by Gary Cooper As Florida lawmakers return home from a frustrating legislative session for Florida’s agriculture industry, the state’s farmers and ranchers wonder where they stand in a political environment that is much different than years past. Florida’s population continues to grow with about 1,000 new residents daily, with no end in sight. The negative environmental impacts from this historic …
Ten Big Issues from the 2019 Session
Florida lawmakers finished the 2019 legislative session Saturday by passing a budget for the upcoming year. During the two-month session, lawmakers considered hundreds of bills and made more than $90 billion in spending decisions. It also was the first session for Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis and began the two-year terms of Senate President Bill Galvano, R-Bradenton, and House Speaker Jose …
Lawmakers Sign Off on Budget as Session Ends
Florida’s Republican-dominated Legislature quickly put the finishing touches on a record $91.1 billion spending plan Saturday, meeting numerous requests from freshman Gov. Ron DeSantis. While declaring “great wins for conservatives,” along with environmental protections that should appeal to Democrats, the governor said he intends to use his line-item veto power but didn’t specify what spending he might target. “It’s going …
Weekly Livestock Market Report Week Ending 05-03-19
Here are the weekly livestock market reports for Alabama, Florida, and Georgia, for the week ended May 03, 2019, compiled by the Livestock Market News Service for all three states. AL Livestock Market Report: At Alabama Livestock Auctions for the Week ended May 3, 2019, receipts at 21 markets totaled an estimated 16,700 head compared to 9,944 last week and …
Lawmakers Try to Set Stage for Hemp Industry
Moving quickly after the passage of a federal law, the Florida Legislature on Friday gave final approval to a bill aimed at creating an industrial-hemp industry in the state. Senators voted 39-0 to pass the bill (SB 1020), after the House approved it in a 112-1 vote Wednesday. The bill is ready to go to Gov. Ron DeSantis. The state …
Commissioner Nikki Fried on Florida Hemp Bill Passage
The Florida Legislature passed Senate Bill 1020, establishing a state hemp program within the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. The historic vote comes after the 2018 federal Farm Bill removed prohibitions on industrial hemp in place since 1937 and authorized states to create hemp programs. Commissioner Nicole “Nikki” Fried, a noted advocate for hemp, cannabis, and medical marijuana, offered the following statement: “Today’s …
Northwest Florida Residents to Congress: Do Something Now
U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) released the following video featuring Hurricane Michael survivors telling their personal stories, and asking Congress to put politics aside, and do its job. Even though the Category 5 storm devastated Florida’s Panhandle almost seven months ago, Congress continues to play politics instead of passing critical disaster funding for local communities still struggling to recover. For …
Florida Legislature Expected to Wrap Session up Saturday
Florida lawmakers are expected to vote sometime Saturday afternoon on what ended up being a $91.1 billion budget for the fiscal year that starts July 1. According to the News Service of Florida, the budget was distributed at 1:32 p.m. Wednesday, triggering the start of a constitutionally required 72-hour “cooling off” period before the House and Senate can vote on …
Florida Beef Cattle Short Course is Next Week
The 2019 Florida Beef Cattle Short Course will be held May 8-10 at the Alto and Patricia Straughn IFAS Extension Professional Development Center in Gainesville. The premier educational event is designed for serious beef cattle producers in the Southeast. Discussions will be held concerning the beef cattle industry’s future direction, there will be information provided on management decision making skills, and new information about …
Lawmakers Back Homeowner Vegetable Gardens
The Florida House on Wednesday gave final approval to a measure that would prevent local governments from regulating homeowners’ vegetable gardens. The 93-16 vote will send the bill (SB 82) to Gov. Ron DeSantis. The issue stems from a dispute between homeowners Hermine Ricketts and Laurence Carroll and the village of Miami Shores over an ordinance that banned front-yard vegetable …