Celebrating Florida Agriculture Day

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University of Florida/IFAS Watching Legislative Budget Talks

Florida Agriculture Day

Pictured: Commissioner of Agriculture, Adam Putnam with 4-H members
Photo provided by Commissioner of Agriculture, Adam Putnam

From the University of Florida/IFAS:

At week four the budget process is moving extremely fast and is ahead of schedule.

Committee budget plans for both the House and Senate were unveiled and passed throughout last week. The proposed budgets could be up for a floor vote in both chambers as early as the middle of next week.

As for IFAS, the House is being generous but we still have more work to do on the Senate side.

There is a very large difference in the House and Senate budget. The proposed House budget is just under $80 billion and the Senate is just shy of $81 billion. The legislature will face a real challenge when trying to bring these proposals together.

The House provides for more education funding, and at the moment is more favorable to state universities but both the House and Senate proposals provides funding for construction to the Florida College System, the State University System and traditional public schools. Both chambers use their proposals as a starting point as they prepare to decide on a final state budget.

Yesterday was a big day on the Hill for us! Not only was it declared Florida Agriculture Day 2016, but we also had 4-H members from across the state sharing their projects and passion about their club to legislators. Florida Farm Bureau Federation members also joined in on advocating for agriculture and their priorities and ended their visit with a Taste of Florida Agriculture Reception. It was a great day for everyone!