Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam’s Weekly Newsletter

July 6, 2012 Government No Comments

July 6, 2012

Ag in the News

Putnam Supports FL Tomato Growers

Commissioner of Agriculture Adam Putnam sent a letter to Acting Secretary of Commerce Rebecca Blank urging the U.S. Department of Commerce to accept the tomato industry’s request for withdrawal of the 1996 antidumping petition and terminate the current suspension agreement.In 1996, tomato growers in Florida and across the United States, with support from the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, filed the antidumping petition requesting relief from unfairly traded imports of fresh tomatoes from Mexico. (Southeast Ag Net http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001Ycc-4ZY3x0PI9gqH3GFO5sF0iYSTOrfmxRot4m_3 JwlrE0fzA5n44OG28lUEbiviwzOMvrNS88rHKa-HUY4NisyEnqLuZtqRe56JI-9FJt9q0KLx lm3Oey54iShHmwaPncLEk60bLKSTf-ozzyNdeMSkMxjhxx6hpdHNZk_aj2ZV0NwhI4AQyCTZ NmBAPo88> , 7/2)

State Re-opens Some Shellfish Areas Following Tropical Storm Debby The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services announced that the following shellfish area(s) will be re-opened at sunrise on Monday, July 2, 2012 for the harvest of oysters, clams, and mussels. In this context, shellfish does not include scallops, shrimp, or crabs. The re-opening of the waters is in compliance with the management plan. If you have any further questions about the closing of shellfish harvesting area please contact our staff members Carrie Jones or Jeff Wren at (850) 653-8317. (WCTV http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001Ycc-4ZY3x0M5iu6DcRRLSxEyA2TS_uHyFuasz0WV 53H8zNFxDACG2OKOZ5HqBPx-14C0FT1YOfSlEgLF6N5EdfJvuDJ8DwkyVOtH-_fm1Q7JNcr3 U0TPMNysgzVitv9UgfuAhK017rRqPpGzU6UDacbsS4WXuMgTOJ1cv_nIxZaKt37yp6IceQ== > , 7/3)

Tropical Storm Debby Reduced Wildfire Risk in Florida

A positive from the heavy rains that poured across Florida from this week’s lingering visit of Tropical Storm Debby is that the threat of wildfires has diminished. Still, Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam cautions people to be responsible while celebrating the Independence Day holiday. “Every year, Americans celebrate the independence of our nation and the sacrifices of those who fight to keep us free,” Putnam stated in a release. “Fireworks are an integral and historical part of those celebrations; however, fire safety is everyone’s responsibility.” Since Jan. 1, the state has recorded 2,321 wildfires burning 102,590 acres throughout Florida. On Friday, the state reported that no county had an active burn ban in place. (Sunshine State News http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001Ycc-4ZY3x0O-AorBdc7zYnM9LNRsC-j7hkyR69y1 N89iYqFRP20e0WNjMHHMHMLTmYQRzZs7Btpr4Hw_lJsd1g7YXOZQoIgNBlfqKLu5Vcp6qE1A sLTB0yVwL9ha5TNH8N_JU_4BA_oB3DHCuM0iNWDUj8gPftveJNTVvSp8EBpogzJNun9Ylcpg N4AO-8gtEfoYyV1cwf4=> , 7/1)

Ag Commissioner Adam Putnam Calls for Disaster Declaration

Commissioner of Agriculture Adam Putnam has called on U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack to designate parts of Florida as primary natural disaster areas once agricultural losses resulting from Tropical Storm Debby are quantified. “The excessive rainfall, flooding, flash flooding, high winds, lightning and multiple tornadoes the storm inflicted caused extensive damage to both the quality and quantity of many of our crops, as well as to the grazing pastures so critical to our livestock producers,” said Commissioner Putnam. “A disaster declaration will help Florida’s agricultural producers access much needed assistance.” The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services is working closely with U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) to quantify agricultural losses and determine which of Florida’s counties meet the threshold for a primary Secretarial Disaster Declaration from USDA. (Foster Folly News http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001Ycc-4ZY3x0PsasBYdD9wEukAgqZjeOHddLE8pQm3 Ro-XsYjOSr3THr3oo1BRuWx5rheO51septliFJnhhBlRRsKfXS3cmuZETtSbsDP7l065tbWZ Qces2M1FcErr9YSDsm7jJ8MPDE9kukSOaBrsKCcuG5Fr2O89A-sUcZauxjCFALiNMMEYhVyI nlR4ItWM6NKIwAzUVrw=> , 7/5)

Homegrown Policy Trumps Feds’ One-Size-Fits-All Option I believe Florida is best positioned and most capable of protecting its own rivers, streams and coastal waters. In addition to having a long-standing successful program to manage the quality of Florida’s water resources, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has developed scientifically sound water-quality standards that have been approved by the Florida Legislature, Environmental Regulation Commission and governor. Most recently, a state administrative law judge came to the same conclusion when he upheld the DEP-proposed water-quality standards. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will now evaluate and determine whether the state standards are adequate or whether the EPA will impose its own standards on the state. (Orlando Sentinel http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001Ycc-4ZY3x0NOl_5Yauxh-ei73u4Urwm_Zi0SSLWM 09ZQfLvmvgt4OSUG-AA6fRD1K7iXQpEz7LvhRtjAX74S9NPZdOwj9Z1E-gA4z9Q03MUHaVkr cr0Kls4oxwYPPsObxxAeU1z00UjJf29WhTQH0Y1GuivWMAqJaKGhNE0zgAUPDc8GTiu87eDd caH65Sq_ILl2yeIMZr97WhRRHgQm4bcJswyMsOx589RAUX_AJSXagY2vQVgMJdAhGIavUrFz 51MnkC2sctZrA9r27MGFnh1EPjPO6-gR> , 7/6)

At the Department

As a result of legislation passed during the 2012 legislative session, it is free for Floridians to subscribe to the Florida’s Do Not Call List. An overwhelming number of Floridians have taken advantage of this service, nearly tripling the list of numbers since the fee was eliminated.

On July 1, 294,342 numbers and 158,962 subscribers were added to Florida’s Do Not Call List. These numbers are now protected from unsolicited sales calls.

The list, managed by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, is updated on a quarterly basis and subscribers remain on the list for five years. Floridians may subscribe at www.800helpfla.com http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001Ycc-4ZY3x0OpHE2WAXUJj-ahK1ekvD5zoN-kEXeG dkBroie7-JIEXzZZZl_LobsghyA1x8pyj0-vlmPt-bVIuvHHgv9Zjk1CtHQIpMKtLsD0k6WH o8VFOw==> to be added to Florida’s Do Not Call List at the end of the quarter, October 1.

Subscribers who receive unsolicited calls from sales persons are encouraged to collect as much information as possible from the caller, including the name of the caller, the product offered, the name of the business and its address. Subscribers may report unsolicited sales calls by calling the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services at 1-800-HELP-FLA or filing a complaint online at www.800helpfla.com http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001Ycc-4ZY3x0OpHE2WAXUJj-ahK1ekvD5zoN-kEXeG dkBroie7-JIEXzZZZl_LobsghyA1x8pyj0-vlmPt-bVIuvHHgv9Zjk1CtHQIpMKtLsD0k6WH o8VFOw==> .

In This Issue

Ag in the News

At the Department: Do Not Call List

A Look Ahead:

Monday, July 9: Commissioner Putnam will visit the Badia Senior Center, Miami, FL

Tuesday, July 10: Commissioner Putnam will deliver remarks at the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce Town Hall Meeting, Miami, FL

Commissioner Putnam will attend the Summer BreakSpot Kick-off at Fit Kids of America, Miami,FL

Wednesday, July 11: Commissioner Putnam will tour farms, Homestead, FL

Friday, July 13: Commissioner Putnam will meet with the Daytona Beach News Journal Editorial Board, Daytona Beach, FL

http://visitor.r20.constantcontact.com/email.jsp?m=1106770500259

Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Communications@FreshFromFlorida.com

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