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Florida Sod Growers Cooperative Annual Meeting

Friday, January 20, 2012

Shades of Green at Walt Disney World Resort

Lake Buena Vista (Orlando), Florida

9:00 AM - 1:30 PM

Registration Information

Due to limited seating at this year’s venue, reservations for the meeting are required.  Registration is $30 per person and includes a buffet lunch following the meeting.  Sponsorship Opportunities are also available.  Deadline for general registeration is January 13.

Registration Form

Sponsorship Information

Special Guest Speaker

Commissioner Adam Putnam

Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services

     The Florida Sod Growers Cooperative is pleased to welcome Commissioner Adam Putnam of the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services as our special guest speaker.   

     Putnam was elected Florida’s Commissioner of Agriculture in November 2010 and was sworn into office on January 4, 2011.  In this capacity, he leads the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, a state agency whose mission is to promote Florida agriculture, foster innovation in energy development, provide a safe and abundant food supply, manage the state’s forest resources and safeguard consumers.

    A fifth generation Floridian who grew up in the citrus and cattle industry, Commissioner Putnam understands Florida’s generational challenges. In his role as Commissioner of Agriculture, Putnam is focused on protecting the quantity and quality of the state’s water supply, securing a stable, reliable and diverse supply of energy, expanding access to Florida’s abundance of fresh produce and fostering the growth and diversification of Florida agriculture.

     Commissioner Putnam previously served five terms as Congressman for Florida’s 12th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives and was a member of the Florida House of Representatives from 1996 to 2000.

Featured Speakers  

     This year’s Annual Meeting will also focus on association business and updates and offer several outstanding speakers covering key issues for sod businesses including current labor legislation, strategies for ensuring payment for sales, and permitting exemptions that may apply to sod operations.

Agricultural Exemptions for Environmental Permitting

Steven Southwell, Morrell, Southwell and Watson, P.A.

Certain agricultural activities may be exempt from state and federal wetland permitting requirements.  Steven Southwell will present an overview of the basis for exemptions for certain agricultural practices, a description of activities which may be exempt and pitfalls to avoid.

Getting Paid:  Florida’s Construction Lien Law for Sod Producers

Eduardo F. Morrell, Morrell, Southwell and Watson, P.A.

As Florida’s economy continues to struggle, it’s critical that businesses manage their risk of loss from customers who ultimately can’t - or won’t - pay for products purchased.  This is especially important when the products, like turfgrass, are perishable and non-recoverable.   Eduardo Morrell will present an overview of the how the law works and guidelines on how sod producers can utilize the tool to help ensure that they’ll get paid.

Stormy Weather:  Understanding the Ag Labor Climate

Mike Carlton, Director of Labor Relations, Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association

From immigration to E-verify, labor concerns are weighing heavily on business owners who are worried about having sufficient workers and confused about how to comply with the ever-changing (and often bewildering) employee hiring guidelines.  Mike Carlton will present a review of the current status of agricultural labor legislation and  answer questions on what’s ahead and how you can best prepare and protect yourself and your business.