Florida Commissioner of Agriculture makes the following statement to Florida agriculture producers, consumers and families. I’m so honored to serve as your 12th Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Services! It’s been an exciting first two weeks as we start working to implement our bold agenda and fresh vision for Florida’s farmers, consumers, and families. We’re working with our agriculture community to keep our second …
State, Plaintiffs Ask Court to Put Pot Case on Hold
Lawyers representing both sides in a lawsuit over the state’s ban on smoking medical marijuana have asked an appeals court to put the case on hold while they work out an agreement. The notice was filed at the 1st District Court of Appeal in Tallahassee, hours after Gov. Ron DeSantis on Thursday gave the Legislature until “mid-March” to repeal the …
Florida Ag Commissioner on Water Issues
In her first few days as Florida’s 12th Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Nikki Fried has hit the ground running. Coming into her new position, Fried noted that water is one of the main issues facing the state and her department. Sponsored ContentCIR Agriculture Harvester ProductsJuly 1, 2026FL Cattle Enhancement Board Wraps up Funding YearJune 30, 2026Florida Cattle Enhancement Board …
Desantis Presses Lawmakers for Pot Changes
Saying they failed to heed the will of voters, Gov. Ron DeSantis ordered Florida lawmakers Thursday to eliminate a ban on smokable medical marijuana and, if they don’t comply, threatened to drop the state’s appeal of a court ruling that found the prohibition ran afoul of a 2016 constitutional amendment. DeSantis, who had been widely expected to announce he was …
Commissioner Nikki Fried on State’s Lack of Action on Smokable Medical Marijuana
Following news on the lack of resolution to the ongoing smokable medical marijuana lawsuit and the Governor’s call on legislative leadership to take action to remedy the situation, Commissioner Nicole “Nikki” Fried offers the following: “When the people overwhelmingly voted for legalized medical marijuana in 2016, they intended for the medicine to be accessible by patients in the manner which their doctor, not Tallahassee politicians, decides …
Florida Couple Wins National Award
Jake and Melissa Raburn of Hinton Farms Produce in Hillsborough County won the Excellence in Agriculture Award at the American Farm Bureau Federation Annual Convention in New Orleans on Jan. 14, 2019. The couple placed first in the nation for their impressive agricultural careers and community service. The Raburns will receive a new Ford truck, courtesy of Ford. They will also receive …
New Research Dean for UF/IFAS
Florida agriculture has what Jack Payne, University of Florida/IFAS senior vice president for agriculture and natural resources, calls a new head of R&D, or the IFAS research dean. Rob Gilbert started that position last week. Sponsored ContentCIR Agriculture Harvester ProductsJuly 1, 2026FL Cattle Enhancement Board Wraps up Funding YearJune 30, 2026Florida Cattle Enhancement Board Awarded Researcher Discusses New World Screwworm OverviewJune 19, …
Flatwoods Fire and Nature Festival
USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in Florida invites everyone to attend the Flatwoods Fire and Nature Festival, January 26, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. on the University of Florida’s Austin Cary Forest off Waldo Road in Gainesville, FL. During the family-friendly festival, you can enjoy prescribed fire demonstrations, fire ecology tours, live wildlife, live music, food trucks, exhibits, quail mascot Burner …
USDA’s San Antonio Service Center Moves to Brooksville, FL
USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) San Antonio Service Center serving Pasco and Hernando counties moved Jan. 1 to 17030 Ayers Rd., Brooksville, Fla. 34604. The new phone number is 352-277-3761. Source: USDA/NRCS Florida Sponsored ContentCIR Agriculture Harvester ProductsJuly 1, 2026FL Cattle Enhancement Board Wraps up Funding YearJune 30, 2026Florida Cattle Enhancement Board Awarded Researcher Discusses New World Screwworm OverviewJune 19, 2026Verdant Robotics …
The News Service Has: Five Questions for Nikki Fried
Nikki Fried was sworn in last week as state agriculture commissioner, becoming the first woman elected to run the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. She also is the only Democrat holding statewide office and the first Democrat on the state Cabinet in eight years. Fried is an attorney from Fort Lauderdale who was a student-body president at the …