(FDACS/TALLAHASSEE, FL/Nov. 20/2023) — Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson announced the final project acquisition list for the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program following the program’s final public meeting which was held in Tallahassee to create a ranked list of agricultural lands eligible for protection. “Today is an important milestone in our pursuit of preserving Florida’s productive agriculture lands. …
Florida Ag Commissioner Issues Statement Ahead of Rural and Family Lands Protection Program’s Final Ranking Meeting
(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 …
Ag Commissioner Applauds Florida Legislature for Prioritizing Hurricane Idalia Recovery Efforts for Agriculture
(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, …
Florida Ag Commissioner Seeks Funding for Conservation Program
(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 …
Florida Ag Commissioner Announces Aquaculture Losses from Hurricane Idalia
(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 …
Commissioner Wilton Simpson Announces Preliminary Damage Assessment for Timber Following Hurricane Idalia
(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 …
Idalia Agricultural Losses Estimated Up to $370M in Florida
(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 Simpson Requests Flexibility in Federal Disaster Programs for Florida Ag Industry Impacted by Hurricane Idalia
(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 …
FDACS Provides Update on Hurricane Idalia Response and Recovery Efforts
(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 …
Florida Ag Commissioner Reminds Local Governments of New Law Prohibiting Special Assessments on Agricultural Land
(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 …