BILLION IN WHIP FEDERAL DISASTER RELIEF FUNDING AVAILABLE The sign-up period for the 2017 Wildfires and Hurricanes Indemnity Program (WHIP) will run through November 16. Agricultural producers affected by hurricanes and wildfires in 2017 can apply for assistance to help recover their farm operations. The following are important to note as producers start this process. [...]

FLORIDA FARM BUREAU WORKING TO STRENGTHEN RIGHT TO FARM In recent months, many states have seen challenges to their “Right to Farm” law. Most notably, in North Carolina, the state found a Smithfield Foods subsidiary liable for nuisance and awarded $50 million in damages to neighboring landowners. Although it appeared as though the farm operated [...]

SURVEY: MEMBERS TRUST FARM BUREAU NEWS SOURCES A recent survey has shown that Farm Bureau members place great trust in Farm Bureau news and information sources. Eighty-four percent of the members who participated hold this view of news provided by their county Farm Bureau, their state Farm Bureau or the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) [...]

ROOTED IN AG CONFERENCE HIGHEST ATTENDANCE More than 370 young people from across Florida attended the state Florida Farm Bureau Young Farmers and Ranchers Leadership Conference last weekend, July 13-15, in St. Augustine. The conference honored young agriculturists representing 26 county Farm Bureaus for their community service, selected finalists to compete for a statewide discussion [...]

ROOTED IN AG CONFERENCE BOASTS HIGHEST ATTENDANCE More than 370 young people from across Florida attended the state Florida Farm Bureau Young Farmers and Ranchers Leadership Conference, July 13-15, in St. Augustine. The conference honored young agriculturists representing 26 county Farm Bureaus for their community service, selected finalists to compete for a statewide Discussion Meet [...]

A Win for the Environment and Private Property Rights A U.S. District Court recently ruled in favor of a Preliminary Injunction for Florida and ten other states regarding the validity of the 2006 Clean Water Rule commonly referred to as the “Waters of the United States Rule” or WOTUS.  The Judge ruled that the states [...]

New Saw Palmetto Berry Harvesting Rule The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) has adopted a new rule for harvesting and selling saw palmetto berries. According to the agency, widespread gathering of these berries is depleting a wildlife food source and threatening the stability of some ecosystems. Saw palmetto has been added to [...]

Florida Farm Bureau Preparing For The 2018 Election Season As with every election cycle, Florida Farm Bureau, our members and our state’s strong agricultural community have the ability to make an impact in the Florida Legislature and in statewide cabinet races.  Supporting and promoting good, quality leaders that will help strengthen and grow Florida agriculture [...]

Two House Immigration Votes Fail; Ag Labor Reform in July? As a direct result of the House Freedom Caucus leveraging their Farm Bill votes, House Judiciary Chairman Bob Goodlatte’s Securing America’s Future Act was brought to the House floor for consideration prior to the Farm Bill on June 21st, as promised by leadership.  As expected, [...]

House Passes Farm Bill; Senate Debate Underway By a narrow vote of 213 to 211, H.R. 2, the House’s version of the 2018 Farm Bill, passed on the second attempt within a month on Thursday, June 21. The first vote was held on May 18 and failed as a result of conservative GOP holdouts who were [...]