News

Florida Farm Bureau has submitted comments supporting the Food and Drug Administration’s proposal to amend the standard of identity for pasteurized orange juice by lowering the minimum orange juice soluble solids content from 10.5° to 10° Brix (FDA-2022-P-0016). Florida Senator Ashley Moody introduced the Defending Domestic Orange Juice Production Act,…

Florida Farm Bureau President Jeb S. Smith commented on the Department of Labor’s decision to resume application processing for temporary and permanent employment. "We’re grateful to U.S. Secretary of Labor Lori Chavez-DeRemer and Congresswoman Laurel Lee for their leadership in ensuring the Department of Labor’s Foreign Labor Certification…

Emma Self, a sophomore at Warner University, was awarded first place in the Florida Farm Bureau Federation Collegiate Discussion Meet. The discussion meet took place at the organization’s 84th state Annual Meeting on Oct. 27.   [caption id="attachment_26661" align="alignleft" width="300"] Emma Self, a sophomore…

By Scott Angle [email protected] @IFAS_VP UF/IFAS is sunsetting its Department of Environmental Horticulture. What’s important to know is what’s NOT happening. No programs get cut, including the many that are focused on ornamental plants. No one gets laid off. No one stops preparing students for…

Gayward Hendry, president of Clay County Farm Bureau, was named the 2025 recipient of the Distinguished Service Award. He was honored during the President’s Celebration Banquet on Oct. 27 at the Florida Farm Bureau State Annual Meeting…

More than 450 grassroots members gathered in Daytona Beach Oct. 27-29 at the Hilton Daytona Beach Oceanfront Resort for Florida Farm Bureau’s 84th State Annual Meeting. Voting delegates discussed and approved policy resolutions that were adopted as the organization’s policy for 2026. Jeb S. Smith of St. Johns County was re-elected to serve a two-year term as the organization’s president. …

It’s almost time to kick off AFBF’s annual Thanksgiving Dinner Cost Survey! Each year, AFBF reports on the average retail cost of a traditional meal for 10 people. Help from farmer and rancher members (and others) across the country makes this possible. Whether you check prices online or in-store, your…

Woody Larson of Larson Dairy in Okeechobee has been named the 2026 Florida Farm Bureau Farmer of the Year. The winner was announced at Florida Farm Bureau’s 84th State Annual Meeting on October 29 at the Daytona Hilton Oceanfront Beach Resort.    Larson joined the family…

Nadia Rivera of Lake County won first place in the Florida Farm Bureau Youth Speech Contest at Florida Farm Bureau’s Annual Meeting on Oct. 28. An active member of Lake County 4-H for three years, Rivera impressed judges with a compelling five-minute speech addressing the topic:…

Delegates at the 2025 Florida Farm Bureau Annual Meeting have re-elected Jeb S. Smith of St. Johns County for his third two-year term as president of the organization. Smith has served on the state board continuously since 2012. He is the 12th president to serve the organization. “It is…

[caption id="attachment_26604" align="alignleft" width="319"] Richard Fiorelli was awarded the 2025 Crop Advisor of the Year award at the Florida Farm Bureau Federation’s 84th state annual meeting. The award was presented by federation President Jeb Smith.[/caption] Richard Fiorelli has been awarded the 2025 Florida Farm Bureau Crop Advisor of…

Emerald Greene, owner of Greene Publishing, has been named the 2025 Florida Farm Bureau Newsperson of the Year. This announcement was made at the organization’s state annual meeting on Oct. 28 at the Hilton Daytona Beach Oceanfront Resort.  [caption id="attachment_26601" align="alignleft" width="800"]…