Our new Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson arrived in office with an unusual resume.
A veteran legislator who served as 2021 Florida Senate president, Simpson holds a solid knowledge of our state government.
He is also a farmer. His citrus groves, egg farm and environmental consulting business give him an immediate awareness of the challenges of agricultural production in the 21st century. His background as a county Farm Bureau president has seasoned him with the local leadership experience necessary to express the interests of any farm family, regardless of the scale of operation.
Some observers claim his most appealing strength as a public figure is his openness to connect with all Floridians. He offers sincere attention to people and their proposals for public policy. This quality has received much appreciation from citizens who have visited him in Tallahassee during his tenure in the legislature.
Simpson’s positions on public issues often match Farm Bureau’s policy goals. He has endorsed limited government, regulation by incentive and reduced taxation. He has also emphasized personal responsibility as a citizen’s obligation.
In 2021, Florida Farm Bureau selected him as a Champion for Agriculture, and he was recognized with Florida Farm Bureau’s Legislator of the Year award in 2013.
Simpson brings an agricultural perspective to the development of public policy and yet does so with the ultimate objective of seeking what is best for everyone. With such a background, all Floridians have good reason to hold high expectations for his leadership.
Farm Bureau members hope to build upon the positive working relationship they already enjoy with Commissioner Simpson. They anticipate Florida agriculture will be Growing Forward with active support from the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.
The commissioner can greatly reinforce Farm Bureau’s call for state policies that promote all sectors of Florida agriculture. He understands that as farmers and ranchers succeed, everyone else benefits.
president of Florida Farm Bureau and a fifth-generation hay, sod and cattle farmer from
Hastings. Photo credit: Melissa Marcarelli
These benefits are fundamental for the good quality of life available to all Floridians. Sustainable agricultural production maintains a nutritious, abundant food supply, conserves land and water resources, provides wildlife habitat, and, according to the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, contributes $149 billion to our state’s economy.
We are also calling upon his department for assistance as Congress deliberates over the 2023 Farm Bill, a key measure that includes funding for food programs, land and water conservation, crop insurance, and agricultural research. The department can provide science-based evidence needed at congressional hearings.
Of course, Farm Bureau members must take an active role in the policy development process. Success at Growing Forward will require your participation.
Remember that Farm Bureau Day in Tallahassee is set for March 8. This all-day citizens’ lobbying event is a prime opportunity to meet with your state lawmakers and executive department officials. It is a time for you to communicate the value of your livelihood to society.
I ask for your help in working cooperatively with Commissioner Simpson as well as every other public leader who supports our farm families. And I thank you for your volunteer service as the Voice of Florida Agriculture.
See more: President’s Letter: Growing Forward and Preserving Food Security
