Find answers to common questions concerning Florida Agricultural Inspection Stations run by the Florida Department of Agriculture.
“FDACS’s Office of Agricultural Law Enforcement (OALE) has the primary responsibility to enforce laws involving livestock, poultry, aquaculture, and other animals and animal products; farms and farm equipment; citrus, horticultural and other agricultural goods,” shared a UF/IFAS blog article. Two new inspection stations are under construction, and additional OALE officers have been hired; there are “many local farmers and ranchers have asked questions about expectations and requirements for OALE inspections,” according to the article. Find answers to many of those questions from the article, below.
Q&A on Florida Agricultural Inspection Stations
“Q: Who has to stop at an Ag Inspection Station?
A:
- All vehicles transporting agricultural, horticultural, aquacultural, or livestock products
- Commercial trucks, vans, trailers, and rental trucks
Q: Who does not have to stop an Ag Inspection Station?
A:
- Private passenger vehicles or pickup trucks that are not carrying agricultural products
- Camping vehicles, such as motor homes, travel trailers, or conversion vans
Q: What are the ag inspectors looking for?
A:
- Agricultural pests or diseases on plants or animals
- Samples of insects, nematodes, snails, plant diseases, are collected and submitted for identification by the FDACS Division of Plant Industry (DPI).
- If live insects, snails, or plant diseases are detected at inspection stations, actions will be taken to reduce their impact to safeguard Florida agriculture.
- Agricultural products that have not been inspected or are not in compliance with federal or state quarantine regulations.
- Unsafe, or improperly stored food products.”
The blog article shared more requirements for livestock animals like horses, cattle, and more.
Griffin Fertilizer is committed to helping both growers and ranchers make sound agronomic and economic decisions in order to maximize the health of their grove and pasture. As a full-service custom dry & liquid fertilizer blender and crop protection product distributor, we will continue our mission to further advance Florida agriculture. For questions or concerns about your farm or pasture, contact us and one of our team will be in touch.