Florida Farm Bureau Federation’s advocacy has contributed to several regulatory developments affecting Florida agriculture. Over the past month, three major national regulatory actions were announced that are expected to impact farmers in the state by reducing burdens and modernizing standards.
On August 5, 2025, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) proposed an update to the BRIX standard, which determines sugar content in orange juice. The existing standard had been unchanged for decades and was seen as outdated by industry stakeholders. According to Florida Farm Bureau, this change is significant because it helps Florida citrus producers compete more fairly in the juice market, acknowledges advances in citrus varieties and processing methods, and provides more flexibility for juice processors while maintaining product quality.
“Farm Bureau’s role: We’ve worked alongside industry partners and supported US Senator Ashley Moody, who highlighted this win at a press conference at Florida’s Natural in Lake Wales. Moving forward, we plan to submit comments that support a modernized, flexible standard,” stated the organization.
Another development occurred on August 27, 2025, when a federal court vacated the U.S. Department of Labor’s (DOL) 2023 Adverse Effect Wage Rate (AEWR) methodology rule. This rule would have introduced complex wage rates for H-2A guest workers based on occupation, potentially raising labor costs for farms nationwide. The court’s decision is seen as preventing unsustainable increases in labor costs and restoring predictability to the H-2A program.
“Farm Bureau’s role: Florida Farm Bureau strongly opposed the rule from the beginning and worked with our national partners to support litigation challenging its legality. We will remain engaged as the Department of Labor decides whether to appeal or rewrite the rule,” according to their statement.
Additionally, on August 28, 2025, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced it would discontinue its Farm Labor Survey (FLS). For years, this survey was used as a basis for setting AEWR wage rates but faced criticism for not accurately reflecting labor market conditions and inflating costs for farmers. The discontinuation is considered a policy victory by Florida Farm Bureau.
“Farm Bureau’s role: Ending reliance on the Farm Labor Survey has been a top advocacy priority for years. This outcome is a direct reflection of our grassroots efforts and persistent engagement with American Farm Bureau and the USDA. We will continue to work with the USDA and Congress on a replacement framework that ensures fairness for farmers,” said representatives from Florida Farm Bureau Federation.
These regulatory changes reflect ongoing efforts within agricultural policy circles to modernize standards and address longstanding concerns about labor cost structures within Florida’s agriculture sector.
