Commissioner Nikki Fried Hosts Zoom Discussion on Black Farmers Debt Relief

(Tallahassee, Fla./June 11, 2021) — Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried hosted a Zoom conversation with Black elected, agricultural, and financial leaders to discuss the history of systemic discrimination in farm lending. In the past century, Black participation in farming has decreased 85 percent in Florida, while 90 percent of Black-owned farmland has been lost across the nation. Under the Biden Administration, the USDA has acknowledged this historic …

Florida Cattlemen’s Convention is Next Week

The 2021 Florida Cattlemen’s Association Convention and Trade Show will be held next week at the JW Marriott in Marco Island. FCA Director of Field Services, Dusty Holley, says there will be a few changes to the locations for some parts of the convention this year.  Sponsored ContentCIR Agriculture Harvester ProductsJuly 1, 2026FL Cattle Enhancement Board Wraps up Funding YearJune 30, 2026Florida Cattle Enhancement …

Commissioner Nikki Fried Launches 2021 Woman of the Year in Agriculture Award Application

(Tallahassee, FL/June 8, 2021). –Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried and the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) have launched the online application for the 2021 Woman of the Year in Agriculture award. Since 1985, FDACS has recognized women who have made outstanding contributions to Florida agriculture, honoring them with the “Woman of the Year in Agriculture” award. The application submission deadline is August 1, 2021. “As Florida’s …

Florida Beef Council Heading to FCA Convention

A great place to learn more about your beef checkoff dollars will be at the annual Florida Cattlemen’s Association Convention on June 15-17 in Marco Island. DeAnne Maples, Florida Beef Council (FBC) Director of Beef Marketing and Promotion, told Southeast AgNet’s Randall Weiseman they will be giving reports and sharing what they accomplished over the past year. For more information …

Cotton Planting Delays in Some States

Planting of cotton and peanut seed continues across the Southeast. The USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) notes the number of acres planted are close to the 5-year averages in most cases. But USDA meteorologist Brad Rippey says there are cotton planting delays in the some of the wetter states. Rippey says there was a net improvement in overall cotton …

Florida Immigration Fight to be Heard in September

(NSF/June 6, 2021) — A federal appeals court will hear arguments in September in Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody’s challenge to immigration-enforcement moves by the Biden administration. The 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has scheduled arguments the week of Sept. 20 in Miami, according to court documents. Moody went to the appeals court last month after U.S. District Judge …

DeSantis Signs Budget, Vetoes $1.5 Billion

(TALLAHASSEE/June 2, 2021) — While pointing to an economic resurgence amid the coronavirus pandemic, Gov. Ron DeSantis on Wednesday used his line-item veto power to slash $1.5 billion as he signed a record $100 billion budget for the upcoming fiscal year. DeSantis described the spending plan as reflecting “a state government that is meeting the core concerns of Floridians,” during …

Fried ‘Ready’ to Run for Governor

NSF – Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried, touting her campaign as “something new” and saying she will fight the “rigged system” in Tallahassee, formally entered the 2022 race for governor on Tuesday. Fried, an attorney and former medical-marijuana lobbyist who scored a narrow victory in 2018 to become the only statewide-elected Democrat, criticized Republicans’ two-decade hold on Florida government in …