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Rescue dogs used in Florida to protect the state’s agriculture

Five dogs are sniffing out issues in Florida

By Diego Flammini, Farms.com

Farmers are always looking for ways to protect their crops, whether it be through pesticides, insecticides and drones that fly above the fields and map out the problem areas.

Florida’s Department of Agriculture is protecting the state’s $120 billion agriculture industry by recruiting man’s best friend.

“Dogs' unparalleled sense of smell makes them indispensable to multiple industries, including law enforcement and health care. Here at the department, our working dogs are an integral part of our early detection efforts to identify invasive pests and disease that threaten Florida's agriculture industry,” stated Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam.

There are currently five dogs, ranging from three to seven years old employed by the Department of Agriculture. They’ve most recently been detecting Giant African Land Snails, which are considered one of the most damaging snails on Earth because they’re known to eat as many as 500 different types of plants.

This isn’t the first time Florida has used dogs to protect the state’s agriculture.

Earlier in May 2015, dogs were used together with drones to detect which avocado trees are infected with laurel wilt; which emits a scent that dogs can pick up.

If dogs can be used to identify infected and diseased plants, what other animals could be used to help farmers protect their farms?

Goats are sometimes put into fields and act as a weed management tool by eating up the invasive weeds while some pigs are used to find truffle mushrooms.

Join the conversation and tell us what other animals could be used to protect your farm.


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US “Flash Drought” Worst in 133-160 Years + Disease taking a Bite out of US 2025 Corn/Soybean Crops

Video: US “Flash Drought” Worst in 133-160 Years + Disease taking a Bite out of US 2025 Corn/Soybean Crops


A dry August and a “flash drought” in the ECB (Eastern Corn Belt) the driest top 10 to 15 years in 150 to 160 years (Ohio the driest in 133 years) plus disease is taking a bite out of the 2025 U.S. corn and soybean crops.
It's going to be an early harvest. This could be the start of the 89-year drought cycle that may have been delayed until 2026 as La Nina maybe returning.
The USDA September crop report is all about record corn ears and record soybean counts but the October USDA crop report will be about pod and ear weights.
Stats Canada reported higher forecasts for the 2025 Canadian Prairies all wheat and canola crops vs. last year based on satellite imagery but are they overestimating production?
The 2025 Great ON Yield Tour and Quebec crop tours are projecting corn and soybean crops below the 10-year average.
China's Vice Commerce Ministry Li Chenggang visits Washington this week as we continue to connect the dots is a positive sign towards a China/U.S. trade deal. But will U.S. farmers have a winter without China as they buy more soybeans from Uruguay/Argentina? U.S. Northern Plain soybean farmers are seeing red with flat prices at $8.97/bu!
U.S. corn exports on record pace up 99% vs. last year.
Fund short covering continues in corn futures bottom is in!