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2026 Florida Woman of the Year in Ag and War Could Add Pressure for Farmers
The Agribusiness Update
Florida Ag Commissioner Wilton Simpson announced Dr. LuJean Waters as the 2026 Woman of the Year in Agriculture, and agricultural economists warn ongoing conflict in the Middle East could put added financial pressure on U.S. farmers.
Honoring a Florida Trailblazer
Southeast Regional Ag News
Seventh-generation cattle rancher Dr. LuJean Waters earns the state’s top recognition for her impact on agriculture and education.
Florida Farm Bill Signed and Bipartisan Support for Farmers
The Agribusiness Update
Florida Ag Commissioner Wilton Simpson joined Governor Ron DeSantis, and others as the 2026 Florida Farm Bill was signed into law, and lawmakers from both parties voiced support for American farmers during a Senate Ag Committee hearing.
The Wait for Vidalias Is Almost Over
Southeast Regional Ag News
April 13 launches the short but celebrated season for Georgia’s famously sweet and versatile onions.
Florida Farm Bill Passed and One Farmer-One File Initiative
The Agribusiness Update
Florida Ag Commissioner Wilton Simpson applauded the Florida Legislature for passing the historic 2026 Florida Farm Bill, and the NACD applauds the USDA’s “One Farmer, One File” initiative, designed to streamline producer interactions across USDA agencies.
Hurricane Helene Relief and One Farmer-One File
The Agribusiness Update
Georgia farmers, ranchers and foresters in eligible counties can begin applying for assistance for losses due to Hurricane Helene on March 16th, and USDA announced the “One Farmer, One File” modernization plan, designed to put “farmers first” with technological improvements.
Celebrating a Champion for School Meals
Southeast Regional Ag News
The Alabama School Nutrition Association recognized Commissioner Rick Pate as Friend of the Year for helping connect local farmers with school cafeterias through the state’s Farm to School Incentive Program.
Florida Loss Estimates from Freeze and Raspberries for Brain Health
The Agribusiness Update
Florida Ag Commissioner announced preliminary estimates of losses to Florida agriculture from the recent freezes, and new research finds that adding red raspberries to a meal improved blood sugar responses and enhanced cognitive performance within hours.
Florida Disaster Relief on Track and CattleCon Breaks Attendance Record
The Agribusiness Update
Florida Ag Commissioner Wilton Simpson announced beginning February 25, Florida’s ag producers can apply for more than $600 million in disaster assistance, and CattleCon 2026 breaks all-time attendance record, with over 9,400 converging on Nashville.
Florida Ag's Cost-Share Program and Year-round E15 Left Out
The Agribusiness Update
Florida Ag Commissioner Wilton Simpson and the Florida Forest Service announced that $6.3 million for Florida landowners through two cost-share programs, and it appears the House funding bill will NOT include language allowing year-round access to E15 nationwide.
Georgia Lifts Bird Flu Control Zone in Gordon County
Southeast Regional Ag News
State agriculture officials clear the area after extensive testing finds no additional cases of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza.
Perdue Into Nat'l Ag Hall of Fame and States Sue Over SNAP Delays
The Agribusiness Update
Sonny Perdue is now a member of the National Agriculture Hall of Fame, and over two dozen states have sued the Trump administration over its decision to suspend SNAP benefits.
Florida Program Helps Landowners Combat Southern Pine Beetle Threat
Southeast Regional Ag News
Applications are open through November 14 for Florida’s 2025 Southern Pine Beetle Assistance and Prevention Program.
More Helene Relief and Ag Drones Continue to Surge
The Agribusiness Update
The state of Georgia will receive over $531,236,000 in federal funds for the Hurricane Helene Block Grant Program, and the global agricultural drones market reached $4.7 billion in 2024, demonstrating robust momentum that’s expected to continue.
Football, Farming, and Southern Pride Collide in Statesboro
Southeast Regional Ag News
The Georgia Department of Agriculture brings back the Georgia Grown Bowl, blending college football excitement with a celebration of the South’s farming roots.
Georgia Praises H-2A Reform and Financial Assistance for Ag on Hold
The Agribusiness Update
Georgia Ag Commissioner Tyler Harper is praising the Trump Administration’s proposed changes to the H-2A Visa Program that will save Georgia farmers millions in labor costs, and the administration won’t move forward on financial assistance for producers until the government shutdown ends.
MAHA's Ultra-Processed Foods and Screwworm Draws Closer
The Agribusiness Update
Florida Ag Commissioner Wilton Simpson applauds efforts of Make America Healthy Again Commission to address childhood health concerns associated with ultra-processed foods, and Mexico’s Ag Ministry says another case of New World Screwworm was reported in Nuevo Leon, which borders the U.S.
Georgia Secures $531 Million in Federal Relief for Hurricane Helene Recovery
Southeast Regional Ag News
USDA and Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Tyler Harper announce new block grant program to support farmers, timber producers, and rural communities impacted by Hurricane Helene.
Georgia Governor in South America and Farm Bankruptcies Soaring
The Agribusiness Update
Georgia Governor Brian Kemp, Ag Commissioner Tyler Harper and others spent the last week of August in Brazil and Argentina meeting with business and ag leaders, and Farm bankruptcies as of July have exceeded those for all of 2024.
Florida Ag Hall of Fame Inductees and Congress Weighing Farm Aid
The Agribusiness Update
Florida Ag Commissioner Wilton Simpson and the Florida Agricultural Hall of Fame Foundation announced 2026 Florida Agricultural Hall of Fame Inductees, and the Trump administration is evaluating whether to grant aid to American farmers this fall.