July 2018 e-Newsletter

FloridAgriculture E-Newsletter Email not displaying correctly? View it in your browser.

HEADLINE NEWS

A WIN FOR THE ENVIRONMENT AND PRIVATE PROPERTY RIGHTS
A U.S. District Court recently ruled in favor of a preliminary injunction for Florida and ten other states regarding the validity of the 2006 Clean Water Rule commonly referred to as the “Waters of the United States Rule” or WOTUS.

COUNTY ORDINANCES MAY VIOLATE STATE STATUTE

Several growers in the DeSoto County area contacted Florida Farm Bureau after being issued citations for violating a county ordinance restricting the use of fireworks and propane cannons.

SURVEY SAYS ADVOCACY MOST IMPORTANT

Florida Farm Bureau conducted a survey in May to assess the needs of county Farm Bureaus. The survey was sent to county Farm Bureau board members statewide with a 100 percent participation from each county Farm Bureau.

PRODUCE SAFETY ALLIANCE GROWER TRAINING CLASSES

Fruit and vegetable growers interested in learning about produce safety, the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) Produce Safety Rule, Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs) and co-management of natural resources and food safety are encouraged to attend the PSA Grower Training Courses. These workshops satisfy the FSMA Produce Safety Rule requirement.

FLORIDA’S RURAL COMMUNITIES HAVE AN ECONOMIC ADVANTAGE

Economic prospects for rural areas in the Sunshine State may be better than previously recognized. Florida has an advantage many other states do not possess.

NEW SAW PALMETTO BERRY HARVESTING RULE

The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) has adopted a new rule for harvesting and selling saw palmetto berries.

Florida Agricultural Crimes Intelligence Unit Conference Update

HELPING LAW ENFORCEMENT SERVE FARM FAMILIES

Florida Farm Bureau was presented with a plaque of appreciation for its continued support of the Florida Agricultural Crimes Intelligence Unit (FACIU) and its efforts to provide training for its members to better serve farm families across the state.

SUE DAUPHIN, DISTRICT 1

Sue Dauphin leads the women in District 1 on the Florida Farm Bureau State Women’s Committee. Dauphin resides in Panama City with her husband of 54 years, Mildon. Together, the couple operates a U-Pick blueberry farm, Dauphin Farms.

JACK PAYNE

The producer was looking to do the right thing. He had a dead animal on his hands, a casualty of Irma. So he asked the person everyone in Highlands County would ask, Laurie Hurner, how to dispose of it. She took it to county emergency management officials.

Tommy Watkins, a 2013 CARES award recipient, utilizes BMPs such as recycling the water used to flush his dairy cattle barns as well as the sand. All of the solids leaving the barn are also captured and then used as fertilizer on open grazing pastures. Find out why Watkins is a farmer who CARES.

WATCH VIDEO

COMMODITY CORNER

MASTITIS SCREENING AVAILABLE
The Bronson Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory in Kissimmee is providing Mastitis Screening Bacterial Cultures. Mastitis is the inflammation of the mammary gland. The disease is a result of an infection from bacterial pathogens. In some cases, mycotic (fungus) or algal pathogens can cause the disease. Mastitis causes a decrease in the functional capacity and lactation efficiency of the mammary gland and contributes to deficiency in the weight gain of suckling offspring. For information on screening, visit the Bronson Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory.

Check out what’s going on around Florida at our Industry Insight web page.

PUBLIC POLICY

HOUSE PASSES FARM BILL; SENATE DEBATE UNDERWAY

The two chambers produced differing bills, especially in the conservation and nutrition titles. The Senate and House bills will be reconciled in conference in the coming weeks.

FIRST HOUSE IMMIGRATION VOTE FAILS; SECOND TO BE CONSIDERED THIS WEEK

As a direct result of the House Freedom Caucus leveraging their Farm Bill votes, House Judiciary Chairman Bob Goodlatte’s Securing America’s Future Act was brought to the House floor for consideration prior to the Farm Bill on June 21, as promised by leadership.

FLORIDA FARM BUREAU PREPARING FOR THE 2018 ELECTION SEASON

As with every election cycle, Florida Farm Bureau, our members and our state’s strong agricultural community have the ability to make an impact in the Florida Legislature and in statewide cabinet races.

DIGITAL DOWNLOAD

The Farm Mobile Notes app allows farmers to generate a complete picture of what’s happening in their fields in real time. Once you download the app, you can send a text or photo-text which is time-stamped and tagged with geospatial media, allowing you to know exactly the location of the EFR when it was recorded. Download for free on Android and iPhone.