Hello DeSoto and Sarasota County Producers!

It have true hodge-podge of information to share with you today. And as always, if you need to find any information I’ve sent in the past few months, here is a link to the archive: https://blogs.ifas.ufl.edu/sarasotaco/tag/pgm_ag/

Sarasota County Producers:

• Sarasota County will be receiving approximately $75 million in CARES Act funds from the federal government to offset government and community costs due to COVID-19. On behalf of our business community, the EDC is gathering feedback from the business community to help them make recommendations to Sarasota County leadership for usage of the CARES Act funds. Please take a few moments to complete a brief survey. Your responses are critical in determining the portion of federal funding that the county allocates to economic recovery.
  • Here’s the link to the survey: TAKE THE SURVEY

DeSoto County Producers:

• The UF research team that specializes in Agricultural Water Resource Management want to hear directly from you about what you think they should focus their research efforts on. They are reaching out to producers in ten counties across Florida and DeSoto County is one of those counties. If you are willing to spend ten or fifteen minutes taking this anonymous survey, the research team will be much obliged. Your answers are an important part of determining the direction of agricultural water research for the next few years.
  • Here’s the link to the survey: https://ufl.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_2mM0kFR8CRM3pYN

Livestock Producers (and horse and show-animal owners):

• “COVID-19 Considerations for Animal Activities at Fairs, Shows, and Other Events.”
  • The CDC has published this new guidance – it provides biosecurity steps and materials for maintaining healthy environments in animal interaction areas, precautions for animals, maintaining healthy operation, and social distancing strategies for livestock and horse shows.
  • Here’s the link to the guidance: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/animals/events-animal-activities.html

• Confirmed Horse diseases:
  • As of about 10 days ago, the 9^th case of Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) was confirmed in Florida horses. This is a terrible disease that can be prevented through vaccination and mosquito control. CLICK HERE for more information regarding EEE and contact your veterinarian for information about the vaccine.
  • A horse in Broward County tested positive for Strangles about ten days ago, with 11 known horses exposed to the diseased animal. The horse and its premises are under quarantine, with travel restrictions. CLICK HERE for more information regarding Strangles.
  • Not a disease, but very alarming: about ten days ago, a horse owners in Collier County found one of their horses dead and butchered. Collier County Sheriff’s Department is investigating this incident as well as a similar incident a few months ago.

Fruit and Vegetable Producers:

• If you want a chance to testify at the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) field hearings on unfair produce trade with Mexico, please read on: The USTR recently announced that field hearings originally scheduled in April will now take place on August 13 and August 20 in a virtual setting. These hearings will give the U.S. Department of Commerce and Trump Administration an opportunity to hear from Florida’s seasonal produce growers on the urgent need for federal action on unfair foreign trade.
• Monday, July 27^th is the deadline to request to testify at either hearing, so act fast if you want the chance to talk.
• Click here for more details.

All my best to all of you,

Sarah Bostick

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