Title XXXV, Agriculture, Horticulture, and Animal Industry

(1) The director of the Division of Aquaculture shall be appointed by the commissioner and shall serve at the commissioner’s pleasure.(2) The director shall supervise, direct, and coordinate the activities of the division, exercise such other powers and duties as authorized by th…

(1) The duties of the Division of Food, Nutrition, and Wellness include, but are not limited to, administering and enforcing the powers and responsibilities of the division prescribed in chapter 595 and the rules adopted thereunder.(2) The director of the division shall be appoin…

(1) The commissioner may create an Office of Agricultural Law Enforcement under the supervision of a senior manager exempt under s. 110.205 in the Senior Management Service. The commissioner may designate law enforcement officers, as necessary, to enforce any criminal law or cond…

The commissioner may create an Office of Agricultural Water Policy under the supervision of a senior manager exempt under s. 110.205 in the Senior Management Service. The commissioner may designate the bureaus and positions in the various organizational divisions of the departmen…

The Office of Energy is created within the department. The office shall be under the supervision of a senior manager exempt under s. 110.205 in the Senior Management Service appointed by the commissioner. The duties of the office shall include, but are not limited to, administeri…

The commissioner may create an Office of Agriculture Technology Services under the supervision of a senior manager exempt under s. 110.205 in the Senior Management Service. The office shall provide electronic data processing and agency information technology services to support a…

It is the finding of the Legislature that:(1) Equine and other agriculture-related industries strengthen and benefit each other with the establishment of a statewide agriculture and horse facility.(2) The Florida Agriculture Center and Horse Park provides Florida with a unique to…

(1) There is created within the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services the Florida Agriculture Center and Horse Park Authority which shall be governed by this section and s. 570.691.(2) The authority shall be composed of 21 members appointed by the commissioner.(a) Initi…

The identity of a donor to the Florida Agriculture Center and Horse Park Authority, if so requested by the donor in writing, is confidential and exempt from s. 24(a), Art. I of the State Constitution and the provisions of s. 119.07(1). All other records of the authority are publi…

For the purpose of this section and s. 570.691:(1) “Center” means the Florida Agricultural Legacy Learning Center.(2) “Designated program” means the departmental program that a direct-support organization has been created to support.(3) “Direct-support organization” or “organizat…

(1) The department may authorize the establishment of direct-support organizations to provide assistance, funding, and promotional support for programs of the department. The following provisions govern the creation, use, powers, and duties of the direct-support organizations:(a)…

The Florida Agricultural Legacy Learning Center is designated as the legacy learning center for agriculture and rural history of this state and is established within the department.History.—s. 11, ch. 92-151; s. 101, ch. 2014-150; s. 33, ch. 2024-137.Note.—Former s. 570.901.

The Florida agriculture in the classroom program is hereby established within the department. The purpose of this program is to:(1) Conduct programs and activities related to collecting and producing resources and materials for agricultural education enhancement programs.(2) Esta…

(1) The Florida Aquaculture Foundation is established as a direct-support organization within the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. The purpose of the foundation is to:(a) Conduct programs and activities related to the assistance, promotion, and furtherance of aqua…

The Legislature finds and declares that:(1) A thriving rural economy with a strong agricultural base, healthy natural environment, and viable rural communities is an essential part of Florida. Rural areas also include the largest remaining intact ecosystems and best examples of r…

(1) The department, on behalf of the Board of Trustees of the Internal Improvement Trust Fund, may allocate moneys to acquire perpetual, less-than-fee interest in land, to enter into agricultural protection agreements, and to enter into resource conservation agreements for the fo…

(1) For less than fee simple acquisitions pursuant to s. 570.71, the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services shall comply with the following acquisition procedures:(a) Before conveyance of title by the department, evidence of marketable title in the form of a commitment f…

This act may be cited as the “Agricultural Economic Development Act.”History.—ss. 1, 10, ch. 91-268; s. 4, ch. 91-429; s. 74, ch. 2014-150.Note.—Former s. 570.241.

For purposes of this act, the term:(1) “Agriculturally depressed area” means a rural area that has declining profitability from agricultural enterprises and one or more of the following characteristics:(a) A stable or declining population.(b) A stable or declining real per capita…

There is created within the department the Agricultural Economic Development Program. The purpose of this program shall be to promote and coordinate efficient and beneficial agricultural economic development within agriculturally depressed areas of the state.History.—ss. 3, 10, c…

For the accomplishment of the purposes specified in this act, the department shall have all powers and duties necessary, including, but not limited to, the power and duty to:(1) Identify and coordinate with all state agencies that can assist in agricultural economic development.(…

Because interagency and local community cooperation and sharing of available resources and expertise is crucial to the success of an agricultural economic development program, the department shall interact with federal and state agencies, commissions, boards, and advisory groups …

Funds appropriated for the purposes specified in this act shall be used for the following:(1) Employment of personnel and payment of associated overhead, equipment, and supply costs.(2) Stimulating and assisting agribusiness entrepreneurship and new product development.(3) Feasib…

The department shall adopt rules pertaining to:(1) Formal notification procedures for the availability of assistance, including publication in the Florida Administrative Register pursuant to s. 120.55.(2) Written evaluation criteria for selecting project proposals to receive assi…

(1) There is created an Agricultural Economic Development Project Review Committee consisting of five members appointed by the commissioner. The members shall be appointed based upon the recommendations submitted by each entity represented on the committee and shall include:(a) T…

1(1) DEFINITIONS.—As used in this section, the term:(a) “Bona fide farm operation” means a farm operation engaged in a good faith commercial agricultural use of land on land classified as agricultural pursuant to s. 193.461 or on sovereign submerged land that is leased to the app…

(1) DEFINITIONS.—As used in this section, the term:(a) “Bona fide farm operation” means a farm operation engaged in a good faith commercial agricultural use of land on land classified as agricultural pursuant to s. 193.461 that produces agricultural products within the definition…

The Cattle Enhancement Board, Inc., in coordination with the department, shall, subject to appropriation, establish a Florida beef marketing program to conduct research designed to expand the uses of beef and beef products and strengthen the market position of Florida’s cattle in…

The Florida Wildflower Foundation, Inc., in coordination with the department, shall, subject to appropriation, establish the Florida Native Seed Research and Marketing Program to conduct research designed to expand the availability and uses of native seeds and strengthen the mark…

(1) The department may develop a farm-to-fuel initiative to enhance the market for and promote the production and distribution of renewable energy from Florida-grown crops, agricultural wastes and residues, and other biomass and to enhance the value of agricultural products or ex…

The department shall establish on its website a clearinghouse for resources available to young and beginning farmers and ranchers, including, but not limited to, local, state, federal, and private sources of grants, loans, and scholarships, as well as general resources on finance…

(1) PURPOSE.—To encourage specialized and qualified veterinary professionals to practice in this state, to retain the employment of such professionals in this state, and to promote the care and treatment of food animals and equine animals, there is established the Florida Food An…

(1) It is the intent of the Legislature to promote agritourism as a way to support bona fide agricultural production by providing a stream of revenue and by educating the general public about the agricultural industry. It is also the intent of the Legislature to eliminate duplica…

As used in ss. 570.85-570.89, the term:(1) “Agritourism activity” means any agricultural related activity consistent with a bona fide farm, livestock operation, or ranch or in a working forest which allows members of the general public, for recreational, entertainment, or educati…

(1) In order to promote and perpetuate agriculture throughout this state, farm operations are encouraged to engage in agritourism. An agricultural classification pursuant to s. 193.461 may not be denied or revoked solely due to the conduct of agritourism activity on a bona fide f…

(1) Except as provided in subsection (2), an agritourism operator, his or her employer or employee, or the owner of the underlying land on which the agritourism occurs is not liable for injury or death of, or damage or loss to, a participant resulting from the inherent risks of a…

(1)(a) Each agritourism operator shall post and maintain signs that contain the notice of inherent risk specified in subsection (2). A sign shall be placed in a clearly visible location at the entrance to the agritourism location and at the site of the agritourism activity. The n…

The Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services is authorized to negotiate agreements with landowners for water supply in rural areas, provided that:(1) The water to be supplied is currently available to property owned or controlled by the department; and(2) The intended use …

The department may establish the Environmental Stewardship Certification Program consistent with this section.(1) The program must:(a) Be integrated, to the maximum extent practicable, with programs that are sponsored by agricultural organizations or state universities.(b) Be des…

(1) The department shall establish an agricultural water conservation program that includes the following:(a) A cost-share program, coordinated with the United States Department of Agriculture and other federal, state, regional, and local agencies, when appropriate, for irrigatio…

The department and the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission recognize that agriculture provides a valuable benefit to the conservation and management of fish and wildlife in the state and agree to enter into a memorandum of agreement to develop and adopt by rule voluntary be…

(1) The department or enforcing authority may impose the following fine amount for the class category specified in the chapter or section of law violated:(a) Class I.—For each violation in the Class I category, a fine not to exceed $1,000 may be imposed.(b) Class II.—For each vio…