Grant Information
| Knowledge Area | Subject of Investigation | Field of Science | Percent |
|---|---|---|---|
| 601 - Economics of Agricultural Production and Farm Management | 999 - Citrus, general/other | 3010 - Economics | 50% |
| 601 - Economics of Agricultural Production and Farm Management | 1499 - Vegetables, general/other | 3010 - Economics | 20% |
| 601 - Economics of Agricultural Production and Farm Management | 2020 - Sugar cane | 3010 - Economics | 15% |
| 601 - Economics of Agricultural Production and Farm Management | 3310 - Beef cattle, live animal | 3010 - Economics | 15% |
The production of Floridas food and fiber industries generates more than $20 billion of annual economic impact and supports more than 265,000 jobs in the state (Hodges and Rahmani, 2008). In addition to the direct value of the crops they produce, agricultural operations are important land managers and provide valuable ecosystem services such as wildlife habitat, water storage, and areas for carbon sequestration. Timber, cropping, and cattle ranching operations occupy nearly 24 million acres, or two-thirds of the states land area. In southwest Florida, citrus, vegetable, sugarcane, cattle, and ornamental operations occupy more than 40% of the total area. Farm-gate sales from southwest Florida citrus, vegetable, sugarcane, cattle, and ornamental producers generate nearly a billion dollars each year and are estimated to have a total economic impact on the southwest Florida economy of more than $1.5 billion annually (Roka, 2010). More than 70% of the farm-gate sales in southwest Florida result from citrus and fresh vegetable operations. Florida citrus, vegetable, sugarcane, and cattle producers are under constant pressure to alter current production practices as they meet the challenges of global markets, rising input costs, new pests and diseases, and urbanization. The long-term economic sustainability of Florida agricultural producers, especially fruit and vegetable producers, depends on two separate but related challenges: managing unit costs of production and securing a legal labor supply while complying with all existing labor employment regulations.
Impediments to adopting citrus mechanical harvesting include: 1) grower concerns that mechanical harvesting equipment damages trees and adversely affects long-term tree productivity; 2) higher gleaning costs and the need to glean between 15% and 20% of the crop after mechanical harvesting equipment; 3) excessive debris in mechanically harvested loads which increase costs at juice processing facilities; and 4) harvesting "late-season" Valencia oranges without substantially reducing next years fruit crop.Enterprise budgets are the basic tools to measure and/or monitor changes in economic efficiencies related to citrus, fresh vegetables, sugarcane, and cow-calf operations. For citrus, fresh vegetables, and sugarcane, enterprise budgets already are in place but require periodic updates to reflect changes in input costs. An enterprise budget for cow-calf operations, in particular one that represents south Florida ranching conditions, is more than 30 years out of date. A revised cow-calf budget will track a ranchers expected cash flow as well as define the financial conditions for long-term economic sustainability. A new extension program, the Farm Labor Contractor Core Training program, is being developed to educate farm labor contractors as to the legal responsibilities of all agricultural employers. As part of the training program, individual regulations will be researched.
Target Audience
Target Audience: Citrus mechanical harvesting: growers, equipment manufactures Economic efficiency of production systems: growers Farm Labor: growers: farm labor contractors, farmworkers
Changes / Problems
Nothing Reported
Training & Professional Development
The Certificate of Farm Labor Management provides farm labor supervisors with the opportunity to enhance their knowledge and awareness of farm labor regulations. The Certificate and the overall training program being developed within the UF/IFAS Farm Labor Supervisor program is being recognized within Florida as an important step to improve the professional standing of farm labor contractors.
Dissemination Streams
Citrus mechanical harvesting: there were no growing meetings in 2016 to discuss citrus mechanical harvesting. Until HLB is solved or new equipment is designed, there will be limited opportunities for extension workshops about mechanical harvesting. Economic efficiency of production systems: nothing to report. Farm Labor: FLS training programs were taken to 6 different locations across Florida and in one location in south Georgia. Attendance statistics have been reported previously in this report. In addition to FLS classes, information about the training program and general information about the H-2A program were disseminated during 9 grower meetings and 5 written reports, which include a conference proceedings and industry trade journal articles.
Next Reporting Steps
Nothing Reported