Ornamental Production in Hillsborough County Saw Slight Decline in 2022

After four years of increasing ornamental plant production, Hillsborough County growers decreased their annual output slightly by -6.5%.  Estimated annual sales of ornamental plants were approximately $288 million in 2022 compared to $308 million in 2021.  The average annual wage paid to someone employed in this sector in 2022 was $37,442 or $18.00/hr.  This is about a 1% increase over last year's average annual wage of $37,064.  There was an estimated 2300 employees working directly in this sector in Hillsborough County in 2022.

Fall Class Schedule - WPS, Private Applicator Pesticide License Training & CEUs

UF/IFAS Extension Hillsborough County Agriculture Department is hosting a Worker Protection Standard (WPS) Train-the-Trainer Class on November 9, 2023, at 9:00 am as well as a Core and Private Pesticide Exam Training Course on October 24, 2023, at 9:00 am at the Extension Office Location in Seffner, FL.  The cost is $65.00 for each class.

The Core training is needed by all license types and the Private Exam Prep portion of the class will help you review to pass the Private Applicator Exam.  With both tests passed you will be able to apply restricted use pesticides on your property or that of your employers as well as teach ag employees the mandatory EPA Worker Protection Standards.

If you already have a Private Applicator License, then this class will give you 2 Core CEUs and 2 Private CEUs for renewal of your license.

Here is a glance at the agenda:

09:00  Welcome, coffee & snacks

09:15  General Standards/Core Exam Preparation Class

11:30  Lunch (provided)

12:15  Private/Ag Row Crop Applicator Exam Preparation Class

13:30  Review

16:00  Adjourn

The WPS class will discuss Worker Protection Standards for Agriculture workers and their employees and those responsible for the training and safety of Ag workers.  Taking this class will allow you to train ag employees on WPS topics for your ag establishment.

Attendees will receive a WPS-TTT certificate from FDACS after class completion!

Here is a glance at the agenda:

09:30 : Welcome, coffee, and snacks

10:00 : WPS TTT Part 1&2

12:00 : Lunch (provided)

13:00 : WPS TTT Parts 3, 4, & 5

15:00 : Adjourn

If you already have a Private Applicator License or a WPS TTT certificate, then you can get 4 Core CEUs towards the renewal of your license. 

Here are the registration links if you would like to attend.

AgPesticideTraining2023.eventbrite.com

 WPSTTT2023Hillsborough.eventbrite.com

 If you have any questions about either class, please send an email to ststeed@ufl.edu

New Agricultural Tax Exemptions and the Florida Tax Exempt Ag Materials (TEAM) Card

Are you taking advantage of all the tax breaks available to you as a farmer? You may be aware that there are sales tax exemptions on items such as off-road (dyed) diesel fuel, electricity used for ag purposes, trailers used in ag production, fertilizer, fungicides, pesticides, power farm equipment, and plant material used to produce food for human consumption.

You may not be aware that back in July 2023 the Florida Legislature passed a law that became Florida Chapter 2023-154 that now includes temporary and permanent fencing, post, wire, electric fencing and supplies, and even concrete for posts, nails, screws, staples and hinges for gates.

The law also created a card that can be shown to retailers to verify your agricultural tax exemption called the Farm Tax Exempt Agricultural Materials (TEAM) card. This card will be available to producers starting in 2024.

For a more thorough reading about the agricultural tax exemption and the TEAMS card please refer to this article written by Extension Agent Doug Mayo. Florida Farm TEAM Card for Agriculture Sales Tax Exemption | Panhandle Agriculture (ufl.edu)  There are some great reference articles attached for more in-depth information.

Hurricane Idalia Damage Assesment

Hurricane Idalia struck the Florida panhandle as a Category 3 storm causing severe flooding due to storm surge.  Some crops were also severely damaged due to the high winds and rain.  Speaking with growers in our area of the state, it seems that we got off fairly easily in terms of damage to crops and infrastructure.  

UF/IFAS is working on a damage assessment of the agricultural industry.  Please fill out this form to report any loss or damages sustained from Hurricane Idalia.  Qualtrics Survey | Qualtrics Experience Management Thank you for your input and for helping UF/IFAS gauge this storm's impact.