Last
year Governor Charlie Crist brokered a deal for the state to spend more
than a billion dollars to buy thousands of acres of land from the U.S.
Sugar Corporation for Everglades restoration efforts.  The impact of
that purchase is the topic of Wednesday night’s annual conservation forum
at Big Arts on Sanibel.  WGCU’s Valerie Alker has more.

Florida growers spent the day assessing crop damage after Wednesday’s night’s freeze.  It could be several days before the extent of damage is known.  WGCU’s Valerie Alker reports.

Wednesday’s night freezing temperatures wreaked havoc in Florida’s vegetable fields. 
WGCU’s Valerie Alker reports.

Citrus growers say the blast of arctic air moving down the Florida peninsula probably won’t be severe enough to harm trees or ripening fruit.  Valerie Alker reports.

Southwest Florida has become a hotbed of interest in Jatropha; a plant that some believe could become the next big biodiesel fuel source. But environmental advocacy groups don’t want Jatropha farms in Florida. WGCU’s John Davis has more.

Florida’s
Water managers narrowly approved a deal yesterday to pay more than a
billion dollars for a large swath of farmland to help restore the
everglades. But official’s risked losing the deal altogether by making
a counter offer. U.S. Sugar officials have insisted they’re not willing
to renegotiate. Trimmel Gomes has more…

As Water managers debate the 1.34 billion dollar US Sugar deal - opponents mount their last stand against the Everglades plan. Trimmel Gomes reports.

271 development workers from 28 countries have been in North Ft. Myers this week for the 2008 Echo Agricultural Conference.  ECHO operates a seed bank and teaches sustainable agriculture techniques – everything from urban gardening to strategies for keeping monkeys out the corn.  The attendees are diverse but have a common ethic.  WGCU’s Valerie Alker was there and prepared this report.

U.S. Sugar and the state of Florida have announced an agreement on the much-anticipated deal to purchase 180-thousand-acres of farmland near Lake Okeechobee in order to help with Everglades Restoration. Rick Stone reports.

Florida’s Seminole tribe plans to buy and sell beef raised on Florida’s reservations. Peter Granitz reports from Capitol Hill.