AGP Executive Report

Data Center Pressure on Farms: A new wave of hyperscale data centers is being criticized as “silent theft” of farmland, water, and power—raising fresh alarms for Florida’s already-stressed ag and utilities. Freeze Fallout: Florida’s 2025-26 historic freezes are still echoing through markets, with USDA disaster help tied to billions in losses to sugarcane, citrus, and strawberries. Fishing License Friction: Tourists say Florida’s online fishing license changes now make short-term buys harder, with added prompts and add-ons pushing people toward pricier options. Red Snapper Court Fight: Conservation groups and EDF are pushing back in court against expanded South Atlantic red snapper seasons, arguing they bypass safeguards and risk overfishing. USDA Credit Crackdown: USDA barred 10 lenders from its OneRD program after it linked them to about $620M in delinquent USDA-backed loans. Local Disruption: Circle K paused fuel sales at seven SWFL stations after reported fuel quality issues.

Tick Season Watch: The CDC says ER visits for tick bites are at the highest level since 2017, and Florida’s year-round ticks keep the risk high for people and pets. Fishing License Friction: A new Florida rule blocks some out-of-state anglers from buying short-term permits online, forcing in-person purchases (including a $30 seven-day option at select Walmart locations), and charter captains say it’s already hurting trips. Weather Risk for Crops: Forecasters warn odds are rising for a rare “super El Niño,” with knock-on effects for summer heat and storm patterns that could matter for Florida agriculture. Coastal Resilience in Action: Pinellas County is pushing “living shorelines,” including oyster-shell barriers, to protect tidal areas without hard seawalls. Energy Buildout: Duke Energy and FAMU cut the ribbon on a new 74.9-megawatt solar plant tied to agricultural research land. Public Safety Courts: In Hillsborough County, the man accused in the deaths of two USF doctoral students pleaded not guilty, with major next steps set for later this year.

Red Snapper Update: NOAA-approved changes extend Florida’s Atlantic red snapper season, opening July 1 and running through Aug. 31, with participating states using a real-time recreational reporting pilot. Food Prices Pressure: New reporting highlights how beef and other staples are still climbing—ground beef is up sharply year over year, feeding into broader “food away from home” cost concerns. Citrus Warning Signs: Florida’s orange groves are at their lowest production level since World War II, driven by disease and squeezed by land values. Public Health Spillover: A measles outbreak that began in Texas has now crossed into Mexico, where cases and deaths are rising—an urgent reminder that farmworker and rural communities are especially vulnerable when vaccination gaps widen. Local Food Access: Sarasota’s Newtown neighborhood is getting a one-year pilot grocery model after decades without a full-service store.

Data Center Backlash in Florida: A Democratic gubernatorial candidate, Evelyn Castillo-Bach, is pushing to ban data-center NDAs and create an Affordable Housing Fund funded by Big Tech fees—framing secrecy, water use, and noise as direct threats to families and farms. Housing & Cost Pressure: Florida homeowners are also feeling the squeeze, with average home insurance costs reported about $3,400 above the national average. Citrus at a Breaking Point: Florida orange groves are described as operating at their lowest production since World War II, blamed on plant disease and rising land values. Food Access in Sarasota: Newtown’s long-running food desert problem is getting a one-year test via a community market pilot run by All Faiths Food Bank. Outdoor & Seafood Notes: Fishing coverage highlights a strong late-week freshwater bite, while Florida Keys reporting flags ongoing mahi action and other offshore opportunities.

USDA Food Safety Alert: USDA expanded a public health alert tied to a dairy recall, adding more frozen pizza and snack varieties; consumers are told not to eat the listed items and to return or discard them as the list may grow. Florida Agriculture & Water: Florida’s Everglades and Lake Okeechobee pollution deadlines remain a live concern, while drought pressure continues to drive water restrictions across parts of the state. Offshore Fishing: Offshore anglers report strong sargassum-driven catches, with mahi-mahi leading the bite as weed lines pull in bait and gamefish. Wildlife & Farming Impacts: Florida’s animal-welfare and wildlife stories keep rolling in, including a new refuge opening in Nassau County and ongoing attention to how heat and habitat stress affect local species. Policy & Markets: SNAP integrity enforcement is in the spotlight nationally, and grocery price pressure—especially tomatoes—keeps showing up in consumer headlines.

Trulieve Scrutiny in Jefferson County: Residents say a local Trulieve operation is disrupting daily life with skunk-like odors, night lighting, constant noise, and worries about stormwater and drinking-water impacts—despite approval documents that addressed those concerns. Food Safety Watch: Straus Creamery recalled select Organic Super Premium ice cream flavors in 17 states after finding a potential for metal fragments in limited batches. Florida Agriculture & Weather: UF/IFAS researchers warn El Niño could raise strawberry disease risk in parts of the Bay Area, while a new drought report says more than half the U.S. is facing severe dryness that could pressure food supplies. Water & Ecosystems: Florida Oceanographic Society highlights how Everglades water flow changes have affected natural filtration and coastal health. Local Politics: DeSantis and House Speaker Perez keep trading barbs as budget talks leave some ag-adjacent priorities in limbo.

US-China Tensions: Trump’s China trip wrapped with a focus on Taiwan and a new “framework” for managing the relationship, with Xi warning against mishandling Taiwan and Trump signaling he may rethink a Taipei arms sale. Florida Water & Everglades: Lake Okeechobee pollution deadlines are being missed again, keeping the Everglades at risk as nutrient-loaded water continues to move through the system. Budget Gridlock: Florida budget talks still leave major gaps on Everglades reservoir funding and citrus research, with lawmakers far from fully aligned. Wildlife & Fisheries: FWC tightened non-resident short-term fishing license access, pushing visitors to buy in person—raising concerns for local bait shops. Courts & Land Use: A Miami lawsuit targets the land transfer for Trump’s presidential library, arguing it violates the Constitution’s ban on sitting presidents receiving financial benefits from state governments. Animal Rescue: More than 1,500 beagles are being released after a Wisconsin raid tied to breeding for biomedical research, with Florida-area shelters among the receiving partners. Weather Science: FSU researchers say they can improve winter weather forecasting months ahead, boosting planning for agriculture, water and public health.

Everglades Budget Standoff: Florida lawmakers’ special session is still missing major funding pieces, with negotiators pointing to a huge gap over the Everglades Agricultural Area Reservoir Project—Senate offers $424.7M versus the House’s $249.3M—while other Everglades lines like the Northern Everglades Estuaries ($34.7M) and Western Everglades ($20M) are closer to settled. Water Stress in the Background: North Central Florida’s “Water First” aquifer recharge plan has been sent back after a letter said it’s being cancelled, underscoring how tight water supplies are driving policy reversals. Wildlife & Fisheries Enforcement: A Volusia County man got probation for illegally killing 13 alligators, and Florida also moved to ban exporting manta rays to overseas aquariums. Food Costs Pressure: Grocery prices rose again in April, with food-at-home up 0.7% and gas still climbing—another reminder that farm and supply-chain shocks hit household budgets fast. Agriculture in Schools: A county school board meeting highlighted agriculture-linked education grants and student programming.

Drought & water limits hit harder: St. Johns River Water Management District issued a Phase III Extreme water shortage order covering all of Flagler plus parts of Lake and Marion, and now expands the squeeze across Lake, Marion, Polk and Sumter—meaning tighter rules for more Florida households and farms. Wildfire risk stays elevated: Southwest Florida remains in extreme drought, with officials warning the dry spell may not ease until late summer. Invasive species pressure waterways: A new survey in Manatee County highlights stormwater ponds clogged by invasive plants like water hyacinth and hydrilla, raising costs and flooding risk. Policy friction in Tallahassee: Gov. DeSantis again blasted House Speaker Daniel Perez over stalled priorities and budget fights. Trade & shipping backdrop: Trump and Xi agreed Iran can never have nuclear weapons and the Strait of Hormuz must stay open—important for global fertilizer and energy flows that ripple into agriculture.

Autonomous Farming Leap: U.S. Sugar is rolling out what it calls the nation’s largest commercial autonomous tractor deployment—John Deere 8R/9R units running 24/7 across 255,000 acres in South Florida. Food Prices Pressure: Americans are feeling the sharpest grocery jump in four years, with tomatoes up about 39% as trade and weather squeeze supply. Aquaculture Tech Tip: Hatcheries are leaning harder on salinity management to reduce fish stress and boost survival. Wildlife & Imports: Florida temporarily suspended sloth imports after dozens died tied to Orlando’s “Sloth World” before opening. Recreational Fishing Win: DeSantis says federal approval expands Florida’s Atlantic red snapper season to 39 days in 2026. Rural Retail Boost: Feeding Florida’s Fresh Access Bucks is expanding, adding fresh-produce incentives for rural independent stores. Everglades Progress: A major water-flow restoration milestone is moving forward in the Picayune Strand area. Global Trade Tension: Trump and Xi agreed Iran can never have nuclear weapons and that the Strait of Hormuz must stay open—key for oil and fertilizer routes.

FWC Action: Florida wildlife officials moved fast after hundreds of dead fish turned up in Lakeland’s Lake Hollingsworth, with the investigation pointing to heat-and-drought conditions that can crash oxygen levels. Saltwater Rules: The FWC also ordered a closure of recreational gag grouper harvest in Atlantic state waters, aiming to help rebuild the fishery. Animal Health & Trade: Florida temporarily banned sloth imports after dozens died at an Orlando business tied to a now-shuttered operation under criminal investigation. Water Quality Tech: FAMU rolled out a solar-powered monitoring buoy in Crawfordville to give oyster farmers real-time water data. Farm Economics: Strawberry growers are bracing for El Niño-driven disease pressure, while tomato prices keep climbing as weather, tariffs, and supply disruptions squeeze costs. Policy & Oversight: Lawmakers are still pushing through Florida’s long-delayed PALM/FLAIR financial overhaul, but frustration over timing and spending is boiling over.

Water Crunch: St. Johns River Water Management District issued Phase III “Extreme Water Shortage” for Duval, Nassau, Baker, Clay, St. Johns, Putnam, Flagler and Marion, tightening irrigation to one day per week as drought worsens. Beekeeping Tech: Mann Lake bought Apis Biologix, aiming to bring “next-gen” bee nutrition science in-house for both hobbyist and commercial feeders. Ag Fraud Fallout: A former Oakes Farms affiliate executive agreed to plead guilty in a federal conspiracy tied to the USDA/DoD Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program. Marine Life: Right whale conservation groups pushed back on legal threats to the vessel speed rule, warning delays could cost the few remaining whales. Wildlife & Community: Manatee County is investigating vandalism at Old Memphis Cemetery, where 17 graves tied to Black farm and packing-house workers were damaged. Industry Pulse: UF/IFAS says Florida’s forest industry supports 103,000+ jobs and nearly $29B in economic impact.

SNAP Overhaul Hits Florida Groceries: Starting April 20, Florida’s SNAP pilot bars benefits for items labeled “unhealthy,” including sodas, energy drinks, candy, and ultra-processed foods—reshaping checkout lines for about 3 million people. Mosquito Control Gets a Big Upgrade: Sarasota County cut the ribbon on a new mosquito management facility with first-in-the-state malaria testing and a new surveillance push after past local malaria scares. Farm Fraud Case in Immokalee: A former Oakes Farms Food Distribution & Services executive pleaded guilty in a federal conspiracy tied to the DoD Fresh student/troop produce program. Shrimp Trade Pressure Builds: The U.S. House passed the Save Our Shrimpers Act to block international shrimp financing that lawmakers say undercuts Gulf Coast shrimpers. Local Markets & Food Culture: Marianna’s long-running farmers market celebrated 50 years and rebranded as the Tri-State Community Market, signaling growth beyond county lines.

Recreational Fishing Power Shift: Gov. Ron DeSantis says Florida will take over management of the recreational Atlantic red snapper fishery in state and federal waters, expanding the Atlantic season to 39 days (from a two-day federal limit last year) and keeping the Gulf at a record 140 days—though conservation groups warn it could raise overfishing risk. Wildfire Pressure: Two South Florida fires—the Max Road Fire and the 172nd Avenue Fire—have burned more than 11,000 acres, cutting visibility and prompting closures like Everglades Holiday Park. Food on the Ground: FDACS is accepting entries for Florida Future Chef 2026, pushing students to reimagine school meals using Florida-grown ingredients. Animal Health & Oversight: FWC is forming a task force after 55 sloths died tied to Sloth World, with records showing additional deaths under the facility’s care. Local Science: Auburn Extension is running strawberry variety trials to help growers pick cultivars that perform in Alabama fields.

Atlantic Red Snapper Breakthrough: Gov. Ron DeSantis says NOAA has approved Florida’s Exempted Fishing Permit, letting the state manage the Atlantic recreational red snapper fishery in federal waters starting in 2026—39 days total (May 22–June 20, plus October weekends) with a 1-fish-per-day limit and no size limit. Gulf Season Expansion: The same announcement sets a record 140-day Gulf recreational red snapper season, stretching from May 22 through early January. Wildfire Pressure: West Broward’s fast-moving wildfire burned 11,000+ acres as crews used air and ground tactics while shifting winds drove the fire’s spread. DEP vs. Trulieve: Trulieve tells the DEP it’s exempt from wastewater discharge permit rules, calling its Jefferson County operation an agricultural nursery. Food Assistance Update: USDA now requires SNAP-accepting stores to stock more “real” food options, expanding categories beyond what was previously required.

Autonomous farming push: U.S. Sugar says it’s rolling out the nation’s biggest commercial autonomous-tractor deployment in South Florida—John Deere 8R and 9R machines running up to 24/7 under a central operator, aiming to boost efficiency across 255,000 acres. Wildfire pressure on growers and residents: Florida Forest Service crews are battling a 300-acre wildfire in deep southern Miami-Dade near Florida City, with smoke affecting air quality and road access. Citrus and labor health watch: A new report highlights Parkinson’s risk among Florida citrus workers and growers, tying farm exposure to serious long-term outcomes. Policy and markets: Trump’s administration approved exempted fishing permits letting Florida and other states manage recreational red snapper in federal waters—sparking a fresh fight with conservation groups. Local education: Jackson County schools named Lacey Jakes principal of Empower College and Career Center, with a focus that includes expanding career-technical agricultural education. Data-center backlash echoes in Florida: A wider U.S. story continues to spotlight community pushback over data centers’ strain on power, water, and neighborhoods.