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The Story of Florida Agriculture
Florida Agriculture has a story to tell.
Florida's farmers produce nearly 280 commodities, employ half a million people, generate $54 billion in annual economic impact and provide tax surpluses. Florida is the nation's top producer of citrus, sugar cane, winter vegetables, ornamental plants and sod, and agriculture consistently ranks second only to tourism in supporting the Florida economy,
Florida's farmers are also stewards of the state's richly diverse environment. Farmers have been leaders in the use of reclaimed water and developing best management practices to improve water quality, minimize impacts and care for the land while producing an abundance of safe, affordable food and beautiful, practical landscaping materials.
The Agriculture Institute of Florida (AIF) is an organization of communications professionals, individual farms and producers from a diverse blend of agricultural associations, commodity producers and ag-interested businesses working together to promote the value of Florida agriculture and raise media and consumer awarements of the benefits it provides.
News
Eye on the Elections: Forum will explore how the candidates' view agriculture
Farm Credit and the Ag Institute of Florida will host its Ninth Quadrennial
Candidates Forum on Friday, September 24, 2010, welcoming both gubernatorial and Florida cabinet member candidates to share their thoughts on agriculture. Growers will also have the opportunity to speak to the candidates and ask questions.
Learn more...
Rubio Announces “Six Simple Ways To Help Florida’s Agriculture Community”
August 27, 2010 - At a meeting with members of the Florida Nursery, Growers and Landscape Association, U.S. Senate candidate Marco Rubio outlined six simple ways to help Florida’s agriculture community.
“Florida’s farms are an invaluable part of our state and national economies. As the nation’s largest industry, it is necessary that farmers be protected from an overreaching government and unfair taxes that stymie growth and profitability. We must do everything we can to allow these farms to create jobs, protect their crops and increase market size by opening up trade. As the country’s leading citrus provider, Florida stands to gain the most from these necessary practices,” said Rubio. Read more...
Setting the Record Straight About Florida Seafood:
It's Safe … It’s Plentiful … It’s Available
June 28, 2010 - Commissioner of Agriculture Charles Bronson recently issued a statement reassuring consumers that Florida seafood is both safe and abundant, despite concerns over impacts from the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.
"News coverage of the BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico has been extensive, and rightly so," he states in a letter at http://www.fl-seafood.com. "I am also concerned about misconceptions that are circulating about the safety and availability of Florida seafood. Because of these false impressions, our state’s commercial fishing industry has suffered a severe economic blow. I hope that by setting the record straight we can provide consumers with a clearer picture of the current situation and ease their apprehension." Read the full story here..
Florida’s Rural Land Values Continued Fall in 2009,
UF Survey Shows
June 28, 2010 - GAINESVILLE - The steep decline in the state’s rural land values continued in 2009, but may level off later this year, according to the annual Florida Land Value Survey from the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences.
After years of price growth spurred by a population boom between 2002 and 2006, some areas of Florida lost as much as half their value in 2008.
The survey, which does not evaluate urban land values, sought to determine average rural land values as of May 2009. Results show that farmland in North Florida dropped between 3 and 17 percent in value from 2008, while areas in South Florida dropped between 10 and 31 percent. Read more...
AIF Helps Bring “America’s Heartland” to Florida PBS Stations
March 16, 2010 - AIF was one of nine statewide agriculture organizations who joined with the Florida Farm Bureau Federation to bring “America’s Heartland” – the only nationally distributed weekly program offering positive stories about agriculture – to PBS stations in Miami, Tampa and Orlando. Read more..
AIF Funds Scholarships for Ag Communications Students
March 16, 2010 - Each year, AIF provides funding for two scholarships awarded to deserving students by the University of Florida / IFAS Department of Agriculture Education and Communications. Meet this year's recipients!
UF Report: Florida Ag Takes Economic Hit in 2008, But Remains Strong
March 2, 2010 - GAINESVILLE — Florida agriculture survived the first part of the economic downturn fairly well but decreased demand for exports has been a concern, a University of Florida expert says in an annual report. Read more...
New UF Center Brings Public Awareness to Florida Agriculture and Natural Resources
March 4, 2010 - GAINESVILLE, FLA- The newly launched Center for Public Issues Education in Agriculture and Natural Resources (PIE Center) was formed to provide research-based solutions that address societal issues.
The PIE Center is designed to aid in conflict resolution strategies and public issues education surrounding controversial issues related to agriculture and natural resources.
