TALLAHASSEE, Fla – Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam today issued the following statement following the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives passing a spending bill that includes more than $2.3 billion for agricultural assistance:
“The passage of this spending bill is a critical first step to finally getting Florida’s farmers, ranchers and growers long-awaited and desperately needed relief. Without this emergency assistance, Florida agriculture cannot fully recover from the unprecedented damage caused by Hurricane Irma.”
“I want to thank Governor Rick Scott and the members of Florida’s congressional delegation that supported this effort and fought for Florida agriculture over the last days, weeks and months.”
In the wake of Hurricane Irma, Commissioner Putnam announced that Florida agriculture sustained more than $2.5 billion in damages. In weeks and months following Hurricane Irma, Commissioner Putnam twice traveled to 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.