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Posts Tagged ‘florida’
Sunday, January 15th, 2012
An agricultural panel in the Florida Statehouse has approved a bill that would criminalize unauthorized photography on privately owned farms.
Over the past several months, bills of this nature have been debated in agricultural states across the country. Inspired by a rash of undercover animal rights videos depicting animal cruelty on American farms, many farm advocacy groups have pressured state governments to pass laws banning unauthorized photography on private farms in an effort to prevent the production and distribution of animal rights videos.
Supporters of the bill deny that their intentions are to cover up animal cruelty and that they are merely concerned with protecting property rights.
Animal rights groups, on the other hand, argue that undercover investigations by private groups are frequently the only means activists have to jumpstart animal cruelty investigations. A spokesperson for the Humane Society of the United States cited a 1999 case involving the beatings and killings of calves, claiming that, “[the investigation] would not have happened… if we had not gone on that property and taken that video.”
A previous, more expansive version of this bill stalled when lawmakers discovered that its language could potentially ban pictures taken on the highway, police officer’s dash cam videos, and aerial photography. The current bill would only criminalize photographs taken from private property.
To learn more about agricultural financing opportunities contact a Farm Plus Financial representative by calling 866-929-5585 or by visiting www.farmplusfinancial.com.
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Written by: Justin Ellison / Farm Plus Staff Writer
Tags: animal rights, florida
Posted in General | No Comments »
Wednesday, August 10th, 2011
Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez has recently backtracked on proposed cuts to the county’s agricultural sector. The cuts, an attempt to balance Miami-Dade County’s budget and close a $400 million budget gap, relied very heavily on cuts to agricultural. For example, the mayor proposed eliminating the agricultural manger’s office and suggested removing all funding for Miami-Dade University’s agricultural research programs.
The agricultural sector’s response to these proposed budget cuts were overwhelmingly negative. Dade County Farm Bureau Director Theresa Smith described the proposed cuts as “hopeless.” She described the mayor’s capitulation as “a tremendous blessing.” Other members of the County Commission similarly blasted the proposed cuts. County Commissioner Lynda Bell called the proposed cuts “dangerous”.
Overall, the agricultural sector in Miami-Dade generates about $2.7 billion in revenue. Opponents of the budget cuts claimed that severe budget cuts would stifle agricultural production, lowering that $2.7 billion of economic activity, and hurt the overall county economy. They also claimed that supporters of the budget didn’t appreciate the importance of the agricultural sector, with one councilman claiming that for many people, agriculture was “out of sight, out of mind.”
The budget battle in Mimi-Dade has mirrored similar debates nationally. As Congress looks to cut agricultural funding over the next several years, farm supporters have argued that agricultural spending, particularly agricultural research, is a major engine of the American economy and that massive farm cuts risk undoing the U.S.’s fragile economic gains.
To learn more about agricultural financing opportunities contact a Farm Plus Financial representative by calling 866-929-5585 or by visiting www.farmplusfinancial.com.
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Written by: Justin Ellison / Farm Plus Staff Writer
Tags: farm bureau, florida, Miami-Dade
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Sunday, July 3rd, 2011
A series of Florida farms received praise from environmental advocacy groups for their commitment to sustainable, green farming. Project CARE (which stands for community action for a renewed environment) recently nominated several Florida farms, praising their commitment to environmental stewardship and holding them up as examples for the future of American agriculture.
The farms in question enact a wide variety of environmentally friendly practices. One farm, for example, schedules irrigation in the evening in order to minimize water evaporation and maximize efficiency. Some utilize “spoon-feeding” fertilization, a practice that uses significantly less fertilizer in order to minimize waste. Other farmers have invested in computerized livestock care, allowing a computerized system to control temperature, watering, feeding, and maximizing efficiency.
The CARE project, which was started in 2001 by the Florida Farm Bureau and other environmental organizations, recognizes outstanding voluntary resource conservation (including practices that save water, reduce energy consumption, and minimize fertilization).
Efforts to conserve natural resources and build a long-term sustainable agricultural infrastructure are vital, environmentalists claim. Recent reports by the National Research Council, as well as several United Nations studies, have indicated that American agricultural production, as it currently exists, is not sustainable. ‘
Agricultural producers, in order to cope with future ecological changes as well as support a growing world population, will need to focus on resource conservation and green farming. Project CARE, and the farmers and practices that it honors, are an important part of realizing this long-term goal.
To learn more about agricultural financing opportunities contact a Farm Plus Financial representative by calling 866-929-5585 or by visiting www.farmplusfinancial.com.
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Written by: Justin Ellison / Farm Plus Staff Writer
Tags: Conservation, farm bureau, florida
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Thursday, April 7th, 2011
Farms and non-profits affected by the recent droughts in Florida can apply for small business loans. Abnormally dry weather struck Florida and Georgia this past January, damaging businesses throughout the region. January is normally the beginning of the worst dry weather in Florida, and the most recent drought reached record levels, blanketing dozens of counties. The extreme weather continued, nearly unabated, until February, which brought slight relief to Florida farmers.
As a result of this weather, the U.S. Small Business Administration announced yesterday that federal funds will be available in the form of loans offered through the SBA’s Office of Disaster Management. Loan amounts can be up to $2 million, with 3% interest for non-profits and 4% interest for small businesses.
The January drought has had a significant impact on Florida farming. Due to rapidly dropping water levels in Lake Okeechobee, the largest freshwater lake in Florida, farmers in the vicinity were required to cut their water usage by 15%, a significant reduction given that over 65% of the land surrounding the lake is used for agricultural production.
Given the severity of the recent drought, the Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack has declared a disaster throughout northern and central Florida, stretching in to southeastern Georgia. While the deadline for application is December 5, some farmers are concerned that the impending government shutdown might hinder their recovery efforts. Should the government shutdown, the SBA will not accept new loan applications.
To learn more about agricultural financing opportunities contact a Farm Plus Financial representative by calling 866-929-5585 or by visiting www.farmplusfinancial.com.
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Written by: Justin Ellison / Farm Plus Staff Writer
Tags: florida, small business administration, tom vilsack
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Thursday, February 25th, 2010
The Florida Farm Bureau has vocally announced its opposition to new water quality standards proposed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
The FFB feels that the new plan places an excessive water tax on citizens through an increasing sewer bill and will place a burden on Florida producers.
“For nearly a decade, Florida’s agricultural community has been proud to cooperate with other businesses and government agencies in the state’s Total Maximum Daily Loads program,†FFB President John L. Hoblick said in a news release. “The TMDL program, which established numeric nutrient criteria based on watersheds, has caused Florida to be recognized as a national leader in water quality protection and restoration. This action by EPA abruptly changes that.â€
The EPA’s plan puts a limit on phosphorous and nitrogen which are nutrients found in fertilizer and wastewater. The standards would decrease the amount of pollution in drinking water.
Federal Reserve stated interest rates likely to rise. Refinance your farm loan before rates go up. Call a representative by dialing 866-929-5585 or visit us online.
Tags: FFB, florida, water rights
Posted in Florida Farm Loans | No Comments »
Monday, February 8th, 2010
Florida governor Charlie Crist has asked the USDA to declare Florida an agircultural disaster area following a state-wide freeze.
The uncommon freezing weather hit large parts of Florida through January. The state has experienced 13 consecutive days of “sustained hours” of below-freezing temperatures resulting in crop damage.
Crist would like all 67 Florida counties to be included in the disaster declaration according to a letter written by the governor to the USDA. The letter outlined how much the weather has affected crops and how important agriculture is to the state’s economy.
“No sector of agriculture appears to have been spared,” he wrote. “Citrus, sugarcane, nursery crops, tropical fish, sweetcorn, tomatoes, snap peas, strawberries, blueberries, peppers, avocados, mangoes and oats are some of the crops that appear to have sustained significant damage.”
Since the request, Congress has been to Florida to exam the 30 percent crop loss. No decision has been made yet.
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Tags: charlie crist, florida, usda
Posted in Florida Farm Loans | No Comments »
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