nikki fried

Commissioner Nikki Fried Inaugurated as 12th Florida Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Services

Dan Florida, Industry News Release

Commissioner lays out a fresh agenda that will keep Florida growing Commissioner Nicole “Nikki” Fried was inaugurated as Florida’s 12th Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Services. As Commissioner, she will oversee a $1.8 billion department with nearly 4,000 employees, a $137 billion economic impact, and widespread responsibility for Florida’s food production and safety, consumer protection and licensing, and our state’s …

farm bill

The 2018 Farm Bill Is Officially Here

Dan Farm Bill, Legislative

The Agricultural Improvement Act of 2018, known as the 2018 farm bill, has now been made official after being signed by President Donald Trump today.  It was a long and strenuous process drafting a version that both congressional houses could agree to.  The farm bill will ultimately cost $867 billion over the next 10 years through a series of programs intended …

fried

Fried Maintains Hold in Ag Race After Manual Recount

Dan Florida, Industry News Release

Former medical-marijuana lobbyist Nikki Fried is on the verge of being the only Florida Democrat to capture a statewide win, gaining votes over Republican state Rep. Matt Caldwell in the race for agriculture commissioner after a manual recount was completed Sunday. The manual recount also had no effect on the outcome of three razor-thin legislative races, in which Democrat Janet …

caldwell

Caldwell Claims Victory in Agriculture Commissioner Race

Dan Florida, Industry News Release

Republican state Rep. Matt Caldwell declared victory Tuesday night as he held a narrow advantage in the contest to succeed term-limited Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam. Caldwell, a real-estate appraiser from North Fort Myers, gave an acceptance speech from an election watch party, according to WGCU Public Media. As of 11:30 p.m., Caldwell led Democrat Nikki Fried by about 41,000 votes …

caldwell

Caldwell, Fried Square Off to Replace Putnam

Dan Florida, Industry News Release

A state lawmaker from North Fort Myers who is a real-estate appraiser and an attorney from Fort Lauderdale who lobbies for the medical-marijuana industry are competing in next month’s election to replace term-limited Florida Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam. Unlike candidates in races for other Cabinet seats, Republican state Rep. Matt Caldwell and Democrat Nikki Fried haven’t completely avoided each other …

grassley

Grassley Owns Lone Committee Vote Against Senate Farm Bill

Dan Farm Bill, Industry News Release, Legislative

Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley was the only member of the Senate Agriculture Committee to vote against the farm bill during Wednesday’s markup session. Grassley aired-out two concerns to the committee that led to his vote against the otherwise bipartisan bill. Grassley sought stronger payment limits to farmers in the bill, an idea he has long-supported. During a speech earlier this …

milk

‘Got Milk?’: UF Experts Provide Facts, Tips for National Dairy Month

Dan Dairy, Florida, Industry News Release, Research

“Milk Does a Body Good” is not just an advertising slogan. It’s a way to get people to drink the dairy product, because it offers so many nutrients, says a University of Florida expert. But first, cows must produce milk. As we celebrate June as National Dairy Month, some UF Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences experts tout the benefits …

farm bill

House Expects Farm Bill Vote on Friday

Dan Farm Bill, Industry News Release, Legislative

The House of Representatives continues its debate on the 2018 Farm Bill through Thursday evening, with the final vote on passage coming up on Friday. The Hagstrom Report says House Republican leadership and House Ag Chair Michael Conaway are still trying to round up enough Republican votes to guarantee passage. No Democrats will vote for the bill because of changes …

Dairy Organizations Applaud Congressional Letter to FDA

Dan Dairy, Industry News Release

A new congressional effort to prod federal regulators to crack down on the inappropriate labeling of products designed to imitate milk drew support from the International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) and the National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF), which thanked lawmakers for speaking out on the issue.