News

Dawn West of Westside Journal in Callahan, Fla., has received Florida Farm Bureau Federation’s 2022 Newsperson of the Year Award. The honor was announced on Oct. 27 at Florida Farm Bureau’s Annual Meeting in Orlando. The organization presents the award annually to a journalist who has provided superior news coverage…

Morgan Pinkerton of Seminole County, a tireless advocate for Florida agriculture, has been named Florida Farm Bureau’s 2022 Volunteer Communicator of the Year. This prestigious honor recognizes a Farm Bureau volunteer who has made exceptional efforts to communicate the many ways agricultural production benefits all Floridians. Florida Farm Bureau President…

The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services announced the 2023 Florida Agricultural Hall of Fame inductees. Dr. John T. Woeste (Alachua County) and Donald J. Quincey (Levy County) are both Farm Bureau members who will join 171 other inductees in the Hall of Fame. The 2022 honorees will be…

The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) has rejected a formal 301 investigation against Mexico for unfair trade practices involving fresh fruits and vegetables. This action was prompted by a Florida delegation-led petition on Sept. 8 to ask for an investigation under Section 301 of the Trade Act of…

Florida Farm Bureau members participated in the first ever industry-wide Federal Milk Marketing Order (FMMO) Forum in Kansas City, MO from Oct. 14-16. Hosted by the American Farm Bureau Federation, Florida Farm Bureau members joined representatives from dairy cooperatives, processors, state dairy associations and dairy farmers from across the country.

October 2022 FloridAgriculture eNewsletter Jennifer Swain YF&R State Leadership Group, District 6 Jennifer Swain’s life has been intertwined in numerous areas of agriculture. Surrounded by pecan orchards, cotton and peanut fields, Swain’s life first began in Alabama where her father worked in a carpet factory, and later, a plant nursery.

October 2022 eNewsletter By J. Scott Angle [email protected] @IFAS_VP President Jeb Smith came to carry out a professional duty, but make no mistake, for him UF/IFAS is personal. As the head of the organization that we honored as our UF/IFAS Champion, Smith spoke from both the lectern and the big…

Florida Farm Bureau is working with its members to assess the damage to farmers and ranchers across the state to determine their needs. What we do know is that the resiliency of our farm families is evident in the aftermath of the category 4 Hurricane Ian that ripped through Southwest…

Florida Farm Bureau hosted its second annual Ag Day on Saturday, September 17, as the University of Florida Gators took on the University of South Florida Bulls. Thousands of fans were able to experience Florida agriculture through interactive regional farm displays, sample fresh food and tailgate with family-friendly games. The…

September FloridAgriculture eNewsletter By J. Scott Angle [email protected] @IFAS_VP           It was a big day in August 2021 at the Hawthorne Creek Creamery. For the first time, Kevin Lussier loaded a truck with Gouda and shipped it off to a major supermarket chain. The people who…

September FloridAgriculture eNewsletter Matt and Kayla Gonzales are first generation ranchers with a dream to leave a legacy for their children. The two got their first taste of agriculture when they joined FFA in high school, which is also how they met. As their love for agriculture (and each other)…

 On Sept. 8, 2022, a bipartisan group of Florida’s congressional delegation, led by U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio and Rep. Al Lawson, filed a Section 301 petition on behalf of Florida’s fruit and vegetable producers. “For too long, specialty crop growers across the U.S. have faced the devastating effects of unfair…