News

August 2024 FloridAgriculture eNewsletter On July 2, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) released a proposed rule which they believe will help protect workers from extreme heat. If the rule is finalized, the agency estimates it could help protect more than 36 million workers in outdoor and indoor settings…

Florida Farm Bureau Federation has announced a statewide mental health initiative to help better understand the challenges and needs of Florida farmers and ranchers. Together, we can reduce the stigma and ensure Florida farmers and ranchers live full, healthy lives.    The Mind Your Melon Farmer Wellbeing…

Hurricane Debby has impacted areas of the Sunshine State with wind and heavy rain. This page contains resources from the Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services. Overview of USDA Program Flexibilities for Hurricane Recovery OAWP Issues Emergency Rule for Hurricane Debby Replacement Fertilizer Applications Critical Access Memo Memorandum to…

 With a hunger to grow their leadership skills and desire to meet other young professionals, more than 200 agriculturalists gathered in West Palm Beach for the 2024 Young Farmers and Ranchers Leadership Conference July 12-14. The conference offered motivational speakers, intense competitions and breakout sessions that pushed individuals to…

The Veteran Farmer Award of Excellence is a new recognition program launched by the American Farm Bureau Federation with support from Farm Credit. AFBF and Farm Credit will recognize one individual who has served or is currently serving in the U.S. military and is actively…

Kevin Lussier, AFBF Young Farmers & Ranchers Chair, joins President Jeb S. Smith on the newest episode of Rural Recharge.   Lussier owns and operates Hawthorne Creek Creamery in Alachua County. In 2021, Lussier and his wife, Shelby, were the Florida Farm Bureau Achievement in Agriculture state winners. Kevin has served…

July 2024 FloridAgriculture eNewsletter  Tyler and Emily Shadrick are first generation blueberry growers in Madison County. Growing up in a small, rural town, their families were friends long before the two became a couple. Although they did not grow up on farms, the couple enjoys being part of the agriculture…

July 2024 FloridAgriculture eNewsletter The Suwannee to Gulf (S2G) Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) Project proposal addresses the National Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) natural resource concerns of the Longleaf Pine Critical Conservation Area through a strategy of easement programs coupled with conservation land management.  Their goals are: Permanent land protection:…

July 2024 FloridAgriculture eNewsletter Florida Farm Bureau Federation has submitted a letter to Chairman Sam Graves and Ranking Member Rick Larsen of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure regarding the markup to the bipartisan 2024 Water Resources Development Act of 2024 (WRDA).   This letter was requested by Congressman Daniel…

July 2024 FloridAgriculture eNewsletter To enhance the accuracy of their data, the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) is upgrading the reference system used to measure water elevations in our monitoring network. SFWMD is currently in the process of shifting from reporting water elevations in the National Geodetic Vertical Datum…

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…