News

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) has been required to update all Basin Management Action Plans (BMAP) by July 1, 2025. As part of this requirement, they are adding 5-year milestones (required by House Bill 1379 which was passed in 2023) to each BMAP, where they didn’t…

The U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC) has announced its intent to withdraw from the 2019 Tomato Suspension Agreement. This termination is set to become effective on July 14th, 2025, reinstating 20.91% tariffs on all imported fresh and chilled tomatoes from Mexico. The Tomato Suspension Agreement (TSA)…

By J. Scott Angle, UF/IFAS Senior Vice President As I thank you for your support for the UF/IFAS legislative agenda this year, I emphasize how important that support was at this political moment. This year’s legislative session started with a call from our Senate president for a rural renaissance. That…

Eleven farm families were honored for their sustainability efforts with a County Alliance for Responsible Environmental Stewardship (CARES) award during the 24th Annual Suwannee CARES Celebration at the UF/IFAS North Florida Research and Education Center- Suwannee Valley. The event drew a record-breaking attendance with more…

The American Farm Bureau Federation’s 2025 Communications Award winners named at this year’s Communications Conference, include 16 standout states. The competition recognizes state Farm Bureau professionals from across the country for their exceptional work in communications. Judged against states with similar membership sizes, California, Wisconsin, Illinois, Kansas and Texas…

96 women from across the state gathered for the annual Women’s Leadership Conference in St. Augustine. The conference featured Natalie Kovarik, the co-host of the popular podcast Discover Ag. In addition to a dynamic keynote speaker, the 2025 conference provided women with a unique opportunity to grow…

April 2025 FloridAgriculture eNewsletter Florida Farm Bureau Federation has partnered with the Florida Fruit and Vegetable Association (FFVA) to provide H-2A filing services to members. Florida Farm Bureau members have access to FFVA’s experienced team, who can assist with filing H-2A applications and securing the seasonal workforce for operational needs. …

More than 90 Florida Farm Bureau grassroots members traveled to Washington, D.C., earlier this week to advocate for agriculture in the U.S. Capitol. Florida Farm Bureau leaders, county presidents, Women’s Committee members and the Young Farmers & Ranchers Leadership Group engaged with policy makers and other leaders on important issues…

The USDA has opened Economic Assistance through the Emergency Commodity Assistance Program (ECAP) with sign-up lasting through August 15th, 2025. Pre-filled applications will be sent to producers who certified their acres with the Farm Service Agency during Crop Year 2024. In December 2024, Congress passed a short-term Continuing Resolution (CR)…

April 2025 FloridAgriculture eNewsletter  By J. Scott Angle [email protected] @IFAS_VP Levy County Farm Bureau board member Aaron Lane is among the first to know about fertilizer innovations and how they work on his farm because of his partnership with UF/IFAS. UF/IFAS scientists Mark Warren, Shivendra Kumar and Bob Hochmuth take…

More than 350 grassroots members gathered at the state Capitol on March 18 to meet with legislators during Florida Farm Bureau’s annual Farm Bureau Day. Members discussed key policy issues including the Florida Farm Bill, farm labor housing, a health benefit plan and protecting private property rights. "Farm Bureau Day…

Farm and ranch families from across the nation donated 34.8 million pounds of food and raised $658,606 to help fight hunger and assist in other community service outreach in 2024 through Farm Bureau’s “Harvest for All” program. Combined, the monetary and food donations totaled the equivalent of 29 million…