nikki fried

Fried Attends Lunch Meeting with Ag Leaders

Dan Legislative

At a lunch meeting today in Tallahassee, Florida, with representatives of many of the state’s agricultural organizations, Agriculture Commissioner-Elect Nikki Fried told the group she plans to be a “champion for this industry” in her new role. Several major issues facing Florida agriculture were discussed during the lunch meeting, which was the first meeting of its kind with Fried since …

hurricane

Hurricane Causes Heavy Losses for Panhandle Farmers

Dan Beef, Cattle, Corn, Cotton, Dairy, Field Crops, Florida, Livestock, Peanuts

Hurricane Michael will cost Florida farmers an estimated $158 million because of damaged crops, including major damage sustained by cotton farmers, according to a University of Florida study released Friday. Economists with the university’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences projected that nearly 1 million acres of crops such as cotton, nuts and vegetables, along with beef, dairy and other …

hurricane michael

Hurricane Michael Damage Estimate to Ag at $1.3 Billion

Dan Economy, Industry News Release

Agriculture damages from hurricane Michael are estimated at more than $1.3 billion. The Hurricane struck Georgia, Alabama and Florida last week, impacting cotton and pecan growers the most, according to CNBC. President Donald Trump toured damaged areas earlier this week, as did Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue. In Georgia alone, the latest farm-related damage estimate from the storm is $1.2 billion, …

putnam

Putnam Says Trade Deal Falls Short for Florida Farmers

Dan Florida, Industry News Release, Trade

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 …

trade mission

Senators Take Aim at Unfair Trade Practices Hurting Florida Fruit and Vegetable Growers

Dan Exports/Imports, Fruits, Industry News Release, Trade, Vegetables

U.S. Senators Bill Nelson (D-Fla.) and Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) introduced legislation to help Florida fruit and vegetable growers combat unfair trade practices. The bill comes amid long-standing and increasing complaints from Florida farmers that Mexican growers illegally flood the U.S. market with subsidized produce during the winter season. Florida is one of the few places in the country that can …

report

Report Shows Florida Agriculture, Natural Resources and Food Industries Grew 2007-2016

Dan Economy, Florida, Industry News Release

The latest installment of an annual report from the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences reveals some good news about the state’s economy – from 2007 to 2016, the portion of Florida’s Gross State Product (GSP) generated by agriculture, natural resources and food industries grew at a faster rate than the state’s total GSP, a statistic commonly …

agriculture

Fried Promoting a New Face for Florida Ag Commissioner

Dan Florida

When the August primaries were over, it left Democratic candidate Nikki Fried and Republican candidate Matt Caldwell left to battle it out for Florida’s Commissioner of Agriculture. During a phone interview with Southeast AgNet, Broward County resident Fried said it’s time for a new face. Fried Promoting a New Face for Florida Ag Commissioner

agricultural putnam

Putnam Announces Winners of 2018 Agricultural-Environmental Leadership Award

Dan Florida, Industry News Release

Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam announced the recipients of the Commissioner’s Agricultural-Environmental Leadership Award, which recognizes the environmentally innovative farming techniques of Florida’s farmers and ranchers. This year’s recipients are: Jim Strickland of Blackbeards’ Ranch in Manatee County, Chuck Allison of Wild Goose Farms in Umatilla, and James Shinn of Shinn Groves/ Tree O’Groves in Lake Alfred. Florida’s …

trade

Rubio, Nelson Raise Concerns About Mexico Trade Deal

Dan Florida, Industry News Release, Trade

While President Donald Trump on Monday hailed a tentative trade deal with Mexico, U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., and U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla., raised concerns about whether the deal would adequately protect Florida farmers. Rubio and Nelson sent a joint letter to U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer requesting that he work “diligently to ensure Florida’s agriculture community is fairly …

putnam

Putnam Banks on ‘Florida First’ in Governor’s Race

Dan Florida, Industry News Release

Source: News Service of Florida Clad in jeans and a blue-checkered shirt with rolled-up sleeves, Adam Putnam easily blended into the rural North Florida residents attending the annual Wausau Possum Festival in early August. “I’m a farmer, a business owner,” the boyish-looking, 44-year-old Republican candidate for governor told the crowd in a brief speech. “The foundation of my campaign is …