Agriculture in Palm Beach County

The Agricultural Extension Agents in Palm Beach County serve the fifth largest agricultural county 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 organic gardening, herb and mushroom culture, tissue culture, and raising earthworms and crawfish.

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 manpower development 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.