Florida Cattle Enhancement Board Recurring Funding Provides Opportunity for Longer Term Research Projects
The Florida Cattle Enhancement Board (FCEB) has received a critical boost to its mission with newly established recurring funding from the Florida Legislature. This change brings stability to a board that plays a vital role in supporting Florida’s beef and cattle industry.
We spoke with Woody Larson of Larson Dairy, who explained how impactful this new funding structure will be for the long-term success of cattle programs across the state.
“Well, you know, once you have a new idea like Florida Cattle Enhancement Board, it takes a little while to get it up and running. And a lot of the projects, you know, cows are notoriously slow. I mean, they take a couple years to reach maturity, they’re a nine-month gestation. And typically, these projects need two or three years to complete.”
In the past, funding inconsistencies created roadblocks for important projects that require years of investment and research.
“And so in the early going, we’d get legislative funds for one year, and then you’d have to wait and hopefully get reapproved the next year. And in one year, it went away completely, no funding. And so it’s kind of been various amounts. And so that’s pretty hard to plan a three-year project when you don’t know if you’re going to get funding or not.”
With the establishment of recurring support, Florida’s cattle industry can now build long-term plans with confidence.
“I think that idea finally took hold and some legislators, fortunately, we’ve got folks in the legislature that are connected to agriculture and believe in cattle and beef production. And so it’s a whole lot easier when that story is already there in the legislature to convince them that it’s a good idea. And actually, I think some of them had the idea. So that’s great.”
This new structure marks a significant win for Florida’s agricultural innovation and sustainable beef production, ensuring producers have the resources and time needed to advance the industry.
Audio Reporting by Dale Sandlin for Southeast AgNet.
This is a segment from the Grazing The Facts Podcast where we take a look within the Florida Cattle Industry. To listen to the full interview, search your favorite podcast platform for Grazing The Facts.