The Florida Farm Bureau Federation highlighted on Mar. 1 ongoing efforts to help keep Florida’s farms viable amid rising costs, volatile markets, extreme weather, and other challenges. The organization said that supporting profitability for farmers is essential to prevent farmland from being converted into non-agricultural uses.
The topic is important as Florida could lose about 2.2 million acres of agricultural land by 2070 if current development trends continue, with grazing lands at particular risk as pasture is replaced by pavement. According to J. Scott Angle, “We are committed to helping keep farms profitable. By doing so, we keep Florida farms on Florida lands.” Angle explained that the organization focuses on practices such as diversifying farming operations and introducing cover crops or soil-building rotations to improve efficiency and reduce risks.
UF/IFAS has been developing scientific approaches that support diversification in agriculture, including winter cover cropping and carbon-smart management strategies. However, only about five percent of the region’s row crops currently use winter cover crops due to the risks involved in transitioning away from established methods.
To address these challenges, cost-share models based on scientific research have been developed along with payment-for-ecosystem services models aimed at compensating farmers for adopting sustainable practices. Federal funding has also been secured with support from the Florida Farm Bureau Federation for further investigation into these approaches.
The Florida Farm Bureau Federation secures funding through member dues and donations to support programs such as its disaster relief fund, according to the official website. The organization promotes local food production and resource conservation through initiatives like its membership campaign according to its official website. Since 1966 it has presented a Distinguished Service Award honoring contributions in agriculture according to its official website.
The federation affiliates with the American Farm Bureau Federation and operates through county organizations according to its official website, representing more than 132,000 members across 60 county units according to its official website. Its aim is increasing net income for farmers while improving rural living standards according to its official website.
According to the official website, the federation provides educational resources, policy support and disaster aid while partnering on conservation initiatives across the state.
