Agriculture /tags/agriculture Agriculture en-US SA¹ú¼Ê´«Ä± Mon, 15 Jun 2026 12:00:00 GMT Sometimes fighting dangerous pests like screwworms and mosquitoes means sterilizing bugs /environment/2026-06-15/sometimes-fighting-dangerous-pests-like-screwworms-and-mosquitoes-means-sterilizing-bugs Screwworm — a harmful parasite once largely eradicated with the help of a successful sterile insect program — is back. Multiple reported U.S. cases have drawn news coverage, as has a request from researchers with Google’s Debug project asking to release millions of mosquitoes in Florida and California. Mon, 15 Jun 2026 12:00:00 GMT /environment/2026-06-15/sometimes-fighting-dangerous-pests-like-screwworms-and-mosquitoes-means-sterilizing-bugs Madison Czopek | PolitiFact Florida braces for screwworm, passes emergency rules after earlier discovery of insect in Texas /health/2026-06-05/florida-braces-for-screwworm-passes-emergency-rules-after-earlier-discovery-of-insect-in-texas Florida enacted emergency rules Friday to prevent the New World screwworm from making its way to the Sunshine State. The state created protocols to protect Florida's cattle herds from the parasitic fly after it was found in Texas earlier this week. Fri, 05 Jun 2026 20:30:00 GMT /health/2026-06-05/florida-braces-for-screwworm-passes-emergency-rules-after-earlier-discovery-of-insect-in-texas Ana Goñi-Lessan | News Service of Florida Florida Citrus Commission maintains Welcome Center orange juice /business/2026-05-21/florida-citrus-commission-maintains-welcome-center-orange-juice The Citrus Commission approved a $250,000 contract with Visit Florida to maintain its welcome center. Thu, 21 May 2026 14:30:00 GMT /business/2026-05-21/florida-citrus-commission-maintains-welcome-center-orange-juice Jim Turner The country's only loquat festival is this weekend in New Port Richey /food-and-agriculture/2026-04-10/the-countrys-only-loquat-festival-is-this-weekend-in-new-port-richey The loquat is a small fruit related to the pear, apple, and plum. While loquat festivals are prevalent in other parts of the world, the only one in the United States is in West Pasco County. It will be held this year on Saturday, April 11, at Sims Park. Fri, 10 Apr 2026 10:37:05 GMT /food-and-agriculture/2026-04-10/the-countrys-only-loquat-festival-is-this-weekend-in-new-port-richey Daylina Miller New law lets state sell 'surplus' conservation land to be used for agriculture /environment/2026-03-25/new-law-lets-state-sell-surplus-conservation-land-to-be-used-for-agriculture A provision in this year's farm bill allows the state to sell off "surplus" conservation land for agricultural production. Wed, 25 Mar 2026 16:18:00 GMT /environment/2026-03-25/new-law-lets-state-sell-surplus-conservation-land-to-be-used-for-agriculture Molly Duerig Mezcal's popularity is booming in the US. That comes with a growing environmental cost in Mexico /americas/2026-03-19/mezcals-popularity-is-booming-in-the-us-that-comes-with-a-growing-environmental-cost-in-mexico Production of mezcal in Mexico is booming. That is to meet growing demand of the increasingly popular spirit in the United States. The boom in production has both created opportunities for producers, particularly in the state of Oaxaca, and come with environmental costs. Thu, 19 Mar 2026 12:00:00 GMT /americas/2026-03-19/mezcals-popularity-is-booming-in-the-us-that-comes-with-a-growing-environmental-cost-in-mexico Claudia Rosel | Associated Press Farm bill, stripped of food libel language, is headed to the governor /government-politics/2026-03-04/farm-bill-stripped-of-food-libel-language-is-headed-to-the-governor However, the bill would allow farming on conservation land. Wed, 04 Mar 2026 11:44:33 GMT /government-politics/2026-03-04/farm-bill-stripped-of-food-libel-language-is-headed-to-the-governor Jay Waagmeester | Florida Phoenix Florida's agriculture industry could suffer if H-2A workers are too hesitant to come /immigration/2025-10-09/floridas-agriculture-industry-could-suffer-if-h-2a-workers-are-too-hesitant-to-come Farmers said intense immigration enforcement is creating fear among their employees who work on H-2A visas. Thu, 09 Oct 2025 13:26:54 GMT /immigration/2025-10-09/floridas-agriculture-industry-could-suffer-if-h-2a-workers-are-too-hesitant-to-come Nancy Guan Mexican ranchers struggle to adapt as a tiny parasite ravages their cattle exports to the US /americas/2025-08-06/mexican-ranchers-struggle-to-adapt-as-a-tiny-parasite-ravages-their-cattle-exports-to-the-us The U.S. has suspended live cattle imports from Mexico due to concerns about the New World Screwworm, a flesh-eating parasite found in southern Mexico. This suspension has severely impacted ranchers like Martín Ibarra Vargas in Sonora, who are already struggling with drought. The U.S. Department of Agriculture calls the screwworm a "devastating pest" and is taking measures to prevent its spread. Wed, 06 Aug 2025 21:32:00 GMT /americas/2025-08-06/mexican-ranchers-struggle-to-adapt-as-a-tiny-parasite-ravages-their-cattle-exports-to-the-us Fernando Llano and Fabiola Sánchez | Associated Press Florida lawmakers cheer end of U.S. Mexico agreement on tomato imports – but will it raise prices? /business/2025-07-10/florida-lawmakers-cheer-end-of-u-s-mexico-agreement-on-tomato-imports-but-will-it-raise-prices ‘We’ve been decimated,’ a longtime Florida tomato grower says about the industry in the Sunshine State. Thu, 10 Jul 2025 15:00:00 GMT /business/2025-07-10/florida-lawmakers-cheer-end-of-u-s-mexico-agreement-on-tomato-imports-but-will-it-raise-prices Mitch Perry | Florida Phoenix