During Wednesday evening’s Florida Cattlemen Association legislative reception festivities near the state Capitol, Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Ben Albritton said water issues abound in discussion circles this year. In this brief report, Albritton emphasized agriculture’s presence in the legislative process is critical. He added that the facts about agriculture must be heard above misinformation and misguided rhetoric that too often …
Farm Bureau Leader Responds to Congressman’s “Menace” Remarks
Among many reactions to south Florida Rep. Francis Rooney’s (SW FL – District 19) recently reported comments about what he called the “menace” of agriculture in the Everglades Agriculture Area, Florida Farm Bureau President John Hoblick is reaching out to the Congressman requesting a meeting to discuss the facts directly. In his letter, Hoblick informed Rooney that the Congressman’s recent …
Former SFWMD Gov. Board Member Talks Flood Control, Misinformation and Ag Concerns
This is the final installment in a series about the recent dismantling, and complete replacement underway of the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) governing board. As the debate about South Florida’s water woes continues to grow almost as fast as the Florida population, farmers and ranchers around the state are starting to wonder what these abrupt changes at SFWMD might …
Former SFWMD Governing Board Member Notes Ag’s New Absence
Family farmer Sam Accursio from Homestead was among the last four remaining South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) Governing Board members who spoke their minds bluntly during their final board meeting last month. Accursio’s family has been farming vegetables in Homestead for generations. He says recent actions and operational decisions could indicate a change of direction for the regional flood …
South Florida Environmentalist Shares Concerns Amidst Growing Water-Quality Debate
A native of the Pacific Northwest and now a resident of St. Lucie County, Nyla Pipes began working in 2013 with those concerned about growing water-quality and related environmental issues in Florida. She’s been a driving force and is now executive director of the non-profit One Florida Foundation. Pipes gave an exclusive interview following the February meeting of the South …
Florida Congressman Francis Rooney to ‘Deal with the Continuing Menace of Agriculture’
Singling out farmers south of Lake Okeechobee during a speech to area residents in Cape Coral, Florida, in late February, Rep. Francis Rooney (R – SW FL District 19) stated he wants to “try to deal with the continuing menace of agriculture in the EAA (Everglades Agriculture Area).” This video excerpt of the congressman’s comments, transcribed below, is now being …
Florida, Georgia Square Off Again in Water War
Florida says the case is the “last, best hope” to save the Apalachicola River region from destruction. Georgia says Florida’s arguments threaten to cause hundreds of millions of dollars in “real harm” to the Peach State. Now, a federal appellate judge based in New Mexico will have to sort out the long-running battle between Florida and Georgia over water in …
Basin Management Action Plans Stalled in Florida
By Charles Barrett Regardless of your level of experience with basin management action plans (BMAPS), there are things about them everyone should know. UNDERSTANDING THE TERMS The short version is this: BMAPs are plans to restore water quality in a body of water to a level below what is considered impaired. Water bodies in Florida have been categorized based on …
Lake Okeechobee Levels Rising; Discharges to Increase
Army Corps of Engineers (ACOE) Colonel Drew Kelly, commander of the Jacksonville District, held a media conference call on Feb. 22 to explain a change to the discharge schedules for Lake Okeechobee, as water levels are rising in the lake. Listen to the audio clip below to hear the entire press conference, including questions from South Florida media and Southeast …
DeSantis Makes Appointments to SFWMD
Governor Ron DeSantis announced the appointments of Charlette Roman, Charlie Martinez and Cheryl Anne Meads to the board of the South Florida Water Management District in Naples. The governor was joined by all three appointees as well as Secretary of the Department of Environmental Protection Noah Valenstein. “I’m pleased to announce the appointments of Charlie Martinez, Cheryl Anne Meads and …