Florida Farms Need Support, Not Saving.

Over the last 6+ months there has been a massive movement to help preserve Florida. From Stop Moving to Florida, Stop Developing Florida, Florida Keepers, Beyond Florida, and more, the people of Florida are rising to the occasion to preserve what makes Florida so special. From our beautiful beaches, diverse ecosystems, treasured swamps, to majestic forests, the race is on to conserve and protect. These voices not only want to protect undeveloped lands, but the push is for agriculture land preservation as well. Or more likely known as “Save Florida Farms.” Thoughtful intentions to keep agriculture not only alive, but thriving in Florida is truly appreciated. Though the idea needs to be more than a slogan on a t-shirt or in a Facebook group, it needs to be upheld by action. This new movement needs to shift from “Save Florida Farms” to “Support Florida Farms.”

“Cows Not Condos,” “Tractors Not Transplants,” “Rows Not Roads, “Horses not Highways,” are all great slogans. Catchy as they are, slogans alone don’t put food on the table. The real impact comes when we translate words into purchases. The first and most obvious is to buy Fresh from Florida products! Our state has done an incredible job marketing consumables that are homegrown and raised right here in our great state. From beef to honey and ornamental plants to lettuce, the Fresh from Florida label is on products all over the state! Furthermore, there are many places you can go direct to consumer. For example, we fill our freezer with beef raised in Lake Wales! Another great way to find products is through Florida Farm Finder. They have built an incredible resource for Floridians to find local agriculture products across the state. The difference between purchasing at a chain store or sourcing it local, effort. It is easy to become complacent with a routine, but if we want to “Rows Not Roads,” we must make the effort to source produce, meat, fibers, plants, that are here in Florida.

According to the 2022 Agriculture Census (check out our blog for more details) farm expenses are up and agriculture product market value is down. From labor to fertilizer, inputs that help produce agriculture products are costing drastically more, and with product market value going down, the room for profitability is shrinking. What isn’t shrinking, is land value. According to the American Farm Bureau, ” The Land Values 2025 Summary Report, released on Aug. 1 shows a 4.3% increase, bringing the average to $4,350 per acre. This follows a 5%, or $200, increase between 2023 and 2024 and marks the fifth consecutive increase in agricultural land values.” When it comes to financials, especially for the aging farmer (average age of American farmer is 58) equity in the land is their biggest asset. The Florida Cowboy doesn’t need saving, he (or she!) needs you to buy his products, support lowering taxes, and find any other reason to keep him in business. The industry also needs young people willing and able to step into agriculture producer roles .Supporting programs such as 4-H & FFA is paramount to the future of agriculture as these students are going to fulfill those roles.

The question becomes, well how else can I support besides buying products and supporting agriculture eudcation? On the Ballot for 2026 in Florida is an initiative that provides Tangible Personal Property (TPP) taxes on agricultural businesses and farms. In Florida, agricultural producers must pay tangible personal property (TPP) tax on equipment every year for as long as they own it, since it’s assessed annually like real estate taxes. There’s no fixed cutoff period — the obligation ends only when the equipment is sold, scrapped, moved out of the county, or if a new exemption law applies. Producers do get a statewide $25,000 exemption on TPP value, and the assessed value (and tax owed) decreases over time as the equipment depreciates.

Some proposed constitutional amendments could exempt farm machinery altogether, but under current law, equipment like tractors or harvesters remains subject to yearly taxation unless specifically exempt. Farmers don’t just buy equipment once — they’re taxed on it every year. That means a potato farmer with a $100,000 harvester could pay taxes annually, long after the machine has started breaking down. Of course, the equipment will depreciate, but but it still represents a heavy annual tax burden that chips away at already thin margins. Plus, this isn’t the only piece of equipment this farmer owns to begin with! This means that beyond simply buying local produce, supporting measures that reduce or eliminate TPP for farmers is another powerful way to help sustain agriculture in Florida.

The real question is this: will you stand with Florida’s farmers not only by purchasing local products, but also by voting for the amendment that eliminates burdensome tangible property taxes on farm equipment? Some lawmakers worry about the fiscal impact of removing TPP, but the greater cost is what happens if our farmers can no longer afford to operate — where will our food come from then? A slogan on a t-shirt might spark a conversation, but real change comes from advocating for policies that keep food production local, sustainable, and secure. Florida’s farms are the backbone of our food system, and your vote can help protect them.

-Written by Janyel Taylor & Edited by John Taylor

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