Former Florida Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam was named Wednesday as chief executive officer of the national group Ducks Unlimited. Putnam finished his second term as agriculture commissioner in January after losing a Republican primary for governor. He will begin leading Ducks Unlimited, which works to conserve waterfowl habitats and educate both children and adults, letting them find out how long …
FDACS Winning Fight Against Destructive, Disease-Carrying Snail
Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam announced that more than 168,000 Giant African Land Snails (GALS) have been eliminated in Florida since the invasive snail was discovered in Miami-Dade County in 2011. In addition, due to the success of the program, the department has decommissioned two additional core areas, two of the largest is the state, where snails were …
Florida-Grown Romaine Cleared as FDA Continues E. coli Outbreak Investigation
Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have cleared Florida-grown romaine lettuce. Their ongoing investigation into the multi-state E. coli outbreak has determined that the implicated romaine comes from areas of California. On Nov. 20, the CDC advised the public not to eat any romaine …
Putnam Testifies Before U.S. International Trade Commission
Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Adam Putnam testified before the U.S. International Trade Commission in Washington, D.C. to voice concerns about the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement’s potential negative economic impact on Florida’s produce industry. Excerpts from Commissioner Putnam’s remarks are below: “I’d like to address how the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement could further impact vital US farm sectors in the absence of measures …
Putnam to Raise Concerns About Revamped NAFTA
State Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam will voice concerns Thursday about the potential impact on Florida’s produce industry of the renegotiated North American Free Trade Agreement between the United States, Mexico and Canada. Putnam, who has been a critic of the original agreement known as NAFTA, is slated to appear before the U.S. International Trade Commission. When President Donald Trump’s administration …
Putnam/FDACS Host Listening Session on Hurricane Michael Damage
Florida Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam opens to a packed house in Blountstown, FL late this afternoon (Tuesday), with area residents participating in a listening session hosted by his Department. Reviewing the latest information available regarding damage assessments for various crops in the region, Putnam pointed out there has been devastating damage to many crops including some that have no established …
Timber Damage from Hurricane Michael Estimated at $1.3 Billion
Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam and the Florida Forest Service, a division of the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, announced the estimated value of timber damage in Florida due to Hurricane Michael is $1.3 billion, impacting nearly 3 million acres of forestland. “This is a catastrophic loss to the forest industry in the Florida Panhandle,” said …
Putnam Continues to Meet with Agricultural Leaders to Assess Damage
Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam has been in regular communication with federal partners, including Vice President Mike Pence and Secretary Sonny Perdue, as well as the agriculture industry to assess agricultural damage caused by Hurricane Michael. He met with agricultural leaders on the topic, and the Florida Forest Service is finalizing its analysis of damage to timber. “Recovery …
Suspension of Pet and Livestock Movement Requirements to Assist Evacuations
Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Adam Putnam announced the temporary suspension of intrastate movement requirements for the transportation of animals from the areas expected to be impacted by Hurricane Michael. Additionally, Alabama, Georgia and Mississippi have waived their interstate import requirements for Florida pets and livestock. “By suspending the movement requirements for the transportation of animals, we can ensure that Floridians …
Putnam Says Trade Deal Falls Short for Florida Farmers
Florida Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam would like the renegotiated and rebranded North American Free Trade Agreement to do more to help the state’s farmers. And he’s not alone, as U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., also expressed concerns about the absence of relief for Florida agriculture in the revamped trade pact announced late Sunday. Putnam, who has long been a critic …