Commissioner Simpson Announces Cost-Share Assistance for Producers Impacted by Hurricane Idalia

Jim Rogers Florida

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson announced last week a cost-share assistance program to support producers severely impacted by Hurricane Idalia. The cost-share assistance program will be administered though the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ (FDACS) Office of Agricultural Water Policy and will support growers in repairing or replacing damaged irrigation systems, while simultaneously promoting agricultural …

FDACS Seeks Input from Producers on Farm to School Program

Jim Rogers Agri-business, Florida

Attention Florida fruit and vegetable farmers! The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) hopes to get your input regarding the Farm to School Initiative. As part of an effort to further develop the existing Farm to School Initiative, FDACS is conducting a survey to better understand how farmers and schools are currently working together and identify opportunities for …

Farm to School Program: Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Hosts Conference

Jim Rogers Florida

HOWEY-IN-THE-HILLS, Fla. – The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) hosted its annual Florida Farm to School Conference from March 9-10 in Central Florida to connect with schools, distributors, and producers across the state to increase Florida products served in schools. Participants learned about best practices for school gardening and procurement processes, networked with other Farm to School …

florida

FFBF and FDACS Host Town Hall on COVID-19 & Florida Agriculture

Dan Cooper Business, Florida, General, Top Posts

Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried and Florida Farm Bureau President John L. Hoblick held a town hall meeting on Thursday with the state’s agriculture community on pressing issues. Some of the topics of discussion included: Ensuring agriculture and all related industries are essential at the federal, state and local levels. Promoting the continued and efficient processing of H-2A worker visas. Inter- and intra-state weight waivers for …

pesticide

UF/IFAS and FDACS Working to Bring Pesticide Licensing Online

Dan Cooper Florida, Industry News Release, Pests

(UF/IFAS) — University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Extension and the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) are working to identify ways to provide online testing for certified pesticide applicators while in-person testing is unavailable due to COVID-19. All in-person UF/IFAS Extension programs and activities, including pesticide testing, have been postponed or cancelled through …

state hemp plan

State Hemp Plan Notice of Change for Florida

Dan Cooper Florida, Hemp, Industry News Release

(FDACS) — On March 6, 2020, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) published a Notice of Change for Rule 5B-57.014, F.A.C. – State Hemp Plan (hemp cultivation rule).  The Notice of Change includes updates and modifications to the proposed rule based on public comments and brings the proposed rule in alignment with the U.S. Department of Agriculture …

FDACS Taking Action to Protect Lychee Trees

Dan Cooper Florida, Fruit, Industry News Release, Pests, Top Posts

(FDACS) — The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) is announcing the treatment of lychee trees in Miami-Dade County, the first of eight Florida counties undergoing eradication for lychee erinose mite (LEM) to protect trees and crops from severe damage. To date, only one positive tree has been identified in Miami-Dade County. The mite causes erineum galls (hairy, …

seasonal

Fried on USTR Commitments to Seasonal Produce Protections

Dan Cooper Florida, Industry News Release, Vegetables

(FDACS) — Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nicole “Nikki” Fried offered the following statement regarding formal commitments recently made by U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) Robert Lighthizer to protect American seasonal produce growers from unfair trade practices harming the industry: “While discouraging that the USMCA (U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement) and its implementing legislation lacked protections for our seasonal producers, I thank Ambassador Lighthizer for his formal commitments to …