Illnesses subsiding, FDA continues to aggressively investigate source and route of contamination to prevent future outbreaks (FDA) — The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is providing an update on its investigation of an outbreak of E. coli O157:H7 illnesses linked to romaine lettuce. The FDA takes its responsibility of protecting the public from unsafe food very seriously and is committed to providing …
Florida’s Arguments Rejected in ‘Water War’
(NSF) — For years, Florida has blamed Georgia’s water use for causing damage to the economically vital oyster industry in Apalachicola Bay. But a special master appointed by the U.S. Supreme Court disagreed this week, dealing a major blow to Florida in its legal fight to force Georgia to share more water in a river system that links the two …
Commissioner Nikki Fried on Florida-Georgia Water Ruling
(FDACS) — Following the ruling by a federal judge on Georgia’s consumption of water shared with Florida, Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nicole “Nikki” Fried offered the following statement: “This ruling is a major disappointment for fair, responsible water usage on which both states depend. Georgia’s unchecked disruption of our shared waters in the Apalachicola River has devastated Florida’s oyster industry. I’m encouraging our …
Nursery and Greenhouse Industry Big Business in Alabama
The poinsettia sitting on the hearth, the hydroponic lettuce in the refrigerator, the new shrubs waiting to be planted — all of these were probably grown right here in Alabama. Paul Brown, associate director for the Alabama Cooperative Extension System, said many Alabamians do not recognize just how significant the nursery and greenhouse industry is in the state. Economic Impact “Alabama’s …
Optimum ICD Holdings Acquires Generation Farms
Optimum Agriculture (Optimum), a global agricultural company focused on land acquisition and management, announced that Optimum ICD Holdings LLC has acquired 5,587 acres of farmland, processing facilities and the trademark Generation Farms, as well as other assets in Tattnall and Toombs counties, Georgia, from Generation Farms, LLC and affiliates (Generation Farms). Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. From now …
New Precision Ag Facility Adds to UF/IFAS Arsenal to Fight Pests, Diseases
(UF/IFAS) — In a new, 8,500-square-foot building at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Gulf Coast Research and Education Center, weed scientist Nathan Boyd uses images of weeds to train computers to identify them. Those pictures can be used to help growers know when, where and how to control pests. Using this form of precision …
Groups Stress Swift Passage Needed for USMCA
Secretary Perdue on USMCA Agreement (USDA) — U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue issued the following statement after United States Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi announced agreement on the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA): “USMCA is a big win for American workers and the economy, especially for our farmers and ranchers. The agreement improves virtually every …
Large Increases to H-2A Program Application Fees Proposed
(GFVGA) — On Nov. 14, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced that it would increase immigration fees charged by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) by an average of 21 percent for all applications, while limiting the number of beneficiaries per filing. However, H-2A program users will see significantly larger increases if this proposal were to go into …
Kevin Folta Receives 2019 American Agri-Women’s Veritas Award
(UF/IFAS) — Kevin Folta, a University of Florida/Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences horticulture professor with a distinguished career in strawberry genetics, was honored with the Veritas award by American Agri-Women (AAW) at their recent convention in Tigard, Oregon. The Veritas award is the highest award given by AAW to a non-member. It is presented annually to a person who …
USDA Invests in Rural Broadband Infrastructure for Alabama Families
(USDA/RD) — U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Deputy Under Secretary for Rural Development Donald “DJ” LaVoy announced USDA has invested $62.3 million in high-speed broadband infrastructure that will create or improve e-Connectivity for more than 8,000 rural households, 57 farms, 44 businesses, 17 educational facilities, 14 critical community facilities and three health care facilities in rural Alabama. This is one …