News Cast for April 29th:
Okeechobee County Commissioners discussed more concerns from Lazy 7 residents about truck traffic.
Commissioner Terry Burroughs told the board that more semi’s and large trucks are using SW 67th Drive again to get to agriculture operations.
The property houses a vegetable growing operation but also a mining operation.
“I think we should make sure there is a speed limit for these trucks. I don’t think we can limit the amount of trucks. You can’t manage that. I don’t want to do something we can’t manage because it makes no sense to me.”
Commissioners discussed the right to farm act and trying to protect farmers and agriculture.
Brad Goodbread expressed concerns about too many restrictions.
“I don’t want to shut down anybody. I’m pro-farmer, I’m pro horse trailer and pro watermelon.”
Martin County Commissioners turned down an industrial project on Martin Grade west of I-95.
Supporters say the 205 acre Sunshine Grove Project is in an ideal spot for industry, right along the interstate.
Opponents said the county already has enough industrial land and don’t extend the urban services boundary miles to the west.
Chairwoman Sarah Heard said this project is 15 years old.
“The fact that this was approved in 2010 and remains undeveloped confirms that was a mistake.”
Commissioner Ed Ciampi said it was not the developers fault but the global recession’s fault.
“I don’t use that as a ah ha, it didn’t work.”
The commission also voted 3-2 to allow vehicle manufacturing on the next door property of 1700 acres to use as agriculture technical land.
Groups continue to support the Florida Wildlife Corridor.
The University of Florida Research Center, the Florida Fruits and Vegetable Association, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and Florida Smart Agriculture held a meeting to support having the state make payments to farmers and ranchers that provide ecosystem benefits to the state.
The groups said it will help keep farms and ranches profitable and operational and also gain public support for funding more land conservation.
The state has begun to pay ranches for the Florida panther habitat they provide. The pilot program provides $7 to $17 per
acre for panthers. Ranchers are also paid if they install wildlife cameras on their property.
In the past quarter 69 farming operations in Florida have applied for panther assistance and 68 lands are being reviewed. The state estimates there are up to 230 panthers roaming in the wild.
Three of these applications came from Okeechobee County, one from Glades County, 11 from Highlands County and five from Osceola County.
80 percent of the land currently within the Florida Wildlife Corridor are not protected and are either ranches or timberlands.
The state has 36.6 million acres in agriculture production, about one-third of the land mass in the state. The industry provides 1.3 million jobs.
Producers said production costs continue to rise. The estimate is a 40 percent increase since COVID hit. Diesel fuel prices alone have risen between 20-40 percent.
84 percent of landowners polled were interested in the panther payment program.
The group said there is growing competition for these lands as developers move inland to build housing projects and other developments.
A 28-year old Okeechobee man faces boating and criminal charges after an inspection by State Wildlife Officers at Nubbin Slough.
An arrest affidavit for Noah Osborne showed he was charged with tampering with evidence, violation of probation, having an unregistered vessel, and molesting game during closed season.
He also received warnings or citations for hunting in prohibited water management district lands, improper use of hunting dogs, not having enough life jackets, and improper use of lights.
The affidavit said Osborne showed signs of impairment during the arrest.
Osborne allegedly admitted to throwing a wild hog into the water and drowning it when he saw wildlife officers at the boat ramp.