Florida Agriculture Statistical Directory
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Dear Friends of Agriculture, It is my pleasure to present the 2008 Florida Agriculture Statistical Directory. This report presents a wealth of information about Florida’s vast and varied agricultural production through data that details land use, crop yields, commodity prices, crop rankings and more. This yearly report is invaluable to anyone who is involved in this dynamic business or who wants to better understand its complexities. The tables, charts and statistics contained in this report do an exceptional job of measuring the inputs and outputs, and presenting Florida agriculture in the context of “hard numbers.” But there is more to our state’s agricultural industry: our hard-working farmers, whose dedication, hard work and perseverance have made Florida agriculture into the diverse and highly productive industry that is respected throughout the globe. As evidenced by the ever-growing popularity of the “Fresh from Florida” label, consumers worldwide appreciate and seek out the quality products that our farmers provide. Maintaining these standards of excellence seldom comes easily as each year presents new challenges for Florida’s 40,000 commercial farmers. But, whether confronted by hurricanes, freezes, pests, diseases or fierce international competition, our state’s producers continually show that they are up to the test. Enterprising spirit, love of the land, and pride in their products are all hallmarks of the well- earned reputation of Florida’s farmers. In addition to enjoying the quality products that our farmers produce, Florida’s agricultural production benefits our state’s residents in other important ways as well. Florida agriculture has an overall economic impact estimated at more than $100 billion annually, making it a sound pillar of the state’s economy. Florida agriculture is directly and indirectly responsible for 763,065 jobs and adds $3.58 billion to state and local tax rolls. The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services works diligently to promote our state’s agricultural production and to help ensure the safety of these products from the field to the table. Our quality assurance and food safety programs help assure consumers of the wholesomeness of Florida agricultural products. I sincerely thank you for your support of Florida’s farmers and encourage you to look for the “Fresh from Florida” label when shopping. Sincerely, Charles H. Bronson Commissioner of Agriculture 1 ACKNOWLEDGMENT The acreage, production, and value statistics in this publication are the official State and USDA estimates prepared by the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), Florida Field Office in cooperation with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS). These estimates are effective as of May 2009 and can be revised later in the year or in the following year, if and when additional data become available. Any revisions made to these estimates, as well as estimates made after May 2009, are included in reports posted to the website shown below and available from the NASS Florida Field Office. Most of the data used to develop these estimates were provided voluntarily by growers, shippers, and processors and we sincerely appreciate their public spirited cooperation. The Florida Tomato Committee, the Florida Fruit and Vegetable Association, floriculture and nursery producers, sales agencies, and transportation firms have provided valuable assistance and data throughout the season. The FDACS Bureau of State Farmers Markets and the County Agricultural Agents of the University of Florida Cooperative Extension Service were also very helpful in supplying area and county estimates. The individuals and organizations who make up the Florida agricultural industry need reliable and accurate estimates of production to make informed and knowledgeable decisions. Increasing unpredictability of commodity prices and competition from global markets make accurate and unbiased estimates even more important. Farmers, agribusinesses, producers groups, educators, researchers, legislators and the media all need these estimates to develop sound policies and to promote Florida agricultural products. I want to express my sincere gratitude to our dedicated staff of statisticians, support personnel, and field and telephone enumerators. They are the ones who have worked hard to collect, review, and summarize these important data and publish the results. All NASS reports are available free of charge at: • www.nass.usda.gov (National reports) • www.nass.usda.gov/fl (Florida reports) Jeff Geuder Director, USDA/NASS – Florida Field Office 2 i About the Florida Agriculture Statistical Directory The Florida Agriculture Statistical Directory has been published to provide you with reliable, compre- hensive information and data on Florida agriculture. People worldwide use the basics of food, fiber, and forestry products daily. Florida’s producers contribute mightily to the bounty enjoyed in Florida, the United States, and beyond. The following pages tell their story of productivity, innovation and delivery. This reference book is divided by sections for ease of use. The Agricultural Overview Section provides a general overview of Florida agriculture. The Agricultural Statistics Section presents comparative performanc- es of major commodity groups and benchmark economic data. Occasionally, numbers in rows or columns do not sum exactly. This usually occurs when large numbers are abbreviated or when composite prices are compiled. The difference in these cases is a rounding margin. The rounding of numbers occurs in these pages when space is a consideration. The Groups Directory Section offers contact information for a variety of agricultural related entities. Both public and private organizations are listed. The Department Contacts Section identifies the Florida Depart- ment of Agriculture and Consumers Services’ divisions with contact information. Together, these sections provide a view of Florida agriculture and its impact on Florida’s economy. If you need additional information, please call the Division of Marketing and Development at 850-488-4366. We are pleased to present the Florida Agriculture Statistical Directory. This book will provide excellent reference data year round. Keep it handy. The Editorial Staff Florida Agriculture Statistical Directory 3 Table of Contents Commissioner’s Letter ..........................................................................................................................................................................1 Acknowledgement ..................................................................................................................................................................................2 About This Directory .............................................................................................................................................................................3 Table of Contents ............................................................................................................................................................................... 4-5 Florida Agriculture Overview ...............................................................................................................................................................6 Florida Cash Receipts ............................................................................................................................................................................7 Florida Cash Receipts - 2007 ...................................................................................................................................................................8 Florida Cash Receipts By Commodity Group and Year ......................................................................................................................9 United States Total Cash Receipts By Leading States .......................................................................................................................10 Florida Leading Cash Receipts By Commodity ................................................................................................................................11 Farms and Land In Farms ..................................................................................................................................................................12 Florida Farms and Acreage ................................................................................................................................................................13 Florida Hired Farm Workers ..............................................................................................................................................................14 Florida Farm Income and Expenses ...................................................................................................................................................15 Citrus .....................................................................................................................................................................................................16 2007-08 Season Citrus Highlights .....................................................................................................................................................17 Citrus Production By Areas and Counties .........................................................................................................................................18