As a fifth-generation citrus and cattle farmer in the heart of Florida, Pat Spinosa has been surrounded by agriculture his entire life. He is a deeply respected member of the Florida agricultural community and is an advocate for the Forward Forestry Program, the Florida FFA Foundation, and the Florida Farm Bureau’s Young Farmers and Rancher Program.
Permanent crops—also known as “perennials”—are a category of agricultural products that have grown in popularity over the past few decades. As more consumers embrace healthier lifestyles, perennials like citrus and nuts have seen an increase in retail sales and demand.
American agriculture needs nearly two million hired workers to keep up with production, according to a study by the American Farm Bureau Federation. Farmers and their employees have worked on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic to ensure our food supply chain remains intact. The majority of the essential workers who help farmers achieve this endeavor are not U.S. citizens, meaning agriculture is particularly sensitive to immigration policy and changes with reform.
The characteristics of highly profitable farms are difficult to estimate, but not entirely incalculable. While there are circumstances beyond the farmer’s control—such as weather, regulations, market prices, and trade policies—the business decisions made by farm operators can have an equal or even greater impact on farm profit margins.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) releases farm income data three times a year. In 2020, these statistical forecasts fluctuated dramatically. The first report, published in February of 2020, predicted a mild increase in net farm income from 2019 to $96.7 billion.
Few know more about the ins and outs of conserving our nation’s wildlife habitats and rural farmlands through easements more than former Florida Commissioner of Agriculture and current CEO of Ducks Unlimited, Adam Putnam. Read More
The end of the year and the start of a new one represents a time when farmers and ranchers begin preparing for the imminent tax season as the deadline to file taxes for small agribusiness owners is April 15th. Getting a head-start on tax preparation for your farm can result in more deductions that equal less taxable income and more savings in the coming year.
The start of this decade has been an eventful one, abundant with unforeseen moments unlike anything we’ve experienced together as a nation before—a global pandemic combined with an abnormal amount of severe weather events and topped off with an influential presidential election that will set us up for the road ahead in 2021.
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Imagine a food system that balances the needs of everyone including farmers, workers, processors, distributors, and retailers while providing nutritious and affordable food for every community. This concept is ambitious, but it isn’t out of our reach. It begins with an open discussion on legislative and trade reform that prioritizes the establishment of a stable and resilient family farm economy while continuing to meet the needs of consumers all over the world.
This year has been one filled with exceptional events and challenges for American farmers, ranging from logistical bottlenecks on our nation’s food supply to a global pandemic impacting the lives of more than 13 million Americans.Read More
