Our agricultural Extension programs help farmers, ranchers, and agribusinesses with the best UF/ IFAS agricultural research information. They can assist local producers learn to grow, market, process, and use local farm products, and how to adjust to changing economic conditions

Biofuel Frenzy hits the USA

Biofuel crop production - 8 crops currently have been evaluated for Florida potential:

switchgrass	peanut
miscanthus	canola
sweet sorghum	elephantgrass
soybean	sugar cane

Other UF/IFAS Energy crop publications are available - Click this website

USDA Technology Transfer Information Center Biofuel website

including news feeds, funding, research reports and links to more information

Click here!

Horse Owner Alert:

Equine Herpes Info: click here

UF/IFAS & FAMU

Small Farms website - Click Here!

Okeechobee's Famous Agricultural Leaders

Congratulations to our native son,

“Pete” Clemons

Named in 2007 by Charles Bronson, Florida Commissioner of Agriculture to the Florida Agricultural Hall of Fame

Click on his picture to see more about Pete!

Louis E. “Red” Larson

Florida Commissioner of Agriculture’s 2005 Agricultural-Environmental Leadership Award. For details, click here

2005 Sunbelt Farmer of the Year Click here to learn more!

And guess who's provided a very generous gift to UF/IFAS? Click here.

Sonny Williamson Jr.

was named one of the 2005 inductees to the Fl Ag Hall of Fame

For details on Sonny, click here.

Local Agricultural Producers: Our office is providing this list of local growers and ranchers that sell direct to local residents - contact us if you want to be listed - or know someone who ought to be here....

Sod Production in Okeechobee County

UF/IFAS Sod Production Links

Turfgrass Science at the University of Florida

Turf Industry Links

Florida Sod Growers Cooperative P. O. Box 217 LaBelle, FL 33975 863-675-2144

Florida Turfgrass Association Orlando, FL 32801(800) 882-6721

Local Sod Producer Links

Coco Sod Farms

Lykes Bros., Inc. Okeechobee 863-763-3041 Email: lykesranch@okeechobee.com

R & D Sod Farms, Inc. Okeechobee 863-763-7882

Sod Services LLC Okeechobee 863-634-8324

Willaway Cattle & Sod, LP Okeechobee
863-634-9132 Email: willaway@wildblue.net


Commercial Vegetable Producers
Newsletters:	Production Manuals
THE VEGETARIAN - state-wide newsletter for commercial vegetable producers	2007-2008 UF Vegetable Production Guide for Florida (SP-170) contains latest production and pest management recommendations for producers. Link to Menu of Topics/ Contents *Contact our office if you wish a paper copy of this document!*
Organic Production & Marketing Newsletter organic and sustainable production news for fruit and vegetable producers
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA PEST AND DISEASE HOTLINE - Hendry County Vegetable Agent Gene McAvoy's award winning newsletter for commercial vegetable growers	Final FDACS document Vegetable & Row Crop BMP manual Note: This will open a 171 page pdf file!

Division of Forestry - Okeechobee Field office Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services
	Farm Security & Bio-terrorism - ideas on how to protect your farm from terrorism, vandalism, contaminations, unusual pests, and other things that go bump in the night....
	Pre-Harvest Security Guidelines and Checklist 2006 A 20 page booklet that suggests voluntary security practices for agricultural producers- download by clicking on the title above. (Print copies are available from the local NRCS office.)
USDA NRCS Farm Service Agency -	Conservation plans, soil surveys, cost share assistance, etc.
Florida Farm Bureau - the voice of Agriculture in the Sunshine State.	Okeechobee County Farm Bureau 401 NW 4th St. Okeechobee, Florida 34972 Phone: (863) 763-3101 Fax : (863) 763-1624	American Farm Bureau - the National Voice of Agriculture
		Young Farmers and Rancher Programs Click Here!

	Trade names, where used, are given for the purpose of providing specific information. They do not constitute an endorsement or guarantee of products named, nor does it imply criticism of products not named. The Florida Cooperative Extension Service - Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer authorized to provide research, educational information, and other services to individuals and institutions that function without regard to race, color, sex, age, handicap, or national origin. Florida Cooperative Extension Service / IFAS / University of Florida. Larry A. Arrington, Dean. This page is maintained by Dan Culbert Last Update: 03/31/2008

The last set of data comes from the 1992 Census of Agriculture. For general information on the Census of Agriculture, click here. For local and state data, please go to links below.
Okeechobee County Profile Click Here	Florida State Summary Click Here
Florida State Statistics Service 2002 Okeechobee Co. profile click here	FASS State summary click here

Okeechobee County Beef Production UF/IFAS Extension links:	Industry Links:
South Florida Beef Forage Program	Florida Cattleman's Association
Central Florida Livestock Agent's Group
UF/IFAS Department of Animal Science @ Gainesville
UF/IFAS Range Cattle Research & Education Center @ Ona

Okeechobee County Citrus Growers
New Link to January 2007 Seminar - click here.
Treasure Coast Citrus Notes (St. Lucie County) - Click here	Flatwoods Citrus Newsletter (Hendry County)- Click here for link
UF/IFAS Extension links:	Industry Links:
UF/IFAS Indian River Research & Education Center @ Fort Pierce	Indian River Citrus League
UF/IFAS Citrus Research & Education Center @ Lake Alfred	Florida Citrus Mutual
Florida Citrus Resources	Citrus Pest Management Guide
Okeechobee Citrus Canker Information page	Indian River Citrus BMP Site

	Every five years the USDA conducts an assessment of agricultural production and economic conditions surrounding our nations food and fiber industry.
	Report forms for the 2007 Census of Agriculture were due by February 4, 2008. Producers who have not returned their forms should contact our office. Click here to learn more about the 2007 Census of Agriculture