Central Florida AgNews

07/18/2025

The Florida ag community heaved a collective sigh of relief when Gov. Ron DeSantis signed the $117.4 billion State Budget and left $140 million in funding for the Florida citrus industry intact. The celebration of that victory was overwhelming, and rightfully so! But there were other measures in the Budget also worth noting that will have a significant impact on Florida ag.

The Florida ag community heaved a collective sigh of relief when Gov. Ron DeSantis signed the $117.4 billion State Budget and left $140 million in funding for the Florida citrus industry intact. The celebration of that victory was overwhelming, and rightfully so! But there were other measures in the...

07/18/2025

While citrus has seen its share of fair-weather supporters in the past decade or two, one man has stood out as a staunch advocate with the determination to force a plan into action. Senate President Ben Albritton, who spearheaded major funding for citrus in the state budget, explains what drives his passion for the industry.

Senate President Drove Push for Funding in State Budget by REBEKAH PIERCE photos provided by Florida Senate President’s Office Citrus has been embedded in Florida’s history and culture for centuries, with the first trees planted here in the early 16th century. From freezes and hurricanes to dise...

07/17/2025

Bok Academy North FFA reporter Kendall Farrar recaps the chapter's June from state-level competitions and animal care to heartfelt community outreach.

by KENDALL FARRAR, Bok North FFA Chapter Reporter As the sun sets on an incredible year and rises on a brand new one, June has truly been a month of transformation and excitement for Bok North FFA. From state-level competitions and animal care to heartfelt community outreach, our chapter has stayed....

07/17/2025

07/16/2025

At the heart of Florida FFA’s mission to grow leaders, build communities, and strengthen agriculture stands Clayton Keene, newly elected Area 4 State Vice President. With a deep-rooted passion for service, agriculture, and youth mentorship, Clayton shares his journey, challenges, and hopes for the year ahead in an exclusive interview with Bok Academy North FFA .
https://centralfloridaagnews.com/activating-leadership-a-conversation-with-clayton-keene-area-iv-florida-ffa-state-vice-president/

07/16/2025

Mind Your Melon Foundation , in conjunction with the Florida Farm Bureau, helped to spearhead the first statewide survey examining mental health among Florida farmers. The results offer key insights and are instrumental in creating an action plan moving forward.

Results Identify Stressors and Coping Methods for Those in Florida Agriculture by SHAYLYNN MARKS For Marshal Sewell, Mind Your Melon began not as a campaign, but as a personal response to a crisis that reshaped his family’s future. Sewell was raised on his family’s fifth-generation farm in Plant...

07/16/2025

With passion fruit, you get more than just a tasty drink or snack. It’s packed with nutrients like vitamin C, fiber and antioxidants, making it a popular choice for healthier eating. It’s also important to farmers in tropical and subtropical regions – including Central, Southeast and Southwest Florida – where it supports local economies.

by BRAD BUCK, UF/IFAS With passion fruit, you get more than just a tasty drink or snack. It’s packed with nutrients like vitamin C, fiber and antioxidants, making it a popular choice for healthier eating. It’s also important to farmers in tropical and subtropical regions – including central, S...

07/15/2025

A new Florida law that prohibits local governments from banning synthetic turf installation on some single-family residential properties could make it easier for homeowners to replace grass lawns with green plastic. Jason Kruse evaluates the environmental impacts of synthetic turf.

by MEGAN WINSLOW, UF/IFAS A new Florida law that prohibits local governments from banning synthetic turf installation on some single-family residential properties could make it easier for homeowners to replace grass lawns with green plastic. As part of his research as an associate professor of turfg...

07/15/2025

When Jennifer Smurr returned from a trip to Europe with the goal of creating a unique bakehouse in Lakeland, she didn't realize how wildly popular and successful Born & Bread Bakehouse would become.
*Sponsored by Visit Central Florida *

by PAUL CATALA Sponsored by Visit Central Florida It was the fact Jennifer Smurr is Florida born and bred that helped lead to Born + Bread Bakehouse. A Winter Haven native who grew up in Auburndale, Smurr is the founder and owner of Lakeland’s Born + Bread. Since starting at the Lakeland Downtown ...

07/14/2025

Florida 4-H is proud to announce the induction of Roy Carter, a retired Gulf County University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Extension director, into the Florida 4-H Hall of Fame. Carter has been an advocate for youth in agriculture for more than four decades.

by MEREDITH BAUER, UF/IFAS Florida 4-H is proud to announce the induction of Roy Carter, a retired Gulf County University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Extension director, into the Florida 4-H Hall of Fame. Carter has been an advocate for youth in agriculture for m...

07/14/2025

Tree Defender ’s Scott Thompson shares his most important advice for growers planning to participate in CRAFT trials. Planning ahead, he says, and making sure Tree Defender IPCs are contracted at the same time as the trees are booked helps to avoid an inconvenient bottleneck.

The anticipation was palpable. For most readers of this magazine, the lead-up to the approval of the Florida budget – and its financial boost for Florida citrus – was the subject of much attention and speculation. But if you’re reading this, you already know how that turned out. Anything I say...

07/14/2025

Central Florida Development Council President and CEO Sean Malott talks about Polk County’s proactive approach to business recruitment through the cultivation of strategic partnerships. He says these efforts support vital services like education, infrastructure, and public safety.

Through the Central Florida Development Council, Polk County takes a proactive approach to business recruitment. By responding to promising leads and cultivating strategic partnerships, Polk continues to welcome new companies – producing a ripple effect that benefits our entire community. From new...