WOKC Local News – May 21, 2026, 7:40 AM
Transcript
WOKC News. Are things looking up for dairies? With WOKC News, I’m Charles Murphy. Dairy farms have been reduced by 90% in the past few decades across the country. There are 43 farms operating today in Florida owned by 30 different families. Ray Hodge with United Dairy Farmers spoke to Southeast Agnet about trends in the dairy industry. He says some dairies are now producing beef cattle. The milk price has been awful, but with the improved beef prices and us doing what we’ve done genetically to be in a position to take advantage of this, it’s kept us alive. He says milk prices have been stagnant and does not match inflation, but milk production in the state remains steady. Rural schools in Florida remain among the worst. The new grading system, NICHE, takes in data from the U.S. Department of Education. Okeechobee schools like Seminole North got B- grades under this formula. South Elementary Everglades got C-plus Central AC grade. The report found 43% of our students were proficient or at grade level in reading and 46% proficient in math. The average graduation rate for Okeechobee was 75%. The student-teacher ratio in the district was 21 to one per classroom. NICHE determines the academic grades from state assessments, college enrollment data, and survey responses from students and parents. Walpole Ranch could be conserved and preserved. In Martin County, their Environmental Lands Oversight Committee voted to add the Walpole Ranch to the list of ranches they’re targeting. 1,045 acres would be preserved. Voters there in Martin County approved a half-cent sales tax to fund these purchases. Part of the ranch is already under state easement. It’s also part of the Florida Wildlife Corridor. Merritt Matheson, a member of the Environmental Lands Committee, says the Walpole Ranch would fit the ordinance, but there are some legal questions. We need to know that it’s vetted legally before really delving into ranking it. We’re more voting on ranking it and the intent of the ordinance on behalf of the public, not a legal opinion. The Python Challenge is set July 10th through the 19th in the Everglades. They expect to offer $25,000 in prize money this year. Last year, 294 pythons were taken from the wild. Thomas Leinart with South Florida Water Management District served as the emcee for the kickoff ceremony. The goal isn’t to get rid of all of the pythons. This challenge will not do that, but that does raise tremendous awareness. We get international media coverage on it. So that continuing education and removal of pythons, we removed 250-some last year. It’s amazing. And it brings the public out to see the Everglades and become a part of restoration. I’m Charles Murphy, WOKC News.
Recorded from the WOKC daily newscast (Glades Media).