The U.S. Department of Agriculture has confirmed that an insect trapped Friday near the Sweetwater Reservoir is an Asian citrus psyllid, an insect that can carry a disease devastating to citrus crops, state officials said yesterday.

A single detection of the pest is sufficient to trigger a quarantine, according to tate officials, who said yesterday afternoon that the terms of...
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The Senate on Friday proposed a funding level for the Farm bill that most estimate to be about $12.3 billion above baseline. Agriculture Secretary Ed Schafer and Deputy Secretary Chuck Conner released a statement conveying their disappointment with the offer.

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Commissioner of Food and drugs Andrew C. von Eschenbach named Stephen Sundlof director of FDA's Center for Food Safety and applied Nutrition (CFSAN) effective Jan. 7 according to the agency. Sundlof had been director of FDA's Center for Veterinary medicine (CVW).

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VERO BEACH - Citrus industry leaders were not surprised that the November U.S. Department of Agriculture forecast for citrus remained unchanged for the season.

the estimate has Florida's orange crop producing 168 million boxes, up from the 129 million boxes filled in the recent season. Meanwhile the... Full Story>>

U.S. citrus acreage declined 7% in 2006 but overall U.S. fruit crop value and per capita consumption of fruit was up, according to the U.S. department of Agriculture's annual fruit and tree nut yearbook.

The report, released oct. 30, said bearing acreage dropped 7% for citrus and almost 1% for major noncitrus crops between 2005 and 2006.
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HOUSTON - Science and industry were brought together in the name of advancing the consumption of fruits and vegetables at the FAV health 2007: the International symposium on Human Health Effects of Fruits and Vegetables. ...
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Gov. Rick Perry's explanation of his veto of the eminent domain bill on opinion pages statewide was almost as astonishing as his decision to strike down House Bill 2006 in the first place. (see "Finding middle ground without breaking the bank," July 2).
The governor has done a great disservice to rural and urban property owners. Perry has said a great deal about private property rights, yet he...
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South Florida is currently facing the most serious drought conditions since water tables began being recorded over 90 years ago. the low tables have resulted in the South florida Water Management district offering the most severe water usage restrictions on the public, including on the agriculture industry, in its history.
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