Southeast AgNET

It is with great sadness and tremendously heavy hearts we report of the passing of Lee V. McCoy, known to many of his legions of friends and colleagues as the “RealMcCoy”. Lee lost his battle with cancer early morning Thursday May 22 in a Georgia hospital, admitted the Monday before in a bout with pneumonia.

Please find details regarding Lee’s memorial services at the end of this news post.

For nearly a decade until making a move into a new career opportunity last year, Lee was a regional representative of this radio network. He travelled the region and nation, and occassionally overseas, newsgathering and representing the network from his home location Read the rest of this entry »

USDA’s National Agriculture Statistics Service released the January 1 forecast for the U.S. cotton crop this morning, and according to Shiela Corley with the NASS office in Washington D.C..

Report (2:50 mp3)

This post sponsored by:

In this report, Citrus Statistics Administrator Bob Terry with USDA’s National Agriculture Statistics Service explains the main to factors influencing this year’s October Citrus Crop Forecast. Report (2:00 mp3)

In these reports, comments regarding USDA’s Citrus Crop Forecast announced last Friday and the outlook for immigration reform in Congress…We caught up with Florida Congressman Adam Putnam, whose family grows citrus in Polk County, at the Ray-Bob Groves Grower Breakfast where a hundred-plus growers gathered last week to hear the crop forecast broadcast.
Report (2:00 mp3) Report (2:00 mp3)
In these next reports, comments from Florida Citrus Mutual CEO Mike Sparks on the recent citrus crop forecast and labor issues.
Report (2:00 mp3)
Report (2:00 mp3)
Sponsoring this news report:

Being the dog lovers we are around the network headquarters, I thought I’d share this commentary in particular. It’s from Southeast AgNet’s long-time commentary producer, Everett Griner. He first did this one many years ago, and I recently asked him to do it again so it would become part of these network on-line archives. By the way, in case you’re not aware, all of Ev Griner’s daily commentaries can be found in the “Agri-View” category of this website. Enjoy!
Report (1:15 mp3)

Once again this year Southeast AgNet will anchor the “LIVE” broadcast of the annual USDA Citrus Crop Forecast from a special grower breakfast at Ray-Bob Groves near Alturas (pdf file). Stallings Crop Insurance is sponsoring the “LIVE” radio network broadcast, scheduled for 8:30 a.m. Friday October 12, 2007. Stallings and Ray-Bob Groves invite citrus growers, owners and managers to the grove barn that morning (pdf file) to hear the broadcast and enjoy a Country Breakfast to begin at 7:30 a.m. Click here for directions and contact information, and plan to join us for this unique and festive event where several nice door prizes will be offered to those guessing closest to the crop numbers.
Sponsoring this news report:

In this weeks podcast, the Florida Ag Statistics Service reviews last seasons numbers and prepares for the October Crop Forecast, Florida Citrus Commission Chairman Ben Albritton, Jr. addresses the free rider issue, NCBA President John Queen encourages cattlemen to contact their congressmen, Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Charles Bronson looks at the states future in bio-fuels, and farm broadcasters mourn the loss of Russ Ragan.

PROGRAM NOTE: This weeks’ podcast will be the last for a while. We plan to temporarily put our attentions to the project of redesigning this website and adding some new features for the region’s agricultural interests in the not-too-distant future, including a new lineup of podcasts that will better serve farmers and ranchers in the ‘deep southeast’. Meanwhile, the daily news postings will continue uninterrupted, so stay tuned!

To hear Florida’s weekly reviews subscribe to our podcast .

FEBRUARY 4TH IS THE DEADLINE - HAVE YOU RETURNED YOUR QUESTIONNAIRE YET?

In this weeks podcast, a report on Florida peanut production, a new citrus facility in Cheifland, the Florida Cattlemen’s Convention starts next week, the June citrus crop update, and a Florida extension agent in Iraq.

To hear Florida’s weekly reviews subscribe to our podcast .

In this report Bob Terry, FL-NASS, explains what they are already working on in preparation for next seasons crop forecast. Report (1:00 wma)

Sponsoring this news report:

The FL Ag Statistics Service is now gathering data to release a new Tree Count.  Bob Terry explains why this updated count is important to everyone in the citrus industry.  Report (2:00 wma)

In this report, Bob Terry, FL Ag Statistics Service talks about the new tree count they are working on.  This tree count is due to be released in September.  Report (2:00 wma)

In this week’s pod cast, the April Citrus Crop Forecast Update is released, the NRCS explains it’s involvement with hurrican cleanup, and Florida continues it’s research with veal, along with other headlines from throughout the week.
To hear Florida’s weekly reviews subscribe to our podcast .

In this report Bob Terry Florida Ag Statistics Service explains why grapefruit numbers remain the same in the April Citrus Crop Forecast. White grapefruit stay at 10 million boxes, while colored make up 18 million. Report (1:00 wma)

Sponsoring this news report: AND

Bob Terry, FL Ag Statistics Service explains in this report what factors have helped in creating such a great quality citrus crop this year. Report (1:00 wma)

Sponsoring this news report: AND

The USDA released this months crop forecast update today which decreased Florida’s total orange crop by 1.3 million boxes to 130.7 million. Bob Terry, Florida Ag Statistics Service, explains the report with more details in the following stories.
Report (1:00 wma)
Report (1:00 wma)

Sponsoring these news reports:
AND AND

In this week’s pod cast, a wrap up from the Commodity Classic in Tampa, the FCA heads to Tallahassee, citrus is a major issue for the Florida legislature, and Alico is awarded a grant.

To hear Florida’s weekly reviews subscribe to our podcast .

In this week’s pod cast, the Citrus Crop Forecast February update is released, there are new recommendations for Tropical Soda Apple Management, Florida promotes truthful information about the Animal ID program, the proposed farm bill could help new farmers and ranchers, and Florida Farm Bureau continues work on property tax issues.

To hear Florida’s weekly reviews subscribe to our podcast .

USDA Citrus Crop Statistics Adminsitrator Bob Terry from Orlando was in Washington D C for the release of the February update of the citrus crop forecast. In the first of these two reports, Terry describes the Florida numbers and the impact weather is having on crop size and droppage. The second report includes a story from USDA’s radio team in Washington about the overall crop forecast nationwide, including some news on how crop counters plan to handle a crop update following the recent California freezes. The second report also has an important announcement regarding the USDA/NASS/ARMS survey presently underway.
Report (2:00 wma)

Report (2:00 wma)

Sponsoring these news reports:
AND AND

Numbers from the Citrus Crop Forecast December Update have been released, and FL Ag Statistics Service’s Bob Terry says that there are many reason for the increase in numbers. Report (2:00 wma)
Sponsoring this news report:

The Citrus Crop Forecast Update was released today, and Bob Terry of the Florida Ag Statistics Service says numbers are up!
Report (2:00 wma)

Sponsoring these news reports:
AND AND

This posting is for the chart of the 2006-2007 citrus crop forecast that was released October 12, 2006.  This chart also includes final crop numbers for several of the previous years for comparison.  USDA updates its crop forecast numbers monthly throughout the season, and Southeast AgNet will cover each update.  We appreciate Stallings Crop Insurance, International Trucks and the Tampa Used Truck Center, and DuPont Crop Protection for sponsoring this year’s “live” broadcast of this crop forecast, as well as the updates we will be covering throughout the season. 

2006-07 Citrus Crop Forecast Chart (pdf format)
Sponsoring these news reports:
AND AND

A record breaking increase in OJ futures is one result of the low crop numbers. Mike Sparks, Florida Citrus Mutual, says another postitive to the forecast, is that the state may have dodged a bullet with labor issues. Report (1:20 wma)

Congressman Adam Putnam feels that the future is bright in Florida agriculture. Report (1:00 wma)

Growers gathered this morning at Ray-Bob Groves in Alturas for crop forecast. While they waited Stallings Crop Insurance provided a homestyle country breakfast.

Peace River Valley citrus growers gathered in Wauchula this morning to hear the 2006-07 season citrus crop forecast via Southeast AgNet’s statewide live network broadcast. Growers sharing their reaction to the forecast said that although the 135 million number was a little lower than they would have liked to have seen, better prices will obviously be good for growers.

The Stallings Crop Insurance Grower Breakfast at Ray-Bob Groves in Alturas was a success, drawing a good group of growers to gather to hear the citrus crop forecast “live” broadcast.  Citrus Department and FL Citrus Mutual leaders also attended and provide reaction to the forecast in this report.  Report (2:00 wma)

The forecast for all U.S. cotton saw a slight rise in the October 1 report put out by USDA’s National Agriculture Statistics Service. And that same rise is also expected in the Southeast crop.  Report (1:00 wma)

USDA Citrus Crop Administrator released the citrus crop forecast numbers for this season for the first time on a live network broadcast through Southeast AgNet.  Here is some excerpts from that “live” statewide broadcast.  Report (1:00 wma)

Sponsoring these news reports:
AND AND

USDA’s citrus crop forecast tuned in a huge audience as the numbers were made public for the first time.  Report (1:00 wma)

Sponsoring these news reports:
AND AND

USDA’s National Agriculture Statistics Service has released the October production numbers for the U.S. Peanut Crop, and Tyron Spearman gives a rundown of those numbers.  Report (1:00 wma)