News

July 2024 FloridAgriculture eNewsletter The United States agricultural trade deficit is set to increase substantially to $32 billion in the 2024 fiscal year. This is a $1.5 billion increase from the February projection, according to the USDA Economic Research Service’s May 2024 Outlook.  After learning of this concerning increase, the…

July 2024 FloridAgriculture eNewsletter Reflecting on recent events in Tallahassee, the 2024 legislative session concluded successfully in March. Although some priorities didn’t make it across the finish line, many budget and policy victories were achieved.   With the leadership of Florida Agricultural Commissioner Wilton Simpson, along with the support of Senate…

July 2024 FloridAgriculture eNewsletter Florida Farm Bureau welcomes two new staff members, Tripp Hunter and Lance Watson. Hunter is the Director of State Legislative Affairs and Watson the Director of National Legislative affairs. Both will be working out of the Tallahassee office.  About Tripp Hunter  Tripp Hunter was born and…

July 2024 FloridAgriculture eNewsletter Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Jacksonville District (USACE) has issued a Notice of Availability for the Lake Okeechobee System Operating Manual (LOSOM) Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). USACE is proposing a new regulation schedule for Lake Okeechobee…

July 2024 FloridAgriculture eNewsletter On May 23, the House Agriculture Committee marked up their version of the Farm Bill during a debate that lasted 13 hours and contained many amendments. The bill passed out of committee with favorable votes from all Republicans on the committee and four Democrats. Florida Congresswoman…

July 2024 FloridAgriculture eNewsletter By Rob Gilbert [email protected] @IFAS_VP Former Putnam/St. Johns County Farm Bureau board member Eric Hjort is a leader. That means he works on behalf of Florida agriculture, not just for Tater Farms. Part of how he does that is by working with UF/IFAS. Our capacity to…

Families celebrating the 4th of July holiday will continue to find stubbornly high prices at the grocery store. An Independence Day cookout will cost $71.22 for 10 guests this year, based on the 2024 American Farm Bureau Federation annual marketbasket survey. The grocery bill is up 5% from 2023, and…

Florida Farm Bureau President Jeb S. Smith has been appointed by the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to serve on the Seasonal and Perishable Agricultural Products Advisory Committee. This newly established committee was created…

American Farm Bureau Young Farmers and Ranchers committee chair and Alachua County dairy farmer Kevin Lussier testified to the Senate Agriculture Subcommittee on commodities, risk management and trade on Tuesday, June 4 in Washington, D.C.   During his testimony, Lussier shared the importance of helping the next generation…

Written by Blaire Fisher and Bobby Floyd, YF&R Class X Leadership Group After an exhilarating experience at the American Farm Bureau Young Farmers and Ranchers (YF&R) conference, we eagerly returned to Gainesville for session four of our YF&R leadership training. This session was brimming with insightful lessons, camaraderie and…

June 2024 FloridAgriculture eNewsletter By Rob Gilbert [email protected] @IFAS_VP Florida agriculture has a recipe for profitable farming that protects water quality. The ingredients include science, financial incentives, and encouragement from peers. We’re fortunate in Florida to have a great partnership to supply you with all of the above. The University…

June 2024 FloridAgriculture eNewsletter The election of pork producer delegate candidates for the 2025 National Pork Producers (Pork Act) Delegate Body will take place at 10:00am on Thursday, July 25, 2024, in conjunction with a Board of Directors meeting of the Florida Pork Improvement Group at the Florida FFA Association…