California Agriculture

Two of nine grants by the University of California at Davis-based statewide Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program, UC SAREP, will fund two entries titled, "Solano County's Agriculture Sustainability at the Crossroads ... Which Way to turn, What Choices Will Count" and "Needs Assessment for Small-Scale Livestock Harvesting and Processing Facilities in Northern California."

Florida Agriculture

The USDA’s Pickhardt said the planned quarantine has not been finalized and would be temporary, after which the agency would revisit it to determine whether it should be extended. The ban will protect other states’ citrus growing industries, and won’t harm Florida’s, she said. “We have preserved 97.5% of Florida’s market for fresh fruit.”

Texas Agriculture

McElroy added that growers who make their living selling fresh fruit rely heavily on the markets that are set to be closed off, and will be hurt badly. He suggested that the agency, in making this decision, may even be bowing to pressure from other citrus growing states. “The USDA acknowledges having extensive discussions with California, Texas and other states whose industries are competitive with ours” to come up with the plan, he said.

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