What is Florida SART (State Agricultural Response Team)?
SART is a multi-agency coordination group consisting of governmental and private entities dedicated to strengthening all-hazard disaster capabilities through partnerships. Florida SART will support an effective and coordinated incident response for the animal and agricultural sectors in the State of Florida. The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services is the lead agency for animal and agricultural emergencies. To fulfill its responsibilities as lead to emergency support function seventeen (ESF-17), the Department facilitated the development of the State Agricultural Response Team (SART) as a planning, training, and response support group with the aid of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agriculture Sciences (UF IFAS), UF College of Veterinary Medicine, and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).SART partners have specific interests and resources that can be utilized to address the needs of the State of Florida. SART is composed of partner agencies and organizations including local, state, and federal agencies, private sector entities, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs). Cattle ranching and Cowboy Exhibits, Feb. 12 through May 8, at Florida Museum of Natural History!
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Move over Texans; Floridians are the original cowboys. Discover the state’s cattle ranching and cowboy traditions through two new exhibits opening at the Florida Museum of Natural History Feb. 12: “Florida Cattle Ranching: Five Centuries of Tradition” and “Florida Cowboys: Keepers of the Last Frontier, Photographs by Carlton Ward Jr.” These free exhibits, on display through May 8, take an in-depth look at Florida’s cattle ranching history and continued impact on the state’s economy. “The cattle ranching story has very local roots — Spanish cattle ranchers settled on Paynes Prairie in the 1600s, and the cattle ranching tradition continues to be strong in North Central Florida today,” said Darcie MacMahon, Florida Museum assistant director for exhibits. “Throughout Florida, ranches are important, not just economically, but also for the role they play in land stewardship and protection of natural areas of critical significance in a state where growth presents so many conservation challenges.” The Florida Museum is the final venue on the cattle ranching exhibit tour. The exhibit takes visitors on a journey through time, from the Spanish introduction of cattle to Florida in the 16th century to current ranching methods, including breeding hybrid beef cattle and selling yearling calves. The exhibit explores cattle ranching through the eyes of various cultures, including the Seminole Indians and Spanish colonists. Visitors may view boots, saddles, whips, brands and other items, as well as displays, photographs and paintings that depict the evolution of the state’s cattle ranching industry. Through “Florida Cowboys: Keepers of the Last Frontier,” photographer Ward shares the grit and beauty of Florida’s heartland and cowboys. The exhibit uses photographs to celebrate the history and traditions of cattle ranching. Ward is an eighth-generation Floridian with a strong connection to ranching, and his photographs appear in both exhibits. “The exhibit focuses on Florida ranch lands and culture and the environment it protects,” Carlton, said. “It’s an unseen and tremendously important part of Florida.” Florida’s cattle ranching tradition is one of the region’s most valuable economic resources. Nearly half of all of Florida’s agricultural land is used for cattle ranching and Florida is one of the top five beef producing states east of the Mississippi River.“Florida Cattle Ranching: Five Centuries of Tradition” was produced by Florida Folklife Program, Department of State, and Florida Cultural Resources, Inc. Funding was provided by the National Endowment for the Arts/Folk & Traditional Arts, Florida Humanities Council, Florida Cattlemen’s Association, Florida Cattlemen’s Foundation, Florida Division of Cultural Affairs, Florida Cracker Cattle Association, Lalla Rook Tompkins, Iris Wall, and Susanne and Pete Clemons. Traveling Exhibition made possible by the Museum of Florida History. The Florida Museum of Natural History, Florida’s state natural history museum, is dedicated to understanding, preserving and interpreting biological diversity and cultural heritage. It is located near the intersection of Southwest 34th Street and Hull Road in the University of Florida Cultural Plaza in Gainesville. Hours are from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Saturday and from 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday. Butterfly Rainforest admission is $10.50 for adults ($9 Fla. residents) and $6 for ages 3-17. Prices subject to change. For more information, including directions and parking, visit www.flmnh.ufl.edu or call 352-846-2000.
The Southeast Cattle Advisor – Market Reports and More!
For cattle production information including weekly market trends and local market reports, click on http://www.secattleadvisor.com/ The Southeast Cattle Advisor Web site serves as a clearinghouse to disseminate science-based marketing and production risk management information to southeastern cattle producers, county agents, allied industry, livestock market managers, Ag lenders, veterinarians and consultants. This Web site is a collaborative effort between cooperating universities, USDA-CSREES and the Southern Region Risk Management Education Center. University of Georgia, University of Florida, Clemson University, Auburn University, USDA-CSREES, Southern Region Risk Management Education Center
“How do you communicate with neighbors about your agricultural practices?”
As the rural-urban interface becomes less distinct we would like to know what kind of communication tools you as agricultural producers need to educate your neighbors and the school children in your community about agricultural practices in their community. We can only do this if we know current practices. How do you communicate with your neighbors? Let us know by completing this survey that is being conducted by the University of Florida IFAS Extension in partnership with Florida Farm Bureau. Based on the survey we will be designing a Good Neighbor Program (GNP) that will help people living in urban-rural interface communities understand more about the importance of agricultural practices. We are also asking School Systems to complete a survey asking how they communicate with you. Please share your communication practices with us and we will use them as part of the new Good Neighbor Program. The survey will take 5 to 10 minutes to complete and we will only use your answers after they have been combined with other respondents’ answers and will be completely confidential. Thank you for participating. Email Survey Link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/5B2MPY9 If you have any questions, please call (352) 273-3971, or send an email to FOI@ufl.edu. Thank you for your participation.
Pasture, Rangeland, and Forage Program
A new insurance product has become available in the Florida and Georgia market for Cattlemen and Hay Producers. This policy covers graze land and hay growing operations from one single cause of loss -lack of rainfall. The program is set up on an established 12mile x 12mile grid system which the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) determined. NOAA predicts the yearly rainfall and captures the actual rainfall for each grid. If the rain falls short of NOAA’s predictions, then a claim is automatically triggered and a loss is paid. The policy is a product of the USDA and is titled the Pasture, Rangeland and Forage Program. This new program is being subsidized by the USDA Risk Management Agency (RMA). The deadline to sign up for this insurance is September 30. One of the requirements for this policy is that your pasture and/or hay growing operation is registered with your local Farm Service Agency Office (FSA) and that they issue you a Farm Serial Number. For more information, please see: http://www.rma.usda.gov/news/2010/06/prfexpansion.html, or contact your local USDA Farm Service Agency Office.
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