climate

Funding Available for Conservation and Climate Projects

Daniel Cooper Agriculture, Environment

U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack recently announced the availability of $1.5 billion in fiscal year 2024 to invest in conservation and climate solutions through the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP). The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is accepting project proposals now through July 2. The projects will help farmers, ranchers and forest landowners adopt and expand conservation strategies to enhance …

vincent

Vincent Awarded Fellowship in Environmental Protection and Stewardship

Daniel Cooper Awards, Environment

University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) researcher Christopher Vincent was awarded an Early-Career Research Fellowship in the Environmental Protection and Stewardship track from the Gulf Research Program (GRP) of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine. Vincent is an associate professor of citrus tree ecophysiology in the Horticultural Sciences Department at the Citrus Research and …

Seeking Environmental Stewards

Josh McGill Awards, Environment

The Florida Farm Bureau Federation County Alliance for Responsible Environmental Stewardship (FFBF CARES) is seeking nominations of farmers and ranchers who are implementing best management practices (BMPs) to enhance and conserve the state’s natural resources. Nominations will be accepted through June 16. Farmers and ranchers may nominate their own operation or that of a colleague. Learn more about the program and …

Varroa Mite Management Guide to Protect Honey Bee Health

Josh McGill Environment, Pests

By Sabrina Halvorson The Honey Bee Health Coalition unveiled the 8th edition of the Tools for Varroa Management Guide. The guide provides information on the latest tools and options for beekeepers and others in the United States and Canada to keep bees healthy and manage varroa mites, which spread disease within and among honey bee colonies. An expert team of beekeepers, …

Aid Available to Conserve Florida’s Natural Resources

Josh McGill Environment, Florida

Florida growers and others looking to make farm improvements can apply for aid from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). CIGThe NRCS will invest up to $900,000 for Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) for agricultural resource priorities in Florida. Fiscal Year 2022 conservation resource priorities for the NRCS in Florida are: climate resilience, grazing, soil health and urban …

Brazil to Study Wildlife in Citrus Orchards

Josh McGill Brazil, Environment, Research

Embrapa and Fundecitrus, which are investigating carbon stocks in the Brazilian citrus belt, will also study how citrus production sites and farms can be habitats for wild fauna. Embrapa is the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation. “Biodiversity is an indicator of environmental quality,” says Embrapa researcher José Roberto Miranda. He will coordinate the work to identify vertebrate animals, especially birds and …

Quantifying Brazilian Citrus Carbon Stocks

Josh McGill Brazil, Environment

Fundecitrus and Embrapa (Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation) recently began a joint effort to quantify carbon stocks in the citrus belt of São Paulo and Minas Gerais. The project receives funding from Innocent Drinks. The company’s Farmers Innovation Fund offers financial support for projects that aim to reduce carbon in agriculture and inspire farmers to adopt good practices. The work in …

Seeking Agricultural-Environmental Leadership Award Nominations

Josh McGill Awards, Environment, Florida

The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) has opened the nomination period for the 2022 Agricultural-Environmental Leadership Award. Nominations must be submitted to FDACS by April 15, 2022. Get the nomination form here. “Through work in soil and conservation, pesticide and nutrient management, wildlife habitat conservation, and so much more … significant environmental contributions are the backbone of …

Stepping Up Phosphorus Sustainability

Ernie Neff Environment, Nutrition

Two University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) researchers have joined a national research effort to promote phosphorus sustainability across the United States. The researchers will work under the funding auspices of the National Science Foundation’s Science and Technology Center in the newly established Science and Technologies for Phosphorus Sustainability (STEPS). In addition to the University of …

Agriculture Group Addresses Climate Change

Ashley Robinson Environment, Land

Florida agricultural leaders launched an initiative to identify and implement climate-smart agriculture solutions and ecosystem services that benefit the public, producers and the planet. The Florida Climate Smart Agriculture (FLCSA) Work Group is the collaborative effort of Solutions from the Land (SfL) and the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS). The multi-stakeholder effort is led by …

pollinator

Protecting Honey Bees in Citrus Groves

Tacy Callies Environment

By Sylvia Willis, Amy Vu and Jamie Ellis When people think of Florida, the first thing that comes to mind is Fresh From Florida oranges. Florida accounts for 44 percent of total U.S. citrus production. Citrus, like many other fruits, vegetables and specialty crops, requires certain inputs to grow and produce fruit. But how are pollinators and the production of …

Looking for Environmental Leaders

Ernie Neff Awards, Environment

The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) is accepting nominations for the Agricultural-Environmental Leadership Award. The award recognizes agricultural producers who demonstrate leadership in developing and implementing innovative techniques to safeguard the environment and conserve natural resources. Nominations must be submitted to FDACS by April 15, 2021. The nomination form and more information about the award can be …

Conservation Program Improvements

Ernie Neff Environment

The application deadline for the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) is March 26 for fiscal year 2021.   Through CSP, USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) helps agricultural producers and forest landowners earn payments for expanding conservation activities while maintaining agricultural production on their land. CSP also encourages adoption of new technologies and management techniques. Changes …

Citrus Growers Honored for Conservation

Ernie Neff Awards, Environment

Two citrus growers are among 22 farmers and ranchers recently honored by the Florida Farm Bureau Federation (FFBF) in recognition of their superior natural resource conservation efforts. They are Travis Miller of DeSoto Grove in DeSoto County and Marlon Pendergrass of The Groves of Peace River in Hardee County. Each received the Farm Bureau’s County Alliance for Responsible Environmental Stewardship …

USDA Finalizes Conservation Rule

Ernie Neff Environment

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has released the final rule for its Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP). The rule makes updates to the program as directed by the 2018 farm bill and integrates feedback from agricultural producers and others.  CSP provides many benefits, including increased crop yields, decreased inputs, wildlife habitat improvements and increased resilience to adverse weather. CSP is …

How Growers Can Protect Pollinators

Ernie Neff Environment, Industry News Release

Florida’s U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service (USDA/NRCS) recently recognized pollinators and the growers who create and maintain their habitat. “Pollinators, such as honeybees, bumblebees, butterflies, birds, bats, flies and many others, play a critical role in crop production,” Florida’s USDA/NRCS stated in a media release. The recognition came as National Pollinator Week, June 22-28, approaches. The week …