Florida: Where did all the farmland go?

Seemingly disconnected events and trends around the country have come together to create unprecedented demand for Florida agricultural land. But there’s only one problem: There isn’t enough farmland on the market to satisfy the demand, according to veteran Florida land broker Ben Crosby. [Source: AG Professional]

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Florida schools' biggest sports donors? Students

Students at most of Florida's public universities pay high fees to support their school's sports teams, even though the vast majority of students don't play and many never even attend a game. [Source: AP]

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Ashlar D'Souza has spent more than $100,000 for flight training in Florida. More. [Photo: Norma Lopez Molina]

Florida Trend Exclusive
A wing and a payer: Flight schools in Florida

Thousands of student pilots comprise the growing market of internationals who come to Florida and pay big money to learn to fly at one of its 91 FAA-approved collegiate and vocational schools. Access full story.

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Gas prices at 5-year lows and dropping

Gas prices are falling "like the winter-time snow" up north, reaching five-year lows, travel club AAA said. Nationwide, the average price for regular unleaded gas dropped 10 cents in the past week to $2.66 per gallon on Monday. [Source: South Florida Sun-Sentinel]

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What happens when you decide to leave China?

Reshoring is the hottest trend in U.S. manufacturing. According to a recent study by Boston Consulting Group, 54 percent of all United States companies over $1 billion in revenues are planning or considering bringing at least some of their manufacturing back to the U.S. [Source: Supply&Demand Chain Executive]

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ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› Canadian steel fabricator is backbone of major construction projects in Florida [Miami Herald]
ADF International, a Canadian steel-fabrication company with regional headquarters in Miami Gardens, assembled and installed more than 9,700 tons of structural steel used in construction of the Adrienne Arsht Center in Miami.

› Uber opposes Orlando rules that would let it operate legally [Orlando Sentinel]
After months of ticketing Uber drivers for ignoring the city's taxi regulations, Orlando is deciding whether to adopt new rules to allow the app-based ride service to operate legally.

› Florida’s Madeira Beach declares itself world’s first ‘Bitcoin Beach’ [Coin Report]
Last week, Madeira Beach passed a resolution to become a “Bitcoin Beach,” making the Florida city the first municipality in the world to officially embrace Bitcoin.

› Titusville's Space View Park offers reflection, hope [Florida Today]
Last Friday's test flight of the Orion capsule takes America one step closer to reestablishing our own manned missions into space. A new monument at Space View Park in Titusville provides the opportunity to reflect upon this country's last manned space program.

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› High court rejects BP appeal of spill settlement [AP]
The Supreme Court is leaving in place BP's multibillion-dollar settlement with lawyers for businesses and residents over the 2010 oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

› Townhomes bring European flair to Cocoa Village [Florida Today]
As a lifelong entrepreneur who built a successful career as a restaurateur, music bar owner, and comedy club operator in New York City, Tony O'Flaherty is well-versed in the challenges of starting a business venture, but when he embarked on a building project in Cocoa Village, he was surprised by the intricacies involved in realizing his artistic vision.

› Royal Caribbean Cruises making major global moves [Miami Herald]
Five years ago, Royal Caribbean Cruises made history by launching the world’s largest cruise ship, the 5,400-passenger Oasis of the Seas. These days, the Miami-based company is making waves for a new set of reasons that are less splashy but still bold.

› Third hiring blitz in recent months aims to fill 80 construction jobs [Orlando Sentinel]
Out of work or underemployed carpenters, surveyors and others in the construction-related fields, take heart. Job growth in the industry is gaining momentum and an upcoming Leesburg hiring event is seeking skilled workers in the trade.