By Clint Thompson Florida Commissioner of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) Nikki Fried formally launched the FDACS Farmer Stress Awareness Initiative on Thursday in Plant City, Florida. Fried hopes to create awareness about a concern not easily talked about in the agricultural sector – stress and its impact on mental health. “We know the suicide rate for farmers is double …
Commissioner Fried Statement on USDA Approval of Disaster Declaration
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) granted Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried’s request on Monday for a Secretarial disaster declaration for dozens of counties impacted by freezing temperatures in late January. “We are grateful to Secretary (Tom) Vilsack and the Biden Administration for granting our request for a USDA disaster declaration after record lows at the end of January caused …
Commissioner Fried Shares Fertilizer Production Concerns with USDA
In response to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announcing plans for a $250 million investment to support additional domestic fertilizer production for American farmers facing rapidly rising prices, Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried offered the following statement: “Florida farmers help feed families across our state, nation, and world, even in the face of unprecedented challenges in recent years. But …
Fried Reminds Producers of USDA Assistance Ahead of Weekend Cold Front
Tallahassee, Fla. – Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried reminds producers about federal disaster assistant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) ahead of frigid temperatures this weekend. Growers need to keep accurate records of any losses and damages. Producers should contact their local USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) office to file a Notice of Loss or to learn more about available programs and required …
Commissioner Fried: ITC Reports Confirm Imports Devastating Florida Farmers
Tallahassee, Fla. – The U.S. International Trade Commission’s (ITC) investigations into the impact that imports of squash and cucumbers have had on seasonal growers generated responses from various industry leaders in Florida; starting with Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried. “The ITC reports confirm what our department’s reports have long shown and what Florida’s seasonal producers have long felt: unfair trade …
Commissioner Fried: We Need Federal Action to Level Playing Field
Tallahassee, Fla. — Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried wrote a letter to U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack on Thursday. She addressed the continued unfair foreign trade practices being employed by Mexico and other countries that are causing severe harm to the domestic seasonal produce industry. “Florida farmers and American agriculture is the best in the world, and …
Commissioner Fried, FDACS Announce New Farmer Mental Health Initiative
Tallahassee, Fla. – Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried is announcing that the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) has been awarded a $500,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to carry out a new Farm Stress Awareness and Reduction Initiative in Florida. With this grant award, FDACS will launch an outreach campaign to help raise awareness about …
Florida Hall of Famer: Commissioner Fried Announces Lone Inductee
Tallahassee, Fla. – Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried and the Florida Agricultural Hall of Fame Foundation announced John L. Hundley as the 2022 Florida Agricultural Hall of Fame inductee. The induction ceremony will be held at the Florida State Fair’s Agricultural Hall of Fame Banquet on February 15, 2022, where Mr. Hundley will be recognized along with the class of …
Commissioner Fried Encourages Producers to Apply for Pandemic Assistance
Tallahassee, Fla. — The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently announced updates to a pandemic assistance program for agriculture producers. The updates to the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program 2 (CFAP2) include expanded eligibility and increased flexibility. USDA has set a deadline of Oct. 12, 2021 for eligible producers to apply or modify CFAP2 applications. Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried and …
Fried Pleas for Help from Fellow Floridians
By Clint Thompson Florida Ag Commissioner Nikki Fried is hoping to enlist Florida residents in the ongoing fight against rising imports. Fried called on Florida residents this week to buy locally grown produce after revealing devastating data that outlines the negative impact Mexican imports are having on her state’s vegetable and specialty crop farmers. She highlighted eye-popping statistics from a …