Commodities

APICULTURE

13. Apiary Promotion

We urge farmers to utilize Integrated Pest Management programs that are effective in controlling insect pests while minimizing any detrimental effects to honey bees. Such protection would resolve the viability of honey bee pollinators and the viability of our fruit and vegetable industry.

We urge that the general public be educated on the usefulness of honey bees. (APICULTURE)

14. Apiary Quality Assurance

We strongly recommend that the FDACS, USDA and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) take immediate action to eliminate problems with adulterated and/or mislabeled honey and honey products, foreign and domestic, by enforcing existing laws. (APICULTURE)

15. Bear Management

We should continue to work with the Florida State Beekeepers Association and Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to manage the bear problem. (APICULTURE)

16. Bees on Public-Owned Lands

We recommend that beekeepers be permitted to keep bees on appropriate public-owned land. (APICULTURE)

17. Definition of Honey

We recommend that FDACS and USDA develop an industry-wide standard of identity for honey. (APICULTURE)

18. Honey Loan Program

We support continuation of a Honey Loan Program and/or a subsidy payment in an effort to assist Florida beekeepers. (APICULTURE)

19. Honey Marketing

We support the creation of a honey marketing cooperative in Florida. (APICULTURE)

20. Shipment of Live Animals

We encourage the United States Postal Service to continue to ship live animals. (APICULTURE) 

AQUACULTURE

21. Alligator Farming

We support the development of alligator farming through continued research on captive propagation, ranching and husbandry practices. We also support a cooperative effort between alligator farms, state and federal agencies to develop BMPs and other standards for farm operations and products. (AQUA)

22. Aquaculture as Agriculture

We support aquaculture being recognized as an agricultural industry by the federal government. (AQUA)

23. Aquaculture Drug Labeling

We encourage FDA to fast track the implementation of the Minor Use Minor Species (MUMS) law. We oppose species-by-species labeling of drugs. (AQUA)

24. Broodstock and Farm Cultured Products

Aquaculture products as agricultural products should be exempted from regulations dealing with the protection of feral stocks.

We recommend amending the Lacey Act, Magnesum-Stevenson Act, and the Endangered Species Act to allow free interstate commerce of legitimately grown or harvested aquaculture products.

We encourage the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), and the National Marine Fisheries Service to allow aquaculturists to obtain plant materials, invertebrates, vertebrates, broodstock, eggs or juveniles from the wild as required for aquaculture purposes as long as the wild population will not be adversely affected, and such materials become property of the aquaculturist upon arrival at his farm and be considered agricultural products. (AQUA)

25. Depredating Animals

We urge funding for the USDA Wildlife Services to enable them to cooperate with the aquaculture industry, state and other federal agencies to identify and resolve potential wildlife problems that would impact the agricultural industry in Florida. (AQUA)

26. General Permits for Aquaculture

General permits and/or BMPs should be developed for all currently excluded aquaculture activities by the appropriate agencies as required by Florida Statutes. (AQUA) 

BEEF

27. Animal Health Products

We support the continued sale of over-the-counter animal health products and oppose further restrictions on their use. (BEEF)

28. Animal ID

We support a voluntary national animal ID program. In the event of mandatory animal ID, we support increased federal funding for phased implementation.

We also support the strategic approach of the ongoing National Animal Identification System cooperative agreement administered by the State Veterinarian allowing free market development of the system in a private industry/government partnership. (BEEF)

29. Beef Check-Off

We support the national Beef Check-Off Program. We also support future increases to provide continued benefits of the program. (BEEF)

30. Florida Cattlemen’s Association’s Voluntary Assessment

We support the Florida Cattlemen’s Association’s program for funding environmental research, education, and legal defense on a voluntary basis. (BEEF)

31. Range Lands

Recognizing the environmental and societal benefits of grazing by livestock, we recommend increased public education, on-site technical assistance, extension and research dealing with range use and management on public and private lands. (BEEF) 

CITRUS

32. Adulteration of Juice

We support the timely enforcement of FDA regulations concerning the adulteration of citrus juice. (CITRUS)

33. Citrus Harvesting

We support legitimate research proposals aimed at reducing citrus harvesting costs either through increased productivity on the part of labor, mechanization or through abscission technology. (CITRUS)

34. Citrus Trust Funds

We strongly urge the State of Florida to keep the faith with the Florida grower and not take funds or accrued interest from the Citrus Advertising Trust Fund, Florida Citrus Inspection Trust Fund or any other trust fund that is solely funded by growers or the citrus industry. (CITRUS)

35. Department of Citrus (DOC)

The DOC, financed by grower taxes and federal programs for exports, should have as its primary function the enhancement of the profitability of Florida citrus groves and the fruit and fruit products. The DOC’s primary program for increasing profitability should be the establishment and perfection of a system to sell Florida-identified quality.

We urge the DOC to encourage a higher quality standard for Florida orange juice.

Rebate programs or any other promotional activity sponsored by DOC should be structured so that they may be used, not only to increase participation in the identification program, but also to expand the total advertising effort on orange and grapefruit products and on fresh fruit.

The Florida Citrus Commission (FCC) should give consideration to the use of only one symbol, which can be advertised and used on fresh fruit, grapefruit products and orange juice products. (CITRUS) 

DAIRY

36. Animal Husbandry Regulations

Since it is to the advantage of the producer to care properly for animals, we oppose any regulations restricting accepted management practices. We should also develop educational programs for the general public about accepted management practices. (DAIRY)

37. Animal Products in Public Schools

Because of the exceptional nutritional value that milk and dairy products provide, we urge the use of milk and milk-products in single-serve plastic containers in the public school system. In addition, we urge the proper handling of dairy and meat products used in the public school system and other government entities. (DAIRY)

38. Florida Dairy Regulations

All regulation of Florida producers, processors and manufacturers of dairy products that will be sold for consumption by humans or animals should be done by the FDACS Dairy Division. (DAIRY)

39. Imported Milk Standards

We support strict enforcement of milk quality standards on raw milk imported into the state of Florida. This enforcement should be done by FDACS Dairy Division. (DAIRY)

40. Locally Produced Dairy Products

We support any advertising and/or promotion programs that would encourage the consumption of locally produced milk and other dairy products. (DAIRY) 

ENVIRONMENTAL HORTICULTURE

41. Environmental Benefits of Plants

We support research and promotion of plants and turfgrass as a means of improving air and water quality, heat reduction, soil and energy conservation as well as the other environmental benefits, they provide to improve the quality of life.

We strongly support full funding of the Floriculture and Nursery Research Initiative under the USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS).

We support continual educational efforts such as the Center for Landscape Conservation and Ecology. (HORT)

42. Foliage Shipments to California

We strongly encourage FDACS-Division of Plant Industry (DPI), the California Department of Food and Agriculture, the California County Commissioners and other state agencies to resolve, with industry input, issues affecting the shipment and inspections of Florida plant material to California. (HORT) 

EQUINE

43. Equine as Livestock

We support clarification of livestock in section F.S. 193.461 (agricultural lands; annual application process; extenuating circumstances; waivers) to include the breeding, pasturing, boarding and training of livestock. We support the continued inclusion of equine in the definition of livestock. (EQUINE)

44. Florida Horse Park

We support efforts to develop and fund the Florida Agriculture Center and Horse Park. The proposed facility will become a beneficial economic enhancement to the state as well as a positive public relations vehicle for all of Florida’s equine industry. (EQUINE)

45. Horse Identification

We support use of microchip implanting for identification of horses for intra/interstate movement. (EQUINE)

46. Horse Slaughter Prevention Act

We oppose the adoption of the Horse Slaughter Prevention Act. (EQUINE)

47. Legislation for Horse Racing

The health and vitality of the equine industry is important to the agricultural industry in Florida, and Farm Bureau members breeding, boarding and raising horses. The sport of racing purses are a critical part of Florida’s horse industry given the direct relationship between the race winnings of Florida’s race horse and the investment in the equine industry of this state. Presently purses in Florida are falling behind other states due to regulations, which restrain the full development of Florida’s race horse industry. Any future expansion of product affiliated with racing facilities or lottery legislation must allow for an expansion of racing opportunities for Florida race horses and provide tracks with the same regulatory privileges afforded to other gaming venues in order to help stimulate an increase in revenues available to Florida horsemen via purses, purse increases, breeder award, promotional fund incentives and equine research. (EQUINE) 

FORESTRY

48. Division of Forestry (DOF)

The DOF should continue its assistance efforts for private timberland owners. DOF should continue landowner and neighborhood incentive programs to promote and conduct fuel load reduction. Sufficient resources should be allocated to maintain adequate staff and equipment as well as implement the annual forest inventory. DOF should also utilize the FDACS Marketing Division to increase public education, create awareness and acceptance of the need for statewide prescribed burning to include public safety, wildlife, agricultural and commercial benefits. (FORESTRY)

49. Public Land/Multiple Use Management

We support active multiple use management of all public land including timber production, using the Division of Forestry as lead agency for all forested lands. (FORESTRY)

50. Reforestation

We support the reforestation of private timberlands through cost effective incentive programs. (FORESTRY)

51. State Tree Nursery

We support the DOF Tree Improvement Program and State Nursery Program to provide high quality seed and seedlings to landowners. (FORESTRY) 

PEANUT/COTTON

52. Documentary Stamp Exemption

All commodities placed in Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) loan should be exempt from Documentary Stamps or other state loan fees. (PEANUT/COTTON)

53. Florida Cotton Marketing Order

We support the effort to implement a mandatory Florida cotton marketing order for the purpose of research, promotion, education, and other cotton related activities. (PEANUT/COTTON)

54. Loose Shelled Kernels

All loose shelled kernels should be crushed and should not be allowed to enter the edible trade. We support no reduction in price for loose shelled kernels. (PEANUT/COTTON)

55. National Cotton Check-off

We support changes in existing legislation and regulation of the national Cotton Check-off that would allow for full representation of Florida’s cotton growers and our cotton industry in the use of check-off dollars. (PEANUT/COTTON)

56. National Peanut Check-off

We support an increase in the national Peanut Check-off funds allocated for production research from the current 20% level to 40%. (PEANUT/COTTON)

57. Seg 2 & Seg 3 Peanuts

Seg 2 & Seg 3 Peanuts should be supported at no less than 65% of loan rate. (PEANUT/COTTON) 

SOD/TURFGRASS

58. Environmental Benefits of Turfgrass

We encourage policymakers to recognize the environmental benefits of turfgrass which includes filtering pollutants from water, preventing erosion and generating oxygen. (SOD/TURFGRASS)

59. Regulation of Turfgrass

We encourage governmental agencies to utilize sound economic and scientific research prior to developing new programs, rules, ordinances and state regulations relating to the production and utilization of turfgrass products. (SOD/TURFGRASS)

60. Turfgrass Education

We support an educational program directed at regulators and policy makers on the environmental benefits, proper care and maintenance of turfgrass. (SOD/TURFGRASS)

61. Turfgrass and Water Conservation

We object to limiting turfgrass as criteria for water conservation as cited in Florida Statutes and other governmental ordinances. (SOD/TURFGRASS)

62. Water Use on Turfgrass

We encourage governmental agencies to utilize sound scientific principles in the education of the public in the development of new programs, rules and ordinances relating to the use of water on turf areas. (SOD/TURFGRASS) 

SUGAR

63. Domestic Sugar Program Management

USDA must provide program support through the CCC in order to maintain a sustainable sugar industry. CCC program management must include non-recourse loans. Loan rates should be balanced to reflect increased production costs and inflation. In addition, we strongly support the Farm Facility Storage Loan Program at no net cost to the U.S. Treasury. (SUGAR)

64. Federal Sugar Policy

America’s sugar policy should be managed to operate at no net cost to the U.S. Treasury.

We support Federal policy that insures a strong economically viable domestic sugar industry. We strongly support USDA’s management and operation of the sugar program in a manner that ensures fair returns to the grower.

We encourage USDA to publish monthly USDA validated reports beginning in 2008 on Mexico sugar consumption, production, processing, exports, imports, and non-food use, similar to reports available in the U.S. (SUGAR) 

TOBACCO

65. State and Federal Tobacco Services

State and Federal agencies should provide services for tobacco growers just as they do other crops [e.g. reporting, record keeping, acreage assessments, crop insurance and other USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) services]. (OVERSIGHT) 

VEGETABLE

66. License and Bond

We support Florida’s current system of licensing and bonding of agricultural dealers to better protect the growers. (HORT) (VEG)

67. Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA)

Florida Farm Bureau supports retention of the PACA under the supervision of the USDA to provide growers with more effective provisions for enforcing prompt payment and aid them in situations in which the buyer has not paid the seller. (VEG)