TALLAHASSEE, Fla.–Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam today issued the following statement regarding the U.S. House of Representatives’ proposed $81 billion disaster spending bill, which includes $2.6 billion for agricultural assistance:
“Florida’s farmers, ranchers and growers suffered unprecedented damage from Hurricane Irma, and today’s announcement of proposed emergency funding for Florida agriculture is the first bit of good news we’ve heard in months.
“I want to thank Representative Rooney, Governor Rick Scott and the entire Florida congressional delegation for working tirelessly to get Florida agriculture the relief it desperately needs. I will continue to work with leaders in Washington to make sure that this funding becomes a reality so Florida’s agriculture industry can continue to do what it does best: feed our state, our country and the world.”
In the wake of Hurricane Irma, Commissioner Putnam announced that Florida agriculture sustained more than $2.5 billion in damages. In weeks following Hurricane Irma, Commissioner Putnam joined Governor Rick Scott in Washington D.C to discuss the agricultural damage and to request federal assistance with Florida’s Congressional Delegation.
For more information about the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, visit FreshFromFlorida.com.
