Rural Recharge Episode 17 Out Now Kevin Lussier, AFBF Young Farmers & Ranchers Chair, joins President Jeb S. Smith on the newest episode of Rural Recharge. Lussier owns and operates Hawthorne Dairy in Alachua County. In 2021, Lussier and his wife, Shelby, were the Florida Farm Bureau Achievement in Agriculture state winners. Kevin has served on [...]
Tied to Ag: Tyler and Emily Shadrick, Madison County July 2024 FloridAgriculture eNewsletter Tyler and Emily Shadrick are first generation blueberry growers in Madison County. Growing up in a small, rural town, their families were friends long before the two became a couple. Although they did not grow up on farms, the couple enjoys being [...]
Florida Farm Bureau Submits Letter for the S2G RCPP Project July 2024 FloridAgriculture eNewsletter The Suwannee to Gulf (S2G) Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) Project proposal addresses the National Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) natural resource concerns of the Longleaf Pine Critical Conservation Area through a strategy of easement programs coupled with conservation land management. Their [...]
FFBF Provides Comments on 2024 Water Resources Development Act July 2024 FloridAgriculture eNewsletter Florida Farm Bureau Federation has submitted a letter to Chairman Sam Graves and Ranking Member Rick Larsen of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure regarding the markup to the bipartisan 2024 Water Resources Development Act of 2024 (WRDA). This letter was [...]
South Florida Water Management District Vertical Datum Upgrade July 2024 FloridAgriculture eNewsletter To enhance the accuracy of their data, the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) is upgrading the reference system used to measure water elevations in our monitoring network. SFWMD is currently in the process of shifting from reporting water elevations in the National [...]
U.S. Trade Deficit Set to Drastically Increase July 2024 FloridAgriculture eNewsletter The United States agricultural trade deficit is set to increase substantially to $32 billion in the 2024 fiscal year. This is a $1.5 billion increase from the February projection, according to the USDA Economic Research Service’s May 2024 Outlook. After learning of this concerning [...]
2024 Legislative Session Update July 2024 FloridAgriculture eNewsletter Reflecting on recent events in Tallahassee, the 2024 legislative session concluded successfully in March. Although some priorities didn’t make it across the finish line, many budget and policy victories were achieved. With the leadership of Florida Agricultural Commissioner Wilton Simpson, along with the support of Senate President [...]
FFBF Welcomes New Legislative Staff July 2024 FloridAgriculture eNewsletter Florida Farm Bureau welcomes two new staff members, Tripp Hunter and Lance Watson. Hunter is the Director of State Legislative Affairs and Watson the Director of National Legislative affairs. Both will be working out of the Tallahassee office. About Tripp Hunter Tripp Hunter was born and [...]
New Regulation Schedule for Lake Okeechobee Announced July 2024 FloridAgriculture eNewsletter Pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Jacksonville District (USACE) has issued a Notice of Availability for the Lake Okeechobee System Operating Manual (LOSOM) Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). USACE is proposing a new regulation schedule for [...]
Farm Bill Update July 2024 FloridAgriculture eNewsletter On May 23rd, the House Agriculture Committee marked up their version of the Farm Bill during a debate that lasted 13 hours and contained many amendments. The bill passed out of committee with favorable votes from all Republicans on the committee and four Democrats. Florida Congresswoman Kat Cammack [...]
