Florida Governor Charlie Crist spoke to a group of over 450 gathered for the third annual Florida Farm to Fuel summit in Orlando Thursday, following an address by US Secretary of Agriculture Ed Schafer.
“You know that Florida is a top agricultural state already,” Crist told the group. “The development of ethanol and other biofuels is incredibly important to Florida’s future and America’s future. I truly believe that investing in renewable and alternative energies in the Sunshine State can propel us as a leader, no question about it.”
After his remarks, the Governor held a press conference to announce that the Central Florida Regional Transit Authority LYNX will become the nation’s first transit agency to build its own biodiesel blending facility at Rosen Shingle Creek in southeast Orange County.
US Agriculture Secretary Ed Schafer made several stops in Florida today, starting with the third annual Farm to Fuel Summit in Orlando, where I had a chance to sit down and chat with him for a few minutes.
During his address to the conference, Schafer talked about the great potential Florida has in helping to meet the nation’s energy needs with alternative fuels. “Florida is probably one of the state’s that is best positioned to get involved in renewable fuels and biomass-generated energy,” Schafer told me.
Upon leaving Orlando, Schafer traveled to Gainesville and the USDA-APHIS facility. “This is a wildlife research center and we are going to be learning the research that they are doing there on the impacts on wildlife, agriculture and land use.”
Then Schafer went to the Port of Jacksonville, “I am excited to be at the port since so much of country is focused on trade and exporting agriculture products.”
Listen to my interview with Secretary Schafer here:
The Georgia Cotton Commission is planning a cotton research tour on September 10 in Tifton to allow farmers to see some of the projects underway that will help them.
USDA has announced $390 million is available through the NRCS Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP) program for landowners and communities to cope with the aftermath of recent floods, fires, drought, tornadoes and other natural disasters.
Nearly 1,800 farm operators nationwide will soon receive checks for the sale of carbon credits. AgraGate, which has partnered with Florida Farm Bureau this year to get information about carbon credits out in the state, has paid out more than $4.2 million to landowners around the country, more than triple last year.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Testifying before an Agriculture subcommittee this week, Congressman Adam Putnam (R-Fla.) urged support for legislation to modernize and improve the nation’s food safety laws.
“Our governing food safety laws are outdated and must be reformed,” said Putnam. “The latest outbreak of Salmonella Saintpaul not only called into question the integrity of the system designed to protect our nation’s food supply but also caused significant disruptions to the food supply network and many growers.” Read the rest of this entry »
WASHINGTON — Florida Agriculture and Consumer Services Commissioner Charles Bronson appeared before a congressional subcommittee here today to discuss the federal government’s handling of the ongoing salmonella outbreak and its impact on Florida’s tomato industry. A text of the Commissioner’s testimony before the House Committee on Energy and Commerce’s Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee follows. Read the rest of this entry »
WASHINGTON, DC -July 31, 2008– Agriculture Under Secretary for Research, Education
and Economics Gale Buchanan and Energy Department (DOE) Under Secretary for Science
Raymond Orbach and today announced plans to award 10 grants totaling more than $10
million to accelerate fundamental research in the development of cellulosic biofuels. Read the rest of this entry »
Among the events to take place at Citrus Expo 2008, official meetings of the Florida Citrus Industry Research Coordinating Council (FCIRCC) and the Florida Citrus Production Research Advisory Council (FCPRAC). These two groups are key to funding decisions and allocations of monies being raised for research. Hear more, including a brief comment from a key citrus researcher, in this report.
Citrus Expo Aug 20 & 21; Pre-register NOW-click the logo!
Florida’s Agriculture Commissioner will have a busy week shuttling between testimony before Congress and his Farm to Fuel Summit in Orlando…This in late Wednesday from the Florida Dept of Agriculture:
Florida Agriculture and Consumer Services Commissioner Charles H. Bronson will testify before a congressional subcommittee at 10 a.m.,
Thursday, July 31, in Room 2123,
Rayburn House Office Building, in Washington, D.C.,
about the nation’s salmonella outbreak and its impact on Florida’s tomato growers.
A high octane lineup for the 3rd annual Farm to Fuel Summit, this year being held in Orlando. CLICK HERE for a lot more details as things rev up for the week’s discussions. Stay tuned.
Here is a report to go with the press release posted the other day about upcoming course offerings at University of Florida’s Lake Alfred Citrus Research and Education Center.CLICK HERE to view the press release
USDA has issued the interim final rule for Country of Origin Labeling and are seeking comments. Listen to report here: To learn more about the new COOL rule, click Here
USDA’s Commodity Credit Corporation has announced the 2008 crop marketing assistance loans for peanuts and cotton, as Tyron Spearman has the details. Listen to report here:
Educating youth about beef is one function of the Georgia Beef Board, something Julie McPeake said they did with youngsters at the recent GJCA Field Day.
Listen to report here:
As the summer grilling promotion for beef continues, Alabama Cattlemen’s Association’s Ed Whatley said POP material in supermarkets across the state is doing a great job in reminding consumers to put beef on the grill.
Listen to report here:
According to the Chairman of the Cattlemen’s Beef Board, they and the Federation of State Beef Councils are facing a difficult budgeting year. Listen to report here:
Here’s today’s USDA release on ‘Country of Origin Labelling’ action…
WASHINGTON, July 29, 2008 — The U.S. Department of Agriculture today issued an interim final rule for the mandatory country of origin labeling (COOL) program that will become effective on Sept. 30.
The rule covers muscle cuts and ground beef (including veal), lamb, chicken, goat, and pork; perishable agricultural commodities (fresh and frozen fruits and vegetables); macadamia nuts; pecans; ginseng; and peanuts — as required by the 2002 and 2008 Farm Bills. USDA implemented the COOL program for fish and shellfish covered commodities in October 2004. Read the rest of this entry »
A verbatim copy of today’s release from USDA re the CRP decision follows:
Washington, D.C. July 29, 2008 - We have just completed a very thorough review of whether we should allow the early release of acres enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) without penalty to land owners.
After carefully considering recent crop reports and weather conditions, the price trends we are seeing in grain markets and the likelihood of increasing land for crop production, we have decided not to allow the penalty-free release of CRP land at this time. Read the rest of this entry »
As part of our ongoing series of citrus greening (HLB) disease research updates, here are two more reports featuring Dr Tim Spann from UF’s Citrus Research and Education Center at Lake Alfred. Spann is also a key member of the Citrus Expo 2008 Steering Committee plannning the seminars this year to be largely focused on the latest news from greening research progress. Growers, after you listen to the two reports posted below, click here and then scroll down for more recent reports from Dr Spann.
Citrus Expo Aug 20 & 21; Pre-register NOW-click the logo!
Florida Governor Charlie Crist spoke to a group of over 450 gathered for the third annual Florida Farm to Fuel summit in Orlando Thursday, following an address by US Secretary of Agriculture Ed Schafer. 
US Agriculture Secretary Ed Schafer made several stops in Florida today, starting with the third annual Farm to Fuel Summit in Orlando, where I had a chance to sit down and chat with him for a few minutes. 
USDA-NRCS Chief Arlen Lancaster talks about the extra EQIP funds available this fiscal year for agricultural producers.
The Georgia Cotton Commission is planning a cotton research tour on September 10 in Tifton to allow farmers to see some of the projects underway that will help them.
Nearly 1,800 farm operators nationwide will soon receive checks for the sale of carbon credits. AgraGate, which has partnered with Florida Farm Bureau this year to get information about carbon credits out in the state, has paid out more than $4.2 million to landowners around the country, more than triple last year.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Testifying before an Agriculture subcommittee this week, Congressman Adam Putnam (R-Fla.) urged support for legislation to modernize and improve the nation’s food safety laws.
Florida’s Agriculture Commissioner will have a busy week shuttling between testimony before Congress and his 
Looking at “Free Trade” and “Fair Trade Everett Griner ponders what is really happening in this area.
USDA’s Commodity Credit Corporation has announced the 2008 crop marketing assistance loans for peanuts and cotton, as Tyron Spearman has the details. Listen to report here: 
Educating youth about beef is one function of the Georgia Beef Board, something Julie McPeake said they did with youngsters at the recent GJCA Field Day.
As the summer grilling promotion for beef continues, Alabama Cattlemen’s Association’s Ed Whatley said POP material in supermarkets across the state is doing a great job in reminding consumers to put beef on the grill.
According to the Chairman of the Cattlemen’s Beef Board, they and the Federation of State Beef Councils are facing a difficult budgeting year. Listen to report here: 
In our series on citrus greening research presently underway, Plant Pathologist Dr. Ron Brlansky at 
As part of our ongoing series of citrus greening (HLB) disease research updates, here are two more reports featuring Dr Tim Spann from UF’s Citrus Research and Education Center at Lake Alfred. Spann is also a key member of the Citrus Expo 2008 Steering Committee plannning the seminars this year to be largely focused on the latest news from greening research progress. Growers, after you listen to the two reports posted below, 
