About Us
The agricultural Extension agents in Palm Beach County serve one of the
largest agricultural counties in the U. S. in value of products sold, exceeding
one billion dollars annually.
Agricultural agents introduce growers to
new plant varieties and pest control techniques as well as new regulations or
changes in regulations affecting production methods and worker safety.
Information is provided on alternative agriculture interests such as vegetable
gardening, tissue culture, and raising earthworms.
The nursery industry
benefits from seminars on business management skills. The use of low energy
landscape designs is encouraged and workshops are conducted on propagation,
irrigation management, fertilization, and plant selection and
care.
Practical skills training offered through the agricultural safety
program have ranged from conversational Spanish for the farm manager to CPR,
farm equipment operation, maintenance, and safety, land leveling, and sprayer
calibration.
Extension agents assist government and private agencies in
developing policies for land use, tax assessment, and water use and
conservation. Governmental policy-makers are informed of the positive economic
impact of agribusiness, as well as the industry's needs.
Scientists and
farmers from around the world have toured the area to see the progressive
production techniques used by agricultural producers in Palm Beach
County.
Agriculture Facts
With an estimated $1.397 billion in total agricultural sales for 2019-2020, Palm Beach County leads the State of Florida, all counties east of the Mississippi River, and its one of the ten largest in the United States.
Palm Beach County leads the nation in the production of sugarcane, fresh sweet corn, and sweet bell peppers. It leads the State in the production of rice, lettuce, radishes, Chinese vegetables, specialty leaf, and celery.
Palm Beach County agricultural infrastructure includes:
- Three major sugar manufacturing mills
- One sugar refinery
- Nine fresh vegetable packinghouses
- 396 horticultural nurseries
- Major hydroponic tomato growing operation
- Rice processing and packaging mill
- Agricultural by-product electrical cogeneration plant
- Major sugar and molasses port shipping facility
- Equestrian racetrack training facility
- World-famous polo, dressage, and jumpers stadiums
- Largest county golf course revenue in the state at $664 million
- Largest county landscape and landscape maintenance annual revenue in the state at $450 million
- One of the largest county retail garden center annual sales in the state at $279 million
In 2017-18, the 440,209 acres dedicated to agriculture represent 35% of the total land mass in the county.
Palm Beach County is third in the state in nursery production. It leads the state in agricultural wages and salary with over $316 million.