Support When It Matters Most
If this season has tested your operation, you are not alone.
In Florida, historic freezes, ongoing drought, and rising wildfire activity have pushed many producers to the brink. In response, Florida Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson issued Emergency Order 2026-002, temporarily suspending certain Best Management Practices site visits for producers enrolled in Citrus, Nursery, Specialty Crop, Vegetable, Agronomic, and Sod BMP programs statewide. The pause allows growers whose verification visits are due to focus on recovery instead of compliance inspections. Simpson said, "This emergency order allows our producers to focus more on their immediate recovery and less on government regulations."
Meanwhile in Georgia, the Georgia Department of Agriculture’s Center for Rural Prosperity and Innovation approved a 110,038 dollar grant for Emanuel Medical Center in Swainsboro, a hospital serving a remote region with a chronically ill population and significant uncompensated care. For many farm families facing rural isolation, access to care close to home is critical. Commissioner Tyler J Harper said the investment ensures "agriculture – our state’s #1 industry – is well-represented in future development planning."
