florida

Florida Ag Commissioner Issues Statement Ahead of Rural and Family Lands Protection Program’s Final Ranking Meeting

Dan Agri-Business, Florida, Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS)

(FDACS/TALLAHASSEE, FL/Nov. 17, 2023) — Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson issued the following statement ahead of the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program’s final public meeting scheduled for Monday, November 20, in Tallahassee to create a ranked list of agricultural lands eligible for protection: “First, and most importantly, every single property on this list would be a tremendous asset to the …

florida legislature

Ag Commissioner Applauds Florida Legislature for Prioritizing Hurricane Idalia Recovery Efforts for Agriculture

Dan Agri-Business, Florida, Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS), Forestry, Funding

(FDACS/TALLAHASSEE, FL/Nov. 8, 2023) — Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson applauded the efforts of the Florida Legislature following the conclusion of a special session that prioritized Hurricane Idalia recovery relief for Florida’s agriculture industry: “Florida’s agriculture industry sustained widespread damage from Hurricane Idalia, with an estimated loss of over $447 million in crops, livestock, and infrastructure. Our state’s farmers, …

program

Florida Ag Commissioner Seeks Funding for Conservation Program

Dan Agri-Business, Conservation, Environment, Florida, Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS)

(FDACS/TALLAHASSEE, FL/Oct. 17, 2023) — Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson is seeking $300 million for a program designed to keep swaths of rural land from commercial and residential development, triple the amount vetoed by Gov. Ron DeSantis this year. Meanwhile, the Department of Environmental Protection is asking lawmakers for a slight increase next year in funding for the separate Florida Forever …

aquaculture

Florida Ag Commissioner Announces Aquaculture Losses from Hurricane Idalia

Dan Aquaculture, Economy, Florida, Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS)

(FDACS/TALLAHASSEE, FL/Sept. 26, 2023) — Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson announced the results of the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ Hurricane Idalia Aquaculture Economic Impact Survey. The survey estimated that the adjusted reported losses from Aquaculture Certificate of Registration holders and shellfish processors totaled $34,159,952 from Hurricane Idalia. “Aquaculture is Florida’s most diverse agribusiness, and it took a …

Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza

Commissioner Wilton Simpson Announces Preliminary Damage Assessment for Timber Following Hurricane Idalia

Dan Florida, Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS), Forestry

(FDACS/TALLAHASSEE, FL/Sept. 25, 2023) — Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson announced the release of the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ preliminary damage assessment of timber following Hurricane Idalia. The preliminary assessment estimated that Hurricane Idalia damaged 289,096 acres of timber at a value of $64,751,255. “For this part of the state in particular – which relies heavily on the …

florida legislature

Idalia Agricultural Losses Estimated Up to $370M in Florida

Dan Agri-Business, Florida, Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS)

(FDACS/TALLAHASSEE,FL/Sept. 21,2023) — A preliminary report released Thursday by the University of Florida estimated up to $370.9 million in agricultural losses from Hurricane Idalia, which barreled through rural areas of North Florida in late August. And losses could increase as damage to infrastructure and such things as timber are factored in. Christa Court, director of the Economic Impact Analysis Program …

commissioner

Commissioner Simpson Requests Flexibility in Federal Disaster Programs for Florida Ag Industry Impacted by Hurricane Idalia

Dan Agri-Business, Florida, Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS), Funding

(FDACS/TALLAHASSEE, FL/Sept. 6, 2023) — Today, Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson sent a letter to United States Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack highlighting the catastrophic damage suffered by Florida’s agriculture industry from Hurricane Idalia and asked for specific flexibilities in reporting deadlines and sign-up periods for standing federal disaster programs. The letter can be read here [  875.1 kB ] and below. Dear Secretary …

Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza

FDACS Provides Update on Hurricane Idalia Response and Recovery Efforts

Dan Agri-Business, Beef, Cattle, Crop Insurance, Dairy, Economy, Florida, Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS), Funding

(FDACS/TALLAHASSEE, FL/SEPT. 1, 2023) — Today, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services provided an update on Hurricane Idalia response and recovery efforts.  Click here for the Hurricane Idalia Survey for Certificate Holders Click here for the Hurricane Idalia Survey for Processors For more information about Commissioner Simpson and the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, visit FDACS.gov. Florida Department of Agriculture and …

Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza

Florida Ag Commissioner Reminds Local Governments of New Law Prohibiting Special Assessments on Agricultural Land

Dan Florida, Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS), Legislative, Regulation

(FDACS/TALLAHASSEE, FL/August 9, 2023) — Today, Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson addressed a letter to local governments reminding them of the new provision in State Law prohibiting counties from levying special assessments on agricultural lands. Read the letter below and here. August 9, 2023 Greetings, As Florida Commissioner of Agriculture, my top priority is to ensure that Florida agriculture continues …

Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza

Florida Rural and Family Lands Protection Program Application Results Released

Dan Agri-Business, Florida, Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS), Forestry, Rural and Family Lands Protection Program (RFLPP)

The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) has released the results of 2023 applications for the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program (RFLPP), and Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson is pleased with the response. Landowners from 181 properties, which represents over 200,000 acres, submitted applications to be considered for funding. The program, which partners with farmers and ranchers through conservation easements, is …