AgNet Online

In this report, comments from citrus grower Peter McClure with Evans Properties, who also heads up the grower Box Tax Council that advises the citrus research community. In a recent interview with Southeast AgNet/Citrus Industry Magazine’s Ernie Neff, McClure talks about his ‘takeaway’ from the recent scientific gathering in Ft Pierce that focused on greening and canker research discussions. Report (1:30 mp3)

In this report, dates and details of two summer gatherings for citrus growers. First will be Florida Citrus Mutual’s Annual Conference June 11 - 13 at the Hyatt Regency Coconut Point Resort and Spa in Bonita Springs, FL. Then in August the “World’s Premiere Citrus Expo” August 20 and 21, 2008 at Lee Civic Center, Ft Myers, FL. Find all the details on Citrus Expo at www.CitrusExpo.net. Report (2:00 mp3)

Producers eligible for the latest Conservation Security Program sign up now have an extra two weeks to do so, according to USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service chief Arlen Lancaster. In Florida and Alabama, producers within the Upper and Lower Choctawhatchee River watershed are eligible to participate in the CSP signup.

Read more here.

Report (1:00 mp3)

Thanks to partnerships, the Florida Beef Council has been able to make beef checkoff dollars stretch, which Jim Handley said is important as the amount of dollars continue to dwindle.   Report (1:00 mp3)

National Cattlemen’s Beef Association Executive Director of Legislative Affairs, Colin Woodall, flew from Washington D.C. to meet with Region II Cattlemen in Columbus, Georgia to give an update on what’s happening in our nation’s capitol, and of course the main topic was the farm bill.  Report (1:00 mp3)

Here is our interview this month with Bob Terry, Florida Ag Statistics Service. Report (3:46 mp3)
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In these two reports, interesting comments about a modern in-store marketing technique that takes advantage of key in-store locations and modern shopping habits. Retail Communications Director Pete Palmer at the Florida Department of Citrus (FDOC) says the spring campaign used 15-second in-store videos to reach shoppers at a critical time when making their final purchase decisions. Report (2:00 mp3) Report (2:00 mp3)

Grower observation - By Lee Jones, general manager of GFC

We’ve been battling the psyllid for two-and-a-half years now and HLB for who knows how long. The 6,000 acres that I manage include groves in all three growing regions (Martin, Hendry, Hardee and Manatee Counties). This disease has multiplied rapidly in parts of our groves. I’ve noticed some interesting things about this disease, and I believe my most recent findings will help us keep this disease at manageable levels. (more…)

The eight states which make up Region II of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association are meeting today and tomorrow in Columbus, Georgia and their guest speaker this morning was Andy Groseta, NCBA President. He talked on a variety of issues including the news which broke this week concerning the latest situation of animal abuse.  Report (1:00 mp3)

For more information about the beef industry’s commitment to care and handling, click Here

I also had a chance to talk with Groseta about beef and live animal trade issues along with structural changes within NCBA.  Interview (6:00 mp3)

Under the new state budget passed by the Florida Legislature, the University of Florida’s budget plan for FY 2008-09 includes a 6 percent reduction in state funds for the Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS), consistent with reductions for other parts of the university.

Report(1:00 mp3)

In the first report, Dr Michael Rogers (photo left) from University of Florida’s Citrus Research and Education Center at Lake Alfred has more comments about the effectiveness of neighboring citrus growers working together to best control citrus psyllid, which is the vector of citrus “greening” disease. In the second report, Director of USDA’s Horticulture Lab in Ft Pierce, Dr Calvin Arnold, discusses an interesting research project done for grapes that may have some helpful information in the search for answers about citrus “greening”. Report (1:00 mp3) Report (1:00 mp3)

Gainesville, May 7, 2008: The 2008 Corn Silage and Forage Field Day has been scheduled for Thursday, May 29, 2008, at the UF/IFAS Plant Science and Education Research Unit; Citra, FL. There is no charge for this event, but registrations should be mailed by May 19, 2008, or faxed to Pam Gross at (352) 392-9059, by May 27, 2008, to ensure your reservation for a sponsored lunch. To register or to view the agenda, please visit http://animal.ifas.ufl.edu/extension/CSFD/index.shtml. (more…)

USDA’s National Agriculture Statistics Service put out their weekly crop progess report, as Tyron Spearman looks at where the process of planting peanuts across the Southeast and the other peanut growing areas stand at this time.  Report (1:10 mp3)

The Florida Beef Council recently received a new round of funds from the Federation of State Beef Councils, something FBC Chairman Brad Etheridge said is important in order for them to continue spreading the beef message across the state.  Report (1:00 mp3)

May 7, 2008 - GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Peter Stoffella has been named director of the Indian River Research and Education Center, an appointment that became effective May 5. Stoffella, a horticulture professor with the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, had served as the center’s interim director for 11 months. He served as an associate director for the center since 2002. “Coming from within the system, my learning curve is a little bit easier than someone coming from outside,” he said. (more…)

In this report, some pointed advice about an areawide approach to citrus psyllid control from Dr Michael Rogers. Rogers is a researcher at University of Florida’s Citrus Research and Education Center at Lake Alfred.
Report (1:00 mp3)

Cattlemen from Alabama, Florida, & Georgia will join those from the other 5 NCBA Region II states for their annual meeting to be held this week in Columbus, Ga.  Report (1:00 mp3)  To learn more contact the Georgia Cattlemen’s Association at 1-877-444-Beef.

The Florida Farm Bureau Federation and AgraGate Climate Credits Corp. have partnered to provide carbon credits services to farmers, ranchers and private forest owners. Those interested in learning more can attend one of three meetings being held this month in north Florida.

The meeting dates, times and locations include:
Gainesville: Monday, May 19 at 6:30 pm at the Florida Farm Bureau Building, Gainesville
Green Cove Springs: Tuesday, May 20 at 10:00 am at the Clay County Extension Office, Green Cove Springs
Live Oak: Tuesday, May 20 at 6:30 pm at the Suwannee County Farm Bureau Office, Live Oak

Report (1:00 mp3)

The number of Florida agriculture industry representatives reading for Florida Agriculture Literacy Day grew 9 percent to 1,637 this year, according to estimates by Florida Agriculture in the Classroom.

Report (1:00 mp3)

Recently wrapping up another series of localized grower meetings around Florida, Citrus Mutual leaders say they are pleased with the turnout and feedback derived from the gatherings. Meanwhile, members like new Mutual board member Tom Jerkins, VP & General Manager of Blue Goose Growers (photo left) who spoke to us at the Mutual grower meeting in Vero Beach recently, say Mike Sparks (photo right) at the helm of Mutual is making a positive difference. Hear his comments in these two reports. Report (2:00 mp3) Report (2:00 mp3)

In Tallahassee, lawmakers put finishing touches on a number of bills, some involving citrus. And in Washington D C it appears we may see a Farm Bill finalilzed this year after all, at least that is the latest as of today. Hear a few more tidbits about both these items in this brief report.
Report (2:00 mp3)

One big issue this year for the Florida Legislature was of course the budget as many faced cuts across the state. But Sam Ard with the Florida Cattlemen’s Association says the cuts for IFAS were not as drastic as first thought. Report  (1:30 mp3)

Ard has more information about other topics in this years Florida Legislative Session of interest to cattlemen and agriculture in the state. Report  (3:45 mp3)

Florida Agriculture Commissioner Charles Bronson talks about the upcoming Northern Everglades CARES recognition event on May 15.

More information is available at ThisFarmCARES.org on the web.

Report (1:00 mp3)

I’ve continued to add segments to this series, so I’m updating this post to be sure our citrus visitors hear what is now this full eight-part series with Dr Robert Davis. Among the scientists gathered in Ft Pierce recently to discuss greening and canker research, Davis is a scientist with USDA at the Beltsville MD lab and a member of the National Academy of Sciences. These reports features his comments about the greening challenge from various angles as he shares his thoughts about the value of the efforts being made by the industry to solve the greening problem.
Report Report Report Report (all reports 1:00 mp3)
Report Report Report Report(these four reports 2:00 mp3)

If we had an award of recognition for years of dedicated service to the citrus industry, we’d give it to Bob Terry. He plans to retire the first of June. He’s been handling citrus statistics for Florida Ag Statistics Service, working hand-in-hand with USDA’s National Ag Statistics Service for many years. He’s been a regular guest on our radio network and the featured guest of our “LIVE” October Citrus Crop Forecast Broadcast for more than a decade. We’ll talk to him about that between now and then. Meanwhile, in this report, Terry talks about what his team is noticing around the citrus crop in recent days and weeks. Report (1:00 mp3)
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - Gainesville, Fla.—Some Florida farmers, ranchers and private forest owners may be able to capitalize on a new partnership between the state’s largest general agricultural organization and the nation’s leading supplier of carbon credit aggregation services to agriculture.

The Florida Farm Bureau Federation and AgraGate Climate Credits Corp. have agreed to partner in providing carbon credits services to farmers, ranchers and private forest owners. Those interested in learning more can attend one of three meetings being held this month in north Florida. (more…)

Another busy couple days this week in Gainesville, FL for cattle producers wanting to keep up with the latest available production and marketing advice. Beef Short Course committee chairman Matt Hersom, Asst Professor, Extension Beef Cattle Specialist at University of Florida, says once a cattle producer comes to one of these annual short course programs they usually return year after year. Report  (1:25 mp3)      And by the way, it was a beautiful afternoon for the annual Beef Short Course “Steak Out” at UF’s horse barn facilities too.

Thanks to the Federation of State Beef Councils, Brad Etheridge Chairman of the Florida Beef Council, says they will be able to conduct a couple of big projects again in the state this year. Report (1:00 mp3)

In these reports, candid comments from Florida Citrus Commission Chairman Ben Albritton Jr about recent investments of Florida Department of Citrus (FDOC) funds to help in citrus greening research efforts. Albritton also discusses the painful but real challenge of some growers not doing what is needed to deal with greening, thereby harming neighboring growers who are trying to control the spread of the disease. Report (Report 2:00 mp3) Report (Report 1:00 mp3)

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — When the University of Florida Agricultural Women’s Club celebrated its 100th anniversary recently, it added a new tradition—recognizing one of the state’s foremost female agribusiness leaders. At an April 17 reception, Vero Beach citrus grower and cattle rancher Hariot Greene was presented the club’s first Women of Distinction Award. The event was held at the President’s House on UF’s main campus. (more…)