Florida Ag Community Continues Work to Enhance Water Quality Management

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By Frank Giles Water quality and quantity are issues that cross all political and economic boundaries in Florida. When blue-green algae and red tides occur, they make front-page news and keep these challenges top-of-mind for all Floridians. Agriculture and the water-quality debate have been closely intertwined over the years. As a large user of water for irrigation and the need …

UF/IFAS Extension Agent: We Need to Manage Fertilizer More Efficiently

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By Clint Thompson North Florida watermelon producers should be wary about the dangers of applying too much water. It can result in leeching of nitrogen in their sandy soils. Producers who apply too much water not only lose the excess water, but they also lose the fertilizer and then yields. Mark Warren, University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural …

Florida Gulf Coast University Introduces Agricultural and Water Education

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By Frank Giles While the land-grant universities come to mind first when it comes to agriculture, other schools are serving the farm sector as well. Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU) in Fort Myers is one of those schools and is focused on the business side of agriculture. FGCU has its agricultural credentials based on a farming enterprise with deep roots …

Biden-Harris Administration Makes $500 Million Available to Increase American-Made Fertilizer Production

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WASHINGTON, Sept. 27, 2022 – U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack announced on Tuesday that the Biden-Harris Administration is making $500 million in grants available to increase American-made fertilizer production to spur competition and combat price hikes on U.S. farmers caused by the war in Ukraine. “USDA believes in the growth of innovative, local businesses owned and shared …

New Certificate in Fertilizer Science and Technology Offered by UF/IFAS

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By Clint Thompson The University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) is offering a new academic program that will enhance students’ knowledge of fertilizer applications and enable them to apply fertilizers more efficiently to their specialty crops. The program is called the UF/IFAS Fertilizer Science and Technology Graduate Certificate. The formal certificate will be available starting in …

International Trade Commission Clears Way for Fertilizers

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By Frank Giles The International Trade Commission (ITC) recently ruled against imposing tariffs on nitrogen fertilizers imported from Russia and Trinidad and Tobago. The panel’s ruling found that imports from those countries did not hurt American producers of fertilizer. The ITC ruling removed anti-dumping and anti-subsidy duties of up to 132% on urea nitrate fertilizers from Russia. Duties of 113% …

AFBF Asks for USDA Help with Fertilizer Supplies

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The American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) called on the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to take steps to ensure America’s farmers continue to have access to fertilizer supplies. AFBF submitted comments on USDA’s “Request for Information on Access to Fertilizer: Competition and Supply Chain Concerns.” AFBF outlined various factors that have combined to create shortages and increase fertilizer costs including …

Calls for Action on Fertilizer Supplies

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The American Farm Bureau is calling on USDA to take steps to make sure American farmers continue to have access to crucial fertilizer supplies. The organization submitted comments on USDA’s “Request for Information on Access to Fertilizer.” AFBF says many factors are combining to create shortages and drive up fertilizer costs. AFBF President Zippy Duvall says America’s farmers are getting called on …

UF/IFAS Begins Research to Update Best Management Practices Nutrient Recommendations

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The University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) received $8.8 million to conduct new research that will provide farmers with new and improved nutrient recommendations for fertilization of key Florida crops. The funding, approved by the Florida Legislature, will be administered by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS). Farmers apply fertilizers to their crops …

Surging Input Costs Impact Florida’s Specialty Crop Season

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By Clint Thompson Strong market prices for some specialty crops have been tempered by input costs that have spiked to levels many growers had not experienced before the COVID-19 pandemic. No Florida specialty crop producer was immune from feeling the financial pinch this year from rising expenses associated with fertilizer, chemicals, diesel and freight. “Our input costs are so much …