|
Wide Awake
|
This is true as far as it goes: "While the further loss of agriculture would be felt in the local economy if more farmers end up selling their land for urban growth, Beagles said, the greater loss to the broader community would be "green space, our oak hammocks, woodlands."
Not to mention, he said, a way of life."
In addition, community food security will become more important as shipping costs continue to rise and the detrimental effects of shipping on climate are recognized, and climate change directly and indirectly continues to cause food shortages.
|
|
Sick-Of-the-Nort h
|
All that being said you need water to grow crops, raises cattle and many other ag commodieties. Look at what the water districts and water authorities are doing to agriculture and you will see another major reason as to why it is harder and harder to farm here. When people started moving to Central Florida the tap automatically started turing off.
|
|
What ever
|
Thanks to government being so greedy, Florida is no longer the orange juice capital anymore. Brazil is. The county only cares about money and that's it. Impact fee$. That's all they can $ee. They have allowed the destruction of millions of orange trees just to build EMPTY homes that will never get sold. Florida has lost million$ in juice revenue, but the countie$ got rich. I really miss that pleasent smell of blooming orange trees. Thanks for nothing once again your greedy f'ers.$$$$$$$$$Blinded by $$$$$$$$$$GLAD I DON'T PAY TAXES!!!!!!!!
|
|
Overtaxed
|
What we really need is a county commission with the cojones to say that agriculture is the highest and best use of land, not just an interim use until the land is ripe for developoment. What you get today is the "pine tree farmers" on International Drive and others who take advantage of the massive tax savings brought about by the Green Belt Law with no requirement to continue to devote your land to agriculture for one minute. Until the farmers agree that agriculture is the highest and best use of their land, they shouldn't get a dime in tax breaks.
|
|
Engineer
|
As far as the Greenbelt property tax exemption goes, it is based on current usage. Your property is classified as agricultural based on it's use for the current year. Each year the property owner must certify that the land was used for agricultural purposes. If the owner decides to develop the property, the Greenbelt exemption is not renewed and the taxable value of the land is adjusted to reflect raw, non-agricultural values.
What's wrong with "pine tree farmers"? Young, fast growing pines generate oxygen via photosynthesis. When the trees age and their production of oxygen declines, they are harvested and used for many products. New trees are replanted and the cycle resumes.
We have probably all seen the bumper sticker that says "If you can read this, thank a teacher". How about "If you ate today, thank a farmer"?
|
|
WinterGardenMom
|
I agree with Mr.Beagles. We need to encourage people to stay in Farming. Most people in farming love the land, love the life and just want to provide a comfortable life for their family. Most are not out to get rich. However, what a great deal of the population fails to see is that a nation that can supply it's own food, is a stronger nation. The less we rely on US grown the more vulnerable we are to other nations who could simple decide to starve the US to weaken it. That is why I buy FL grown produce and FL produced OJ. I am ashamed at some Grocery Chains where the majority of the Produce is imported (especially the ones that were founded right here in FL.)
The higher prices are because production costs are hitting the farmers...retailers are taking on their share and then some. Buy straight from the farm or the farmers market and the prices are a great deal cheaper.This will also cause Chain Supermarkets to look at their purchasing practice. Seems the FL dollar carries more weight than the FL vote!
|
Judge it!
75°F
Most Popular
