WHILE GREAT CHALLENGES continue to beset the Florida citrus industry, a greater sense of optimism could be found among the growers and state officials who attended the 2016 Florida Citrus Industry Annual Conference in Bonita Springs last month.
Florida Citrus Industry Annual Conference showcases renewed optimism Read More »
NEW OVERTIME REGULATIONS are in the books in Washington, D.C., but they won’t be effective until Dec. 1, giving employers nationwide more than five months from now to prepare for them. The time will be needed; the regulations will affect almost every company, organization, and government agency from sea to shining sea and extend overtime
Getting ready for new federal overtime regulations Read More »
FLORIDA CITRUS GROWERS are in dire need of new orange trees, and two new early UF/IFAS-created Valencia orange varieties have the interest of nurseries and growers. Citrus greening, or HLB, has infected an estimated 80 percent of citrus trees in Florida groves, according to a survey conducted by UF/IFAS in April, and replacing dead or
IF YOU KNOW where to find it, if you know how to access it, and if you meet certain qualifications, government funds are available to help your citrus operation. For that matter, government funds, at both the federal and state levels, are available to help a wide variety of agriculture-related enterprises.
Government funds available to help your operation Read More »
JUNE IS AN EXCELLENT month to plant new lawns and repair existing ones. You can use Palmetto plugs to fill those empty spots during the rainy season.
Lawn care makes its way to the top of the outdoor to-do list Read More »
AGRICULTURE IS IN NEED of warm bodies in the industry, with vacancies in the scientific and technical side of agricultural employment growing rapidly. It’s one reason why ag education is so important. Traditional ag education classes that pair with organizations like 4-H, Future Farmers of America and others — both in and out of public
What can we learn from this California ag education story? Read More »
IF YOU’RE SEARCHING for something meaningful and rewarding to do with your life, be a farmer. If you appreciate the land and want to work it to help feed the world, be a farmer. If you’re looking to join the ranks of some of the most down-to-earth and salt-of-the-earth folks around, be a farmer. If
Business resources for starting a farm Read More »
IF YOU’RE in the peach business, then you’re keenly — and in some cases, painfully — aware of how the season is going. With the El Nino weather pattern that occurred in early November through December, peach orchards across Florida had little to no chill hours.
The current peach harvest and compost observations for the orchard Read More »
ON APRIL 21, I was able to attend a media event to learn more about Florida Cattle Ranchers, LLC. The keynote speaker, Mike Joyner, assistant commissioner and chief of staff at the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, called this new venture a “game-changer” for the Florida beef industry. In short, the 13 founding
From the Editor’s Desk: Fresh From Florida Beef is on the horizon Read More »
IF YOU HAVE nerves of steel, a hardy soul, a resilient persona, and the patience of Job, there’s a better-than-average chance you would make a good citrus grower. That’s what a body has to have to handle the ever-constant challenges of the industry — and now more than ever.
Postbloom fruit drop has reared its ugly head Read More »
