As native Floridians, we have observed thousands of acres of agricultural lands destroyed by way of development, disease, population explosion, and increased land value. But there is a way to help make agricultural lands more affordable. The Florida Greenbelt law, enacted in 1959, gives the owner of agricultural lands a property tax break for conducting [...]
After years of negotiations between the Florida Nursery Growers and Landscape Association (FNGLA) and the USDA’s Risk Management Agency, the brand-new Nursery Value Select (NVS) Pilot policy is ready to launch. The new policy will be offered in many Florida counties this spring. It is imperative that you contact your crop insurance agent immediately regarding [...]
The future of Florida’s agriculture industry is being secured and shaped in universities throughout the state. At Martin Law Office, we know the value of education, and we feel it’s important to give Florida’s men and women the tools they need to make a change, and to make that change count. That’s why we made [...]
Each year around April the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) awards the prestigious Agricultural-Environmental Leadership Award to three agriculture operations that stand out for their demonstration of “a sustained commitment to conserving Florida’s natural resources and improving our environment.” Florida ag has long known that it holds a stewardship role for the unique environments [...]
Bees and other pollinators are central to the success of our agriculture industry, so it’s always good news when steps are being taken to help bees and pollinators. Such an example is the recent partnership between The Wildlife Society and the Feed a Bee program, operated by life-science group Bayer: Science for A Better Life, that [...]
There’s no denying that bees and other insects are vastly important to our lives. From pollinating the bulk of our agriculture crops to benefiting the environment, bees and other beneficial bugs are vital to our way of life. In an effort to protect pollinators like bees and other beneficial insects, one study looked into using [...]
Thankfully Hurricane Matthew didn’t bring the level of devastation it was capable of, but it did leave many people without power. It’s a good time to review safety around the downed power lines and electrical wires that are likely all over the east coast of Florida. Following hurricane protocol, you hopefully unplugged any electrical equipment [...]
There’s no denying that Florida has seen an enormous negative impact due to citrus greening, or HLB, in its citrus industry. As annual harvests have continued to fall year after year, many have wondered how long the citrus industry can stay afloat. With harvests dwindling and maintenance costs soaring, many citrus growers have thrown in [...]
Migrant farmworkers are at the forefront of many discussions on agriculture and immigration. In ag-heavy states like Florida, the presence of farmworkers is common, as they are there nearly year-round to pick such crops as citrus and strawberries. However, NPR contributor, Dan Charles, realized that while many who are in agriculture understand that a large [...]
The USDA just released the season’s final citrus forecast for Florida. It’s one that’s been greeted with both praise and dismay, a bit like winning a skirmish but still facing a difficult war. The forecast increased slightly—as it has for the several past months, in contrast with what’s par for the course since citrus greening [...]
