A recent segment on Tampa Bay’s FOX News grabbed my attention. Florida citrus growers face insurmountable odds and have for years. They battle freezes (yes, even in Florida), extreme droughts, and yearly hurricanes. Some years are worse than others, but growers are so proficient at the process, they know what needs to be done and [...]
The Florida FFA (Future Farmers of America) Foundation was created in to provide resources to encourage and enhance the development of premier leadership, personal growth, and career success of FFA members. Their team works to reach a very important group of prospects, our state’s young people, to educate them about opportunities, leadership, and careers in [...]
When visitors think of Florida, a few things come to mind: beaches, retired folks, oranges. Yet, Florida has so many other great attributes that go unnoticed, but are making a tremendous impact on the economy. My favorite is agriculture. In a recent news announcement on CBS Miami, it was noted that Florida agriculture exports (notably [...]
With few states already legalizing marijuana for medicinal (and in some cases personal) use, Florida residents will be voting in November whether to authorize medical marijuana. With Florida’s vast farmland totaling 47,500 farms, many have wondered what will happen to our farmland if the law is enacted. […]
On the surface farming may seem like an industry that has not embraced smartphone technology, but developers have launched several Apps over the years to benefit farmers. The field and crop apps have become increasingly important for high-tech cash crop farmers. Here’s a quick look at five smartphone apps making the job easier for farmers. [...]
Do you support a local or national charity? Most people I know do support charitable causes, whether it’s buying toys for at risk children during the holiday season or helping find a cure for cancer, they support something important to them or their family. Some people I know go even further and have launched a [...]
The American Farm Bureau presented to the House Ways and Means committee in early April advocated for tax change. In a recent article, their message was clear Farmers and ranchers need tax certainty to thrive in a modern economy, and making permanent deductions that expired in 2013 is a good first step. […]
The Florida citrus industry provides a $9 billion annual economic impact and employs nearly 76,000 people. It’s almost immeasurable as to how much damage the citrus greening issue is causing. Latest reports share another reduction of 4 million boxes produced last month. […]
Have you ever heard of Aquaponics? It’s a new form of farming, without soil. It’s where food is grown in water that is filled with fish. In an aquaponic system, water from an aquaculture system is fed to a hydroponic system where the by-products are broken down by nitrogen-fixing bacteria into nitrates and nitrites, which are used by the plants as [...]
Florida’s agriculture industry makes a $108 billion economic impact. It’s received a beating over the past few years with the growing citrus greening issue and other pests. Agriculture producers received some good news recently from the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. The state department announced Florida will receive $5.4 million in federal funding [...]
