Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam announced Friday that Puerto Rican students displaced by Hurricane Maria will be able to get free school meals through the National School Lunch Program. That’s “in response to the ongoing crisis in Puerto Rico and in preparation for an influx of evacuees,” Putnam’s office said in a release.
For the second year in a row, the Florida Legislature is including $100,000 in its state budget for pesticide disposal services. Pinellas County, in turn, is spreading the word. Through a program called Operation Cleansweep, Florida farms, groves, nurseries, pest control services, greenhouse operations and golf courses can all take advantage of a one-time, EPA-approved pesticide disposal service. The first 750 pounds of removed pesticides, per business, will be disposed of at no cost to the owner. A hazardous waste…
Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam named Aaron Keller today as new press secretary for the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. “Over the past two years, Aaron has proven himself to be a strong communicator and strategic thinker,” Putnam said in a statement Monday. “He will help us deliver key messages about the services we provide to the Floridians we serve.” Since 2013, Keller served in the department’s Office of Communications, as communications coordinator and later as deputy press secretary.…
Capturing an image of the best in Sunshine State wildlife and nature can earn residents and visitors some appreciation — and prizes — in the latest Florida State Forest photo contest. Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam has called for submissions of photos taken at one of Florida’s forests for a competition held every quarter by the Florida State Forest Service. The agency’s photo contest encourages visitors to share images taken at one of more than three dozen Florida state forests. “Our 37…
A Senate water bill passed its final committee stop on Tuesday despite continuing concerns raised by counties and environmentalists. SB 918 replaces a Lake Okeechobee pollution permitting program with more reliance on water cleanup plans, sets deadlines for establishing minimum flow levels for springs, sets timelines for springs cleanup plans and creates a statewide advisory council to recommend funding for water projects. Sen. Charlie Dean, a Republican from Inverness who is bill sponsor, said SB 918 is close to matching…
Florida’s war on marijuana cultivation was an unqualified success last year, according to the annual report from the Domestic Marijuana Eradication (DME) Program. In 2014, sheriff’s deputies and police officers statewide busted a combined 582 marijuana grow houses and outdoor operations, says Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam, who announced the findings on Tuesday. “Our partnership with local law enforcement helps keep marijuana out of our communities, making them safer for the 20 million residents who call Florida home,” Putnam adds. As…