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by MEREDITH BAUER, UF/IFAS The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) is urging veterinarians, livestock producers and animal health professionals to remain vigilant about recognizing signs and symptoms of the New World screwworm as the threat of its spread to the U.S. increases.   The screwworm could pose a threat to U.S. livestock, wildlife […]

SIMPSON LAKES, DADE CITY, Fla. — Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson was proud to join Governor Ron DeSantis, Florida legislative leaders, and agriculture industry partners on May 15 to celebrate the signing of the 2025 Florida Farm Bill (SB 700) — a landmark piece of legislation delivering sweeping pro-freedom, pro-farmer, and pro-family reforms for

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Today, Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson and the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) are urging veterinarians, livestock producers, and animal health professionals to remain vigilant as the threat of New World Screwworm (NWS) reintroduction into the United States grows due to the pest’s continued movement through Mexico. Although

Bartow, Fla. – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) released its May 2025 citrus crop estimate on May 12, revising the forecast to 11.63 million boxes of oranges, 1.3 million boxes of grapefruit and 400,000 boxes of tangerines and tangelos for the 2024-2025 harvest season. The forecast shows an increase of 30,000 boxes of oranges, while the production estimates

by HANNAH BAKER, UF/IFAS Every month, USDA-NASS releases the Cattle on Feed Report indicating how many cattle are on feed, how many have been placed, and how many have been marketed. The April report showed that cattle and calves on feed in feedlots with a capacity of 1,000 head or more totaled at 11.6 million,

by BRAD BUCK, UF/IFAS Given the damaging impacts of hurricanes Debby, Helene and Milton last year, you may want to prepare your landscape and trees for the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season – and the sooner the better. “Best management practices include supporting soil health through appropriate fertilization, monitoring landscapes and trees for pests and disease,

by BRAD BUCK, UF/IFAS Disease-resistant and tastier blackberries could be on the horizon — thanks to new genetic research from the University of Florida. New University of Florida blackberry varieties could provide a boon for Florida farmers looking to rebound after the decline of Florida citrus and who see an opportunity to meet the growing

by BRAD BUCK, UF/IFAS Tomatoes represent a $1.9 billion annual crop, nationwide. They’re planted on 330,000 acres across 18 states, but diseases such as bacterial spot can ravage the popular crop.  Bacterial diseases pose significant threats to food security by reducing crop yields and increasing production costs. Managing these diseases is challenging when pathogens are

by MEREDITH BAUER, UF/IFAS University of Florida researchers are testing a new type of cattle feed that could help dairy cows release less methane gas from burps and flatulence and use nutrients more efficiently. Because methane traps heat in the atmosphere, reducing these emissions could make dairy farming more environmentally friendly and sustainable.  Researchers, led