DACS: In Case You Missed It - May 20, 2011

Ag in the News Lee County Students Get Tasty, Healthy Foods Carolina Otero, 10, had never tasted cantaloupe. Skylnn Barilla-Sturgis, 10, had never eaten guacamole. But they did at Heights Elementary School on Tuesday — and liked it. Students at Heights Elementary School and those at 25 other Lee County schools had the chance to taste different fruits and vegetables thanks to the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and Mary Ann Bucceroni, the district’s healthy living lab instructor. (News Press, 5/17)       Lee Students Learn Healthy Foods, As State Agriculture Dept. Prepares To Take Over Menus Some Lee co. public school students learned about healthy foods, as the state agriculture department prepares to take over menus, perhaps as soon as this August. "We want to show the kids that healthy eating and food preparation can be fun," said Chef Justin Timineri of the Fl. Agriculture Dept. (WINK, 5/17) Editorial: Rid Schools of Junk Food? Florida Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam says he might restrict junk food sales from school vending machines and press fast-food vendors that serve schools to offer healthier menus to curb an epidemic of obesity among students. First, Gov. Rick Scott has to sign a bill to transfer the oversight of school nutritional programs to Putnam's department. Putnam says the obesity epidemic, left unchecked, will burden Florida with higher health-care costs. Do you support the commissioner’s initiative? Take the poll! (Orlando Sentinel, 5/20) Ag Commissioner Adam Putnam Wants Legislature To "Clarify" Legality Of Internet Cafes Agriculture and Consumer Services Commissioner Adam Putnam told reporters Wednesday that the Legislature needs to clarify Florida law so his agency can deal with the explosion of internet cafes across the state. Are the rooms a form of illegal gambling or a sweepstakes, which his agency oversees? “Clarification is needed. There is no question in my mind that there is an ambiguity in the law itself, which is leading to uneven enforcement. And that’s unhealthy regardless of who the impact parties are. You can’t have a rule of law that is subject to an individual sheriff or state attorney’s interpretation. So even the internet cafes would say that there is an ambiguity. And so the short answer is, yes, it needs to be clarified.” (Miami Herald 5/18)   Cabinet Okays Pasco Channel Near Sunwest Harbourtowne Gov. Rick Scott and the Florida Cabinet gave the go-ahead Tuesday for developers to dig an 85-foot wide boat channel through more than 27 acres of sea grass in northwest Pasco County. The vote gives the county and SunWest Harbourtowne builders the land rights to dredge the waterway near the planned 2,500-home development. The 4-mile channel would be at a future county park equipped with seven boat ramps and 250 boat parking spaces. (St. Petersburg Times, 5/18)   Questions Persist On Future Of Florida Forever Land Buying Program The governor and Cabinet on Tuesday approved a new conservation land-buying list and the purchase of a 55-acre addition to Natural Bridge Battlefield State Park near Tallahassee. But the moves only came after Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam questioned the Natural Bridge purchase and said he wants more information about the vision of the Florida Forever land-buying program. He pointed out earlier during the meeting that Florida may have more land that it can sell, as bonds used to buy the land are retired. (Florida Tribune, 5/17) Commissioner Spotlight Tuesday morning, Commissioner Putnam met with Governor Rick Scott and the Cabinet for their twice monthly meeting. Commissioner Putnam then met with the University of Florida and Florida State University Climate Impact team to discuss the impact of climate change and variability on Florida’s agriculture and food industries. The Commissioner and Climate Impact team also discussed the short and long term requirements for policy development, research, and extension in support of Florida’s farming and agri-food communities. That evening, he delivered remarks to the Gadsden County Cattlemen’s Association.  Wednesday afternoon, Commissioner Putnam hosted a meet and greet with Department employees. He also attended a question and answer session with Capitol area reporters. Thursday morning, Commissioner Putnam delivered remarks at the Florida Council of 100 annual meeting in West Palm Beach. Former Governor Jeb Bush was also in attendance.  Friday, Commissioner Putnam attended the Palm Beach Chamber of Commerce Awards Banquet. During the banquet, Commissioner Putnam honored George Wedgeworth as the Community Leader of the Year. Wedgeworth is one of the founders of the Sugar Cane Growers Cooperative of Florida. Commissioner Putnam also visited West Gate Elementary School in West Palm Beach, where he met with the Palm Beach County School Food Services Director, Fran Hickman, and school principal, Thais Villanueva, to discuss their participation in the Farm to School Program. While there, he served the “vegetable of the day” to students and joined them for lunch in the cafeteria. At the Department Do the names Charley, Frances, Ivan and Wilma sound familiar?  If not, they should.  They are some of the major hurricanes that have impacted Florida with their destructive force in recent years.  Hurricane season begins on June 1, and the Division of Animal Industry, as part of its emergency preparedness mission, wants you to be prepared to keep your pets and livestock safe from the storm. Pet and livestock owners should have an emergency preparedness plan for their animals just as they do for their families.  People may need to leave their homes quickly and a well thought out plan will help ensure the safety of animals and the peace of mind of their owners. The following are tips that animal owners can follow in an emergency: Pets and small animals: ·         Keep ID tags and vaccinations up-to-date and take proper identification and health papers with you if you evacuate. ·         Prepare a pet evacuation kit, including food and water for one week, a manual can opener, medications, medical/vaccination record, a pet carrier and bedding. ·         When traveling, properly secure pets in the vehicle. Horses and livestock: ·         Keep vaccinations and other health requirements up-to-date. ·         If possible, make arrangements in advance for evacuation of horses. Know where you can take your horses for shelter along your evacuation route. ·         Make sure your horse trailer is “ready to go” or other transport arrangements are prepared well in advance. ·         Carry your vaccination record, Coggins test and health papers with you.  ·         Include animal handling equipment and a supply of feed and water. ·         Have a point of destination before departure and be sure to evacuate as soon as possible to avoid traffic delays. ·         Horses and livestock are difficult to evacuate, so you may have to shelter them in a safe place. If evacuation is not possible: ·         Reinforce your barn and outbuildings with hurricane straps and other measures. ·         Open gates or remove fencing so that animals may move to higher ground in a flood and to low-lying areas during high winds. ·         Install a hand pump and fill enough large containers to water your animals for at least one week. ·         Identify alternate water and power sources. A generator with a safely stored supply of fuel may be essential to the well-being of your animals. ·         Secure or remove anything that could become blowing debris. Visit the Division of Animal Industry website, http://www.freshfromflorida.com/ai/, and click on “Emergency Management” for additional information to help you get a plan. A Look Ahead ·         Monday, May 23: Commissioner Putnam will meet with U.S. Customs and Border Protection Port Director and the Acting Assistant Director and tour the agricultural and plant inspection facilities and operations at the Miami International Airport, Miami, FL. ·         Tuesday, May 24: Commissioner Putnam will tour the USDA Tropical Research Facility, Miami, FL.

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