News

Florida Farm Bureau had representation at the 2023 U.S. CattleTrace Symposium in Kansas City, Mo., Nov. 14-15. The focus of the two-day symposium was to learn about the current response plan that the U.S. has for a potential foreign animal disease outbreak and to participate…

December 2023 FloridAgriculture eNewsletter By J. Scott Angle [email protected] @IFAS_VP UF/IFAS College of Agricultural and Life Sciences (CALS) student Julia Heijkoop delivered an important message at this year’s FFBF annual meeting. Farm Bureau doesn’t tell you what to do. Instead, it offers opportunities. That’s something UF/IFAS and FFBF have in…

Jason Watts of Florida Best Farms in Polk County has been named the 2024 Florida Farmer of the Year by the Florida Farm Bureau Federation.   Watts, along with his wife Amanda, and their four children, Cole, Rusty, Morgan and Savannah, farm blueberries, muscadine grapes and…

Florida Farm Bureau Federation has released the tenth episode of its monthly podcast, Rural Recharge. In this episode, FFBF President Jeb S. Smith sat down with Stephen Monroe of Jefferson County for a conversation about Florida history and Florida cracker cattle. Monroe has a multigenerational legacy in Florida agriculture. He…

Florida Farm Bureau is looking forward to supporting our outstanding young farmer and rancher state winners as they advance to the national competitions in Salt Lake City, Utah at the American Farm Bureau Annual Convention, Jan. 19-24, 2024. The YF&R program helps young Farm Bureau members shape their future…

This Thanksgiving, Americans can expect to spend less on their Thanksgiving meal. According to a recent survey done by the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF), the average price of a 12-item Thanksgiving basket for ten people this year is $61.17, which is down about 4.5%…

Farm-City Week is a time to give thanks for the valuable partnerships between urban and rural residents. This year Farm Bureau members will mark the occasion with local events held throughout Florida, Nov. 15-22.  Farmers in Florida and across the country produce an abundance of…

Florida Farm Bureau has selected its 2023-2025 Young Farmers & Ranchers Leadership Group. The leadership group consists of young men and women from across the state who represent Florida agriculture commodities such as beef, apiculture, citrus, sugar, blueberries and caladiums.   The Young Farmers & Ranchers Leadership…

November 2023 FloridAgriculture eNewsletter A Florida native, Ellie John was raised in the town of Duette, located in Manatee County. She was part of the Mighty 4-Hers of Duette and raised pigs during her youth. Growing up, John spent many summers on her great-grandparents’ farm and cousins’ dairy farm, both…

November 2023 FloridAgriculture eNewsletter As a grassroots organization, Florida Farm Bureau’s policies start with recommendations from members at the county level. This is predominantly accomplished through 16 commodity-based advisory committees, which are comprised of nominated members at the county-level and appointed by the organization’s state president.   Each of the…

The Florida Legislature met for a special session Nov. 6-9 and voted on legislation to provide recovery assistance for Florida farmers and ranchers.  The legislation was sponsored by Representative Jason Shoaf (District 7) and Senator Corey Simon (District 3) and focuses on providing recovery assistance to counties…

November 2023 FloridAgriculture eNewsletter By J. Scott Angle [email protected] @IFAS_VP On June 16, 2020, UF/IFAS agronomist and longtime Gadsden County Farm Bureau member David Wright sent a text that doctors had found a golf-ball-sized tumor in his head. Colleague Sheeja George asked how she could help. “Keep the crew going,”…