Agriculture Commissioner-elect Nikki Fried met with representatives of the forest industry at the Association office in Tallahassee this week.
The group shared the economic and environmental benefits of working forests, discussed the impacts of Hurricane Michael on the industry and updated the Commissioner-elect about state and federal relief requests. They also talked about the importance of a continued partnership with the Florida Forest Service and the programs they provide, such as prescribed fire, wildfire protection, Rural and Family Lands and a proposed Healthy Forests reforestation cost-share program to help with hurricane recovery efforts.
"The Commissioner expressed an interest in doing work days, so we are looking forward to being able to give her a hands-on experience of the forest industry," shared Executive Vice President Alan Shelby. "We are committed to doing everything in our power to help make her time as commissioner as successful as possible."
