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A Message from the President
from June Issue
FROM THE PRESIDENT
GOV. DESANTIS DESERVES A WORD OF THANKS
ALL OF US AT FLORIDA FARM BUREAU have been working for months to convey the scope of the disaster Hurricane Michael inflicted upon Panhandle communities.
The deaths, the massive destruction and the sheer misery caused by the storm shocked residents of the region to a degree that they have difficulty expressing their sense of loss.
Our farm families are facing many years of recovery to restore their livelihoods. Some of them are still struggling with basic cleanup and repair.
As Jackson County farmer and Florida Farm Bureau Director Jeff Pittman recently said, “You first have to recover your capacity to produce something, then you have to grow it so you can sell it.”
According to researchers at the University of Florida/ Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, crop, animal and animal product losses were $138 million. Timber and forestry losses exceeded $1.3 billion.
In some areas, the entire agricultural infrastructure
will have to be reconstructed. Many farm families need help to accomplish such a task. We received some initial good news in May confirming that our efforts to communicate the need have been recognized. Gov. Ron DeSantis announced that he was activating an emergency loan program for farmers who suffered hurricane-related losses in the region.
As the Governor explained, this temporary program offers up to $200,000 to each applicant, is available at no interest and must be repaid in two years. Borrowers can draw from a total loan fund of $25 million.
I sincerely appreciate the Governor’s willingness to act on a Farm Bureau call for assistance. Although the program does not include all Panhandle agricultural producers affected by the storm, it is a tangible expression of support.
He has stepped up to lend a hand for families threatened with financial ruin. If they lose their properties or cease producing, their surrounding communities will also be injured.
John L. Hoblick, Florida Farm Bureau President
Local food production will disappear and so will jobs and the excellent natural resource care that conserves water, greenspace and wildlife habitat.
There are plenty of demands placed upon the state budget for a host of good purposes. Sometimes our rural communities need public assistance as a jumpstart to recover after a major calamity. This is one of those times for the Panhandle.
Gov. DeSantis has visited the region and observed the devastation firsthand. He recognizes that the farmers and ranchers there are in trouble.
He has taken a step forward to support them. We look forward to working with him on a variety of recovery efforts as our farm families struggle to restore their livelihoods.
