News

Candidates to Discuss Future of Florida Agriculture at AIF - Farm Credit Forum on September 24

ORLANDO, FL - (August 26, 2010) - Candidates for Florida’s governor and Cabinet positions will share their views on critical issues with agricultural producers from throughout the state at the ninth quadrennial Farm Credit - Agriculture Institute of Florida Candidates Forum, set for Friday, Sept. 24 in Orlando.
     The Candidates Forum and luncheon will be held from 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. at the Orange County Convention Center in conjunction with the Florida Nursery, Growers and Landscape Association’s The Landscape Show, which attracts more than 9,000 green industry professionals each year.
     Candidates will present their plans for governing Florida’s second largest industry, which contributes more than $103 billion annually to the state’s economy and employs over 763,000 people. Guests also will be able to ask questions directly of the candidates.
     “The Candidates Forum is an excellent opportunity to meet those whose decisions will affect our industry for the next four years and to be sure that our concerns are heard,” said Betsy McGill, president of the Agriculture Institute of Florida.
     The Agriculture Institute of Florida is a volunteer organization of communications professionals from private companies, agricultural associations and individual farms throughout the state. Since 1970, AIF has been dedicated to promoting the value of Florida agriculture and empowering producers to work effectively with the media and the public.
     Farm Credit is a Customer-Owned business serving approximately 5,000 ranchers, farmers, growers and rural homeowners with $3 billion in outstanding loan volume.
     The Forum is open to anyone who works in or with agriculture; admission is $75 per person and table sponsorships are available. All proceeds benefit the Agriculture Institute of Florida for the promotion of Florida agriculture. For more information or to register, contact Caitlin Meadows at (863) 533-0561 ext. 112 or email candidatesforum@aginstitute.org.

Rubio Announces “Six Simple Ways To Help Florida’s Agriculture Community”

Lays Out Eighth Set Of “Ideas To Reclaim America” As Clear Alternative To Washington

August 27, 2010 - At a recent 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. This is Rubio’s eighth set of “Ideas to Reclaim America” proposals to offer a clear and positive alternative to the policies coming out of Washington.

Florida is home to 47,500 farms that span more than 9 million acres of land and produce a wide variety of locally grown food products. Agriculture is the largest employer in the country, and Florida is the crowning jewel of that industry, providing the best oranges, grapefruit, tangerines and floriculture the U.S. has to offer. We need to make sure we maintain strong agricultural policies that allow Florida to remain a national leader.

“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.

Unfortunately, Washington has intervened and made it more difficult for farmers to run successful businesses. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is placing stringent standards on farmers, and unfair taxes are strangling their ability to grow their businesses. These practices must be adjusted so that America’s largest industry can thrive and produce not just food, but jobs as well.

To help our state’s agriculture industry, Marco has put forth six simple ways to help farmers:

Marco’s Six Simple Ways To Help The Agriculture Community:

IDEA #1: Stand Up To The EPA On Numeric Nutrients.Due to environmental groups suing the EPA in 2008, Florida is facing the federal imposition of economically damaging numeric nutrient standards on its lakes and rivers. Congress should step-in and ensure that the Florida Department of Environmental Protection leads the effort to implement numeric nutrients. Being a state agency, they are fully aware of the economic cost and devastation a one-size-fits-all Washington approach would have on the state.

IDEA #2: Promote Economic Growth And Job Creation Through Trade. We must continue reducing barriers to free and fair trade. We should adopt the free trade agreements that have already been negotiated with Colombia, Panama, South Korea and other nations around the world. For example, the adoption of the Colombia Free Trade Agreement would result in agricultural export gains of more than $815 million per year. The Panama and Korea Free Trade Agreements would result in more than $195 million and $1.8 billion per year respectively. We must ratify these agreements and work toward the lowering of tariffs and curtailing anti-trade practices around the world.

IDEA #3: Prevent A Capital Gains Tax Hike. The capital gains tax is not just imposed on those who make money off investment. It also impacts small businesses and farms that help feed our country and employ our workers. Fundamentally, it is a case of taxing first when the income is earned, then again when the investment (whether in mutual funds or buildings) is cashed-in for other investments or needs. We must prevent it from being raised due to the expiration of the 2001 tax cuts and eventually abolish it completely.

IDEA #4: Permanently End The Death Tax.According to the Farm Bureau, individuals, family partnerships and family corporations own 98 percent of our nation’s 2 million farms and ranches. The estate tax unfortunately causes many of these businesses to waste time on preparing to deal with the tax and, secondly, causes many families or surviving partners to sell land or equipment to pay the taxes to keep the businesses afloat. Ultimately, this tax discourages savings, investments and expansions. We need to end it once and for all.

IDEA #5: Reform America’s Foreign Pest And Disease Interdiction Process. Foreign pests and diseases can cost tens of billions of dollars annually in lower crop values, eradication programs, and emergency payments to farmers. We must not allow bureaucratic inefficiency or lack of coordination between the Department of Agriculture and Customs and Border Protection to expose this important industry to unnecessary threats. We need to ensure that inspectors have the capabilities to identify threats offshore, target inspections effectively, and are given the necessary tools, such as canine teams on the front lines, to find them.

IDEA #6: Matching Grants For Agriculture Research.Research to protect against foreign pests and diseases has always been a primary pursuit of agriculture across the country. In Florida, research has taken on greater importance with the spread of canker and greening. There are now more than 100 research projects underway designed to provide short and long-term solutions to each disease. As private industry continues to research these and other diseases, the federal government should assist in matching a portion of the research. This will ensure agriculture has the revenue needed to defeat the threats and protect America’s crops.

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."
     First, Florida seafood products are safe and plentiful. They have not been affected by the oil spill. Most of the Gulf of Mexico is untouched by oil, and our commercial fishermen continue to Florida Gulf Safe Logo harvest products from these clean waters.
     Second, we are continually monitoring water samples off Florida's coast. When Florida waters are impacted by the spill, we take immediate action to close the waters to commercial seafood harvesting. We would never jeopardize consumer safety by harvesting and selling any product that was not safe and wholesome. Never.
     Third, our commercial fishermen take great pride in the quality reputation that Florida seafood products have earned. Quite frankly, Florida seafood is something special -- and we would never put any product on the market that would tarnish that hard-earned reputation.
     I hope that you will return delicious Florida seafood products to your table. Shrimp, oysters, blue crab, grouper, clams -- and all the other many fine seafood products that we harvest -- are safe and plentiful. You have our word on that.
     And, if you would like to come to Florida to enjoy that seafood meal, we would love to have you visit. Not only would our commercial fishermen thank you, but our hotel and restaurant workers would be most appreciative as well.

For more information on how Florida is monitoring and testing for seafood safety: http://www.fl-seafood.com/deepwater_links.htm

For more on what types of Florida seafood are available: http://www.fl-seafood.com/availability.htm

Find out where to buy Florida seafood here: http://www.fl-seafood.com/consumers/wheretobuy.htm

"Sea for Yourself" - Seafood markets and restaurants throughout Florida are selling and serving safe and wholesome Florida seafood products. http://www.fl-seafood.com/cameras.htm

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.
     The exception to this drop in value is wooded farmland, which experienced a marginal increase of just over 1 percent, although it’s not clear what contributed to this rise. The value of pasture lands rose 22 percent, but this was interpreted as a market correction to a disproportional devaluation in 2008, said Rodney Clouser, the UF professor of food and resource economics who coordinated the survey.
The value of some transitional land — rural areas outside of cities that may be converted to housing or other nonagricultural use — actually rose more than 4 percent in North Florida in 2009. However, transitional land in South Florida fell by nearly 46 percent.
     These findings fall within the range predicted by the 2009 survey, Clouser said, which may bode well for next year. Survey responses from individuals involved in the Florida real
estate market predict that although land values will continue to drop in 2010, the decline will be much less severe than that of 2008 and 2009, likely around only 6 or 7 percent.
     “The steepest decline is likely over, but it will most likely be a few more years before we see an overall increase in values,” Clouser said. “Even after the bigger economic picture improves, there will be a surplus of land in Florida that will need to be sold before the values begin to go up again.” The full report can be viewed online at http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/FE833.

- by Stu Hutson, 352-273-3569, stu@ufl.edu. Source: Dr. Rodney Clouser, 352-392-1826, rclouser@ufl.edu

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. The program has been long been a staple on RFD-TV, a cable and satellite channel that highlights the rural lifestyle.

Organizations providing underwriting support are Florida Farm Bureau, Florida Fruit and Vegetable Association, the Florida Cattlemen’s Association, Florida Fertilizer and Agrichemical Association, Southeast Dairy Producers Association, Florida Citrus Mutual, Farm Credit, Florida Forestry Association, the Florida Nurserymen, Growers and Landscapers Association and the Ag Institute of Florida.

“America’s Heartland” examines the importance of agriculture in America and shares the stories of farm families with viewers across the nation. Produced by PBS station KVIE in Sacramento, California, the program is in its fifth season of broadcasting and includes segments on Florida agricultural producers and issues.

Watch for America’s Heartland on these PBS Stations (all times are EST):
WPBT, Miami – Sundays at 10:30 AM
WEDU, Tampa- Sundays at 10:00 AM
WMFE, Orlando – Sundays at 12:30 PM

http://www.americasheartland.org/

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!

Tiffany Dale: Telling the Story of Agriculture

Tiffany Dale is passionate about agriculture telling its story. That’s why she followed her passion to college and plans to pursue a career representing the industry.

Dale grew up in Valrico, a rural town not far from downtown Tampa. While her family didn’t work in agriculture, she developed an early appreciation for all that surrounded her. As a child, she marveled at the local orange groves and strawberry fields and had an appreciation for the people who worked hard every day to provide food.

It saddened her to see many of the groves become housing developments, but this only further inspired her to one day work on behalf of farmers. Once she enrolled at the University of Florida, this passion led her to major in agricultural education and communication.

“I have always been fascinated with farming and found beauty in harvesting something from the ground or an animal that feeds the world,” she said. “Farming and agriculture production is something that ties everyone in this world together, but does not receive near the credit it deserves."

Dale will graduate in December and intends to pursue a master’s in agribusiness. She has set her sights on working for the USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service.

Kevin Kent: FFA Involvement Fueled Passion For Industry

Kevin Kent became hooked on agriculture when he was in the KevinKent ninth grade.

He grew up in the small town of Cottondale, just west of Tallahassee. And when he says small, he isn’t kidding.

“One red light, a graduating class of 49 and the ability to walk to school each and every day,” he says.

His childhood interests revolved around graphic design and dirt track racing. By age 12, Kent was driving race cars and later began announcing at a local racetrack during high school.

But his interests veered toward agriculture after he enrolled in his first agricultural education class in the ninth grade. Not long after, Kent became involved with FFA where he said he built valuable experiences of leadership and personal growth.

Following high school graduation, he served as the Florida FFA state vice president from 2005-06.

Through FFA, he had been introduced to several individuals in UF’s College of Agricultural and Life Sciences who shared the importance of the future of agriculture. Majoring in agricultural communications has become a true passion, despite the fact he didn’t grow up directly involved in the industry.

“When I try to explain my degree to family and friends, they often joke and tell me that I am learning to talk to crops and animals,” he said. “Communications is a vital part of what we do each and every day, especially in agriculture. Our industry has the most challenging messages and stories to share. Whether it’s communicating about the benefits of genetically modified organisms, the details of a disease outbreak or simply sharing a story before someone else does, our industry definitely is challenged.

“The agricultural communications and leadership development specialization prepares students to face these type situations and more through rigorous and relevant curriculum.”

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.

In the report that looks at 2008 economic data, agriculture and related industries contributed $76.5 billion to the state’s economy, said Alan Hodges, an extension scientist with UF’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences.

“Every single sector of the economy has been affected in the recession, there’s just no getting away from that. And agriculture is no exception,” Hodges said. “However, it looks like agriculture has taken less of a hit than some other segments.”

Hodges has been involved in the annual report’s production since 2000.

Economic data compiled by the federal government lags about two years behind, and 2008 is the most recent year for which data available, he said. Economists peg December 2007 as the start of the country’s recession.

The report tracks more than 90 industry sectors – such as farming, ranching, pest control, fertilizer manufacturing, mining, food and beverage manufacturing, paper and lumber production, golf courses, recreational fishing and commercial hunting and trapping.

Agriculture’s $76.5 billion value-added impact from the 2008 report is down from the 2007 figure of $93 billion – but that’s similar to the economic hit suffered by other industries during the same time period, he said.

The value-added impact includes what economists call multiplier effects, which Hodges explains like this: A farmer buys things like seeds, fertilizer, machinery and equipment from suppliers. That spending creates revenue for suppliers and their employees, who spend their wages on things like food, housing and transportation.

The researchers rely on a model called IMPLAN that tracks a vast array of economic transactions between business sectors.

Agriculture’s value-added impact is down, and Hodges said he believes lower demand for the state’s agricultural exports is to blame. For example, citrus fruit is exported from Florida to Europe and Asia, and those exports were down by nearly 20 percent in 2008.

Still, agriculture and natural resource industries accounted in 2008 for about 8 percent of Florida’s gross state product.

Accounting for nearly 1.3 million full- and part-time jobs, or 14 percent of the state’s total employment in 2008, agriculture ranks second in jobs among the state’s economic sectors, though Hodges notes that UF’s report reclassified some jobs from the North American Industry Classification System’s designations.

Among industry groups, average annual growth in value-added impacts from 2001 through 2007 was highest for mining (19 percent) and crop, livestock, forestry and fishery production (10 percent), followed by food and kindred products distribution (5 percent) and forest product manufacturing (3 percent).

For more data, please see the full report: http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fe829

Source: Alan Hodges, 352-392-1845, ext. 312, awhodges@ufl.edu

New UF Center Brings Public Awareness to Florida Agriculture and Natural Resources

March 4, 2010 - GAINESVILLE - 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.

“In Florida, farming operations occur alongside population centers of all sizes, sometimes creating different views about land and natural resources use in local areas,” said Dr. Ed Osborne, chair of the University of Florida’s Department of Agricultural Education and Communication.

“Failure to resolve public policy issues to the satisfaction of all segments of our state threatens to reach a crisis level that could negatively impact agricultural and natural resources sustainability in the decades ahead,” Osborne said.

The PIE Center is designed to aid in conflict resolution strategies and public issues education surrounding controversial issues related to agriculture and natural resources.

“Agriculture and natural resources public policy issues are often addressed reactively by stakeholders,” said PIE Center Development Director Dr. Tracy Irani. “Due the complex nature and intensity of these issues, a new approach is needed. This type of approach must focus on addressing national and statewide public policy education objectives in a more proactive, consistent, and systematic way.”

Florida agriculture industry leaders are noticing the importance of public opinion and its effect on the agriculture and natural resource sectors.

“Florida is undergoing a paradigm shift in public opinion and an explosion in local regulations,” said Ben Bolusky, Florida Nursery, Growers, and Landscape Association’s (FNGLA) chief executive officer. “The PIE Center is perfectly positioned and needed to help Florida agriculture enrich its collaborative legacy and spirit to better understand and face these challenges.”

Not only is the PIE Center committed to providing issues education to the public, but it is also dedicated to working with agriculture and natural resources organizations to strengthen their internal capacity, Irani said.

“It was natural for FNGLA to turn to the PIE Center to guide the association through its pivotal strategic planning process,” Bolusky said. “Thanks to the PIE Center’s professional expertise, FNGLA is now developing a new strategic blueprint focused on promoting and protecting the success and professionalism of FNGLA’s members,” he said.

While the PIE Center’s first few projects have been focused in the agriculture sector, the Center is in search of projects that will benefit the natural resources sector, Irani said.

“Our goal is to offer tangible assistance to those in both the agriculture and natural resources sectors, and we are constantly looking for new projects to engage the natural resources sector,” she said.

Other projects in which the PIE Center is currently engaged include social media research for agriculture and natural resources organizations, an interactive issues guide featuring candidates for the Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Services primary campaign, public perception research, message testing research, and a feature story series focused on sustainable production practices.

For more information about the PIE Center, visit www.thepiecenter.com, check out the Facebook page at “Center for Public Issues Education,” or follow the Center on Twitter @piecenter. Center staff also can be reached at 352-392-4680 or 352-273-3139.

USDA Report Shows Impressive Five-Year Gains
For Florida Agriculture

Agriculture providing good economic news during these challenging times, Bronson says

TALLAHASSEE - February 17, 2009 - The number of Florida farms and the value of Florida agricultural products sold rose substantially from 2002 to 2007, according to a report recently released by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Florida Agriculture Commissioner Charles H. Bronson said the impressive performance by the state's agricultural industry in the past five years shows that it remains a vital pillar of Florida's economic strength.

"For decades, this economic engine has provided Florida with a dependable source of revenue and jobs," Bronson said. "While other sectors of the economy have been on shaky ground lately, agriculture has strengthened and become more productive. This report about Florida agriculture comes at a time when we all really need some positive economic news."

According to the USDA Census of Agriculture, the number of Florida farms increased by 7.7 percent, from 44,081 in 2002 to 47,463 in 2007. Additionally, the market value of agricultural products sold by Florida farmers hit $7.8 billion in 2007, the highest recorded level in the state's history.

"These statistics are a testament to the determination of our state's farmers," Bronson said. "Even when confronted by drought, hurricanes, pests, disease, and stiff foreign competition, they continue to plant, harvest, rebuild and innovate. Florida's farmers not only produce food and fiber for consumers, they provide a solid economic base for our state."

The USDA Census shows that 90 percent of Florida's farms are family operations, while about 10 percent are corporate entities. About 32,000 Florida farms, or approximately 70 percent, have 50 acres or less.

The report also reflects that changing face of agriculture in Florida, with increases in the number of farms owned by a variety of ethnic groups including Native Americans, Asians, Hispanics and African Americans. Ethnic ownership of farms increased by 26 percent, from 2,038 farms in 2002 to 2,582 farms in 2007.

Augmenting the results of the USDA Census is the University of Florida's report, "Economic Contributions of Agricultural, Food Manufacturing, and Natural Resource Industries in Florida in 2006," which indicates that more than 766,000 jobs are attributable to these sectors, up from 648,000 jobs in 2002. Additionally, these sectors generate an estimated $100 billion overall economic impact and contribute $2.98 billion in indirect taxes to local, county and state governments.

"While the USDA report indicates an overall expansion of Florida agriculture, it also raises some points of concern," Bronson said. "Farmers' net earnings, or income, declined significantly for the last three years surveyed. This means that our farmers are working harder for less return, due in part to increases in the cost of inputs such as fuel, electricity, seed and fertilizer."

The USDA Census showed that net earnings declined from 40 percent in 2005, to 29.8 percent in 2006, to 22.1 percent in 2007.

The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services is statutorily mandated to provide professional marketing services to Florida's agricultural community through its Division of Marketing and Development. These marketing promotions are part of the ongoing "Fresh from Florida" campaign. For more information about Florida agriculture, visit www.Florida-Agriculture.com.

For more information about the USDA Census of Agriculture, visit:
www.agcensus.usda.gov/Publications/2007/Full_Report/Census_by_State/
Florida/index.asp

NEW UF CENTER BRINGS PUBLIC AWARENESS TO FLORIDA AGRICULTURE
AND NATURAL RESOURCES
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.