TAMPA, FL -- There is good news and bad news for Florida farmers. The bad news is that yet another cold front -- the third of this month -- is expected to frost the state Dec. 27-29. The good news, according to the National Weather Service station, here, is that the cold should be the last severe front of the season.

For vegetable and berry growers along California's southern and central coast, there are some short-term downsides to the heavy rainfall received over a weeklong period beginning about mid-December. But many farmers statewide will benefit from an improved water outlook for 2010, as significant amounts of rain, as well as snow in the Sierra Mountains, will assure them of better water deliveries than they experienced in 2010.

The owners of South Africa's ALG Estates, one of that country’s leading producers and exporters of citrus, have been awarded the prestigious Farmer of the Year Award by the society of Agricultural Writers of South Africa. The annual award, now in its 33rd year, is among the country’s more coveted agricultural prizes.

Brothers Gerrit and Alwyn van der Merwe along with Gerrit van der Merwe Jr. earned the accolades based on their farming and scientific agricultural merit and exemplary achievements with good planning and dedication in all kinds of conditions and environments.

Luther Burbank, an agricultural pioneer, horticulturist and botanist, was responsible for successfully developing over 800 plant varieties throughout his long career. Among some of the more popular species were the Freestone peach, Santa Rosa plum, Wickson plum, Flaming Gold nectarine and the popular Shasta daisy.

In the 1870s, Mr. Burbank was also responsible for developing the russet potato. These long, cylindrical, heavily netted gems eventually became quite popular with consumers.

Let the contest begin. The 2011 Potato Lover's Month Retail Display Contest is officially open.

Every February for 20 consecutive years, thousands of produce aisles around the country become the Mecca for Idaho potato lovers. Produce managers put their merchandising skills to the test in an attempt to create the top tater display during the Idaho Potato Commission’s Potato Lover’s Month Retail Display Contest.

WASHINGTON — Food safety legislation, left for dead several times over the last year, passed the House of Representatives by a 215 to 144 vote Dec. 21, clearing the way for President Obama to sign it into law.

In a surprise move, Senate Democrats resuscitated the bill Dec. 19 by attaching it to HR 2751, the Consumer Assistance to Recycle & Save Act, and passed it by unanimous consent. After a 40-minute debate, the House approved it.