Farm Bureau applauds Rubio’s plan to help agriculture

(Gainesville, Fla.) – The leader of Florida’s largest general-interest agricultural organization today applauded U.S. Senate candidate Marco Rubio for his six-point plan to help the agricultural community.

“We are pleased that Marco Rubio seems to understand the many challenges faced by those who put food on our tables,” said Florida Farm Bureau President John L. Hoblick. “It’s obvious that he’s done his homework and largely agrees with the principles and policies that are supported by the leadership in our industry.”

Rubio outlined his “six simple ways to help the agricultural community” during a Friday speech before a meeting of the Florida Nursery, Growers and Landscape Association. Among other things, he called for the end of the federal estate tax, no increase in the capital gains tax and increased federal funding of agricultural research. Rubio also suggested the setting of water quality standards utilizing numeric nutrient criteria should be accomplished at the state level.

“It’s refreshing to see a candidate for statewide office understand what agriculture means to this state,” said Hoblick. “A strong agriculture is important not to just those of us who farm, but also to those who eat and those who want to see our state’s second largest industry help keep our economy strong.”

Hoblick said that he was pleased with Rubio’s decision to put an emphasis on a strong agriculture. “We applaud what Rubio’s done and we are hopeful that fellow candidates in this race and other statewide races will follow his lead,” said Hoblick.

The Florida Farm Bureau Federation is the state’s largest general-interest agricultural association with more than 140,000 member-families statewide. Headquartered in Gainesville, the Federation is an independent, nonprofit agricultural organization. More information about Florida Farm Bureau is available on the organization’s Web site, http://FloridaFarmBureau.org