With the impacts of historic freezes, widespread drought, and increasing wildfire activity, Florida’s Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson announced his office has issued an emergency order to support farmers, ranchers, and growers.
Effective immediately, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) is suspending specific Best Management Practices (BMP) Program site visits that verify agricultural producers are properly implementing BMPs. The combined impacts of recent freezes, drought, and increasing wildfire activity have made onsite verification of BMPs impractical and impossible for many producers.
“This emergency order is a practical way to support our farmers, ranchers, and growers who are still dealing with the widespread and devastating impacts of historic freezes, statewide drought, and increasing wildfire activity,” Simpson said. “Florida’s farmers and ranchers are some of the toughest and most resilient people you will ever meet, but recent weather has brought significant crop loss, damage, and disruptions to operations. This emergency order allows our producers to focus more on their immediate recovery and less on government regulations.”
Through Emergency Order 2026-002, Commissioner Wilton Simpson has temporarily suspended the following:
BMP implementation verification visits for producers whose implementation verification visits are due during the effective period of this order and who are enrolled in the citrus, nursery, specialty fruit and nut crops, vegetable and agronomic crops, and sod BMP manuals in all Florida counties.
FDACS is required to make BMP implementation verification site visits on properties enrolled in the BMP program every two years. During these site visits, FDACS representatives ensure the proper implementation of the applicable BMPs for the enrolled property.
