will certainly effect the state as whole, but agriculture may take the brunt.
Public workshops will be held regarding the issue, but in order to attend you must preregister online.
The Coalition for Urban/Rural Environmental Stewardship has developed a six-page brochure to help growers and pesticide applicators protect honey bees and other pollinators.
The National Cotton Council has released the results from their annual acreage intentions survey which indicates a rise in cotton acres for 2010.
Since the sweetest holiday of them all, Valentines Day, is coming up, consumers may want to take inventory of their baking staples.

U.S. Department of Agriculture plant pathologist Tim Gottwald shares his views about citrus greening disease, or HLB, in this series of reports. He offers thoughts on the disease’s history and spread in Florida, the viability of various management strategies, and more.
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Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health has introduced two new products for cattle, as DVM Dr. Joe Roder invites producers to see the difference they can make.

To learn more about Nuflor Gold log on to nuflorgold.com. To learn more about Resflor Gold and see a short video log on to resflorgold.com
For more information about Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health visit: www.intervet.com
Alabama Cattlemen Association’s Ed Whatley wants producers to know about some of the fun events they have planned for their annual convention coming up February 11 & 12 in Huntsville.

CattleFax CEO Randy Blach says cattle and beef prices should be a bit higher for 2010 than they were this past year.
Today Tyron Spearman looks at counter-cyclical payments and whether they will be available for growers this year, along with updating the calendar of events for this week.
Payments:
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Calendar:
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Citrus Industry Magazine is proud to announce its 2010 series of articles where growers can read an article then take and submit a test online to obtain CEU credits. The process is simple, first read the particular article in Citrus Industry Magazine, or click on the article below to read it, then submit the accompanying CEU test on line:
Citrus Industry Magazine CEU/CCA 2010 Article & Test # 1 – Safe Storage and Transportation of Pesticides (test period expires 2/11/2011)
This week’s Commissioner’s Spotlight from Florida Agriculture Commissioner Charles Bronson is about the induction of four new members into the Florida Agricultural Hall of Fame at the Florida State Fair in Tampa on February 9th. More information is available online by clicking on Ag Hall of Fame and 2010 Inductees.
America still stands alone and Everett Griner tells us how and why.
Here are the cattle market numbers for the week ending February 5th put together by the livestock market news service for the states of Alabama, Florida, and Georgia.
AL:
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FL:
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GA:
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(THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA – 02/05/10) State Senator Carey Baker (photo left) is dropping out of the race for agriculture commissioner, unable to raise the money needed to compete with U.S. Rep. Adam Putnam’s fundraising. “With so many other challenges to
address in our state, particularly in the Legislature, it would be wrong of me to continue a campaign when I have not met the goals I need to win,” Baker said in an E-mail to supporters. “It’s time for me to choose where I am most prepared to help the people of Florida.” The move leaves Putnam (photo right) in the GOP primary, with Scott Maddox the leading candidate on the Democratic side. In a statement, Putnam said Baker’s leadership was an asset to the state that would “help us steer through difficult times. I hope to earn his support to assist in that effort as Commissioner of Agriculture,” Putnam said.
The U S Environmental Protection Agency has scheduled three public hearing dates for their new water regulatory criteria for the state of Florida (see below). Pre-registration is strongly encouraged especially if you would like to speak at the hearings. http://yosemite.epa.gov/ost/WaterSciHearingReg.nsf/SignUp_Web?OpenForm
The EPA recently notified pre-registered participants of the following changes in the schedule: Read the rest of this entry »
Results form the 2008 Organic Production Survey indicate when compared to U.S. farmers overall, the nation’s organic farms have higher average sales and higher average production expenses.

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack says that in order to advance the development and commercialization of a sustainable biofuels industry, all the various government departments must work together.
In celebration of the Children’s Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act’s one year anniversary Human Health Secretary Kathleen Sebelius and Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack have joined forces to form the Secretary’s Challenge: Connecting Kids to Coverage.
With the Florida Legislature scheduled to start their regular session in just over 3 weeks, Sam Ard with the Florida Cattlemen’s Association said they are looking at the issues which will be of interest to producers across the state.
Ken Barton with the Florida Peanut Producers Association invites growers across the Southeast to attend the Alabama-Florida Peanut Trade Show coming up Thursday, February 11th in Dothan, Alabama.
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After receiving thousands of comments, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said it’s apparent that a new strategy for animal disease traceability is needed, and thus he’s decided to revise the prior policy and offer a new approach to animal disease traceability.
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More information on USDA’s new direction on animal traceability and the steps to improve disease prevention and control is available at www.aphis.usda.gov/traceability
TAMPA, FL. — February 5, 2010. The rumor that the Florida State Fair is not going to be open because of weather conditions is false and Fair Authorities are reporting that they are currently open as planned for all daily events scheduled to occur.
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Farm critics are speaking loudly. Is anyone listening? Everett Griner answers this.
From THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA – By MICHAEL PELTIER
THE CAPITAL, TALLAHASSEE, Feb. 4, 2009…Florida growers may soon see federal assistance for the freeze that devastated winter crops as far south as Homestead. Farmworkers, however, are waiting for similar relief.

Plant pathologist Renato Bassanezi of the Brazilian research organization Fundecitrus talked to Florida citrus growers in recent weeks about the keys to citrus greening disease management in Brazil. In an interview with Southeast AgNet’s Ernie Neff, he says infected trees must be removed to successfully fight the disease long term, and that younger trees succumb more quickly to the disease than older trees. Hear more of his comments in these two reports.
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