Wilton Simpson

Wilton Simpson Florida's Commissioner of Agriculture

4 for 4 for the Florida TaxpayersFDACS was proud to receive another Government Productivity and Efficiency Award - this ...
09/02/2026

4 for 4 for the Florida Taxpayers

FDACS was proud to receive another Government Productivity and Efficiency Award - this time for the successful implementation of the Block Grant for our Farmers impacted by hurricanes.

We were honored for the speed, cost, and efficiency in administration of the program.

This award will proudly hang on the wall along with our previous awards.

We strive everyday to honor the taxpayer and we are proud of four years in a row of recognition.

What an honor to receive the Legislative Champion Award from Tampa General Hospital today. It means a great deal to me, ...
09/02/2026

What an honor to receive the Legislative Champion Award from Tampa General Hospital today. It means a great deal to me, but I also see it as recognition of something bigger than any one person - the power of partnership between Tampa General and the state of Florida. I have had the privilege of working with Tampa General in several different capacities over the years, and one thing has always been clear: Tampa General is more than a hospital.

🚨 OALE TEAMWORK TAKES DOWN $5,000 IN FENTANYL Great police work starts with sharp instincts, and OALE Officer Sonia Soro...
08/31/2026

🚨 OALE TEAMWORK TAKES DOWN $5,000 IN FENTANYL
Great police work starts with sharp instincts, and OALE Officer Sonia Soroka had them on full display when she flagged a tractor-trailer entering Florida loaded with produce and directed it into Station #19 for a closer look. Her instincts paid off.

K9 Officer Austin Thomas deployed his partner, K9 Mojo, for a free-air sniff around the vehicle, and Mojo quickly alerted to the presence of narcotics inside the cab. Following his lead, officers discovered a clear bag packed with individually wrapped powder and pressed pills, bearing no markings and showing no signs of coming from a legitimate source. Field tests confirmed approximately 25 grams of suspected fentanyl, valued at an estimated $5,000 on the street, now off the road before it could reach our communities.

The driver, Joginder Singh, 30, of Bellerose, NY, was arrested on felony drug trafficking charges and transported to the Escambia County Jail.

This bust is a direct result of solid teamwork! Officer Soroka's sharp instincts, K9 Officer Thomas's expertise, and good boy K9 Mojo all came together to keep dangerous drugs off our streets. 🐾

This , we’re spotlighting Jim Strickland, Julie Morris, and daughters Ayla and Sabal of Lost Girl Prairie. Located in M...
08/28/2026

This , we’re spotlighting Jim Strickland, Julie Morris, and daughters Ayla and Sabal of Lost Girl Prairie. Located in Myakka City, this 1,300-acre ranch is protected under a conservation easement, preserving its natural landscapes while supporting Florida cattle production. Lost Girl Prairie is home to one of the largest marsh areas in the region, providing habitat for wading birds, alligators, deer, turkey, eagles, and migratory birds. The ranch also provides eco-tours and cattle research.
Support Florida ranchers by choosing locally raised beef! Follow them here: Website: lostgirlprairie.org Facebook: Lost Girl Prairie

🚨 From Inspection to Arrest: K9 & TITAN Units Showcase OALE TeamworkWhat began as a routine regulatory inspection evolve...
08/27/2026

🚨 From Inspection to Arrest: K9 & TITAN Units Showcase OALE Teamwork
What began as a routine regulatory inspection evolved into a multi-unit effort, resulting in the arrest of a South Florida man on serious felony charges.

On August 26, OALE officers stopped 27-year-old Julio Francisco Cruz Figueroa of Cutler Bay at a Suwannee County Agricultural Inspection Station for a standard produce inspection.
During the inspection, K9 Officer Hodge deployed his partner, K9 Kato, who alerted to narcotics in the tractor cab. OALE Special Operations officers then used advanced TITAN (Tactical Intelligence Targeting Access Node) technology to identify hidden hazards. Officers discovered illegal narcotics (co***ne and crystal methamphetamine) along with credit card fraud equipment (a card encoder and fraudulent credit cards).

Figueroa was arrested and transported to Suwannee County Jail, facing multiple felony charges including possession of controlled substances and trafficking possession of counterfeit credit cards.

This case highlights the exceptional teamwork between OALE's inspection officers, K9 Unit, Special Operations, and investigators in keeping our communities safe.

Great to be in East Pasco County today with the Chamber of Commerce!
08/26/2026

Great to be in East Pasco County today with the Chamber of Commerce!

Honored to be endorsed by the Florida Realtors!
08/25/2026

Honored to be endorsed by the Florida Realtors!

We have extended the deadline for Florida’s agricultural producers to apply for more than $600 million in disaster assis...
08/24/2026

We have extended the deadline for Florida’s agricultural producers to apply for more than $600 million in disaster assistance for impacts from the 2023 and 2024 hurricane seasons. Florida producers now have until January 1, 2027, to apply for the Florida Block Grant Disaster Relief Program. Eligible agricultural producers can apply for grant funding to address infrastructure damage, market loss, citrus loss, and timber damage caused by recent hurricanes.

I know that Florida’s farmers are self-reliant and do not like to ask for help, but we encourage any producers who suffered damage or loss to apply. We have staff standing by to support producers with the application process and have streamlined the program to ensure that impacted producers can receive grant funding as quickly as possible.

Additional information on the program, including eligibility and documentation requirements, is available at blockgrant.fdacs.gov.

This week, I was proud to announce the permanent protection of over 1,500 acres of working Florida agricultural land acr...
08/22/2026

This week, I was proud to announce the permanent protection of over 1,500 acres of working Florida agricultural land across four Florida farms through the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ Rural and Family Lands Protection Program. Rural lands protection easements prevent future development and allow agricultural operations to continue contributing to Florida’s economy and the production of food, timber, and other resources vital to Florida's prosperity.

Florida is a national leader in using conservation easements, the most cost-effective conservation tool we have, to protect as much of our agricultural lands, wildlife habitat, and natural resources from development – before it’s too late.

Since its inception, the department’s Rural and Family Lands Protection Program has permanently preserved more than 246,000 acres of working agricultural land, including more than 180,000 acres preserved during my administration.

This , we’re spotlighting Eddie and Patricia McKeithen, along with Chris and Brittany Moberly of McKeithen Growers. Loc...
08/21/2026

This , we’re spotlighting Eddie and Patricia McKeithen, along with Chris and Brittany Moberly of McKeithen Growers. Located in Myakka City, this family run business has been in operation for over 30 years, shipping high-quality native trees and shrubs as far north as Maryland and as far west as Texas. With more than 80 varieties available, McKeithen Growers offers a wide range of unique native trees that support landscape biodiversity. Follow them here: Website: McKeithenGrowers.com Facebook: McKeithen Growers Instagram:

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The Free State Of
Trilby, FL
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