Day after day, season after season, Florida’s farmers, growers and ranchers work to grow and harvest our food, not knowing whether they will be able to make ends meet by the end of harvest season.
It’s not for lack of skilled workers, the right equipment or determination. When it comes to farming, many factors are out of our control. From natural elements, such as hurricanes, freezes, invasive pests and disease, to economic conditions like global conflict, rising cost of fuel, inflation, labor shortages and changes in supply and demand, it’s impossible to predict what each season will bring.
One thing is certain, however: Florida farmers play a critical role in growing our food supply, protecting our natural resources and strengthening our national security.
This election offers an opportunity to support our Florida farmers by permanently reducing the tax burden on Florida farmers. A tax exemption on farm equipment would give our farmers a greater chance of sustaining their operations through challenging times and continuing to grow food for generations to come. Please join me in voting yes on Amendment 2.
As a fourth-generation citrus grower, I know the highs and lows of being a Florida farmer. Over the last three decades, we’ve faced many freezes and hurricanes. Each time, we replant. Citrus canker nearly wiped out the industry, but we’ve overcome it. Now we’re struggling with citrus greening, a bacterial infection with no cure.
In the early 2000s, Florida’s citrus industry harvested nearly 150 million boxes of oranges in a season. Last season, Florida growers counted just 12.95 million boxes. Understandably, many growers are leaving the industry, with roughly 40,000 acres of groves lost last year.
When farms, groves and ranches disappear, Florida loses more than a family business. We lose a key source of food production. Florida-grown food feeds millions of people across America, especially during the winter season. Without a strong domestic food supply, we’ll have to rely more on foreign countries for the sustenance our bodies need to survive.
We also lose precious natural landscapes that make Florida the destination it is today. Florida farms protect the wild beauty of the Sunshine State. The land that supports food production also plays a key role in providing essential wildlife habitat, recharging the water aquifer and producing oxygen for us to breathe. If the row crops are replaced with rooftops, all that is lost and can never be restored.
Florida’s farms are the backbone of our state. Almost all (92%) are family-owned, and 70% are smaller than 50 acres. Farming is hard, honest work with more risk than most people would accept in any other business.
After they pay for their teams, supplies and equipment, the tax bill comes next. Each year, farmers must pay taxes on the value of the equipment they own, which can be costly for a tractor or a combine.
Amendment 2 is a proposed change to Florida’s Constitution that would exempt farm equipment, such as tractors, harvesters, irrigation systems and tools, from local property taxes. This change would let Florida farmers avoid paying taxes on equipment they already own. It would go a long way to reduce the burden on Florida farmers each year, allowing them to focus on what they do best — growing the food and fiber that supports American families.
For our food, for our land and for our national security, join me in supporting Florida farms and vote yes on Amendment 2.
Ben Albritton is a fourth-generation farmer and citrus grower. He serves as president of the Florida Senate and state senator for District 27, which consists of Charlotte, DeSoto and Hardee counties and parts of Lee and Polk counties.
