Today, Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson announced the new leadership team for the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ (FDACS) Office of Agricultural Water Policy, with Jessica Ferris serving as director and Megan Seward as assistant director. Ferris previously served as the office's interim director and will now lead the office permanently.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Today, Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson announced the new leadership team for the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ (FDACS) Office of Agricultural Water Policy, with Jessica Ferris serving as director and Megan Seward as assistant director. Ferris previously served as the office's interim director and will now lead the office permanently.

“Jessica Ferris and Megan Seward are proven public servants with extensive experience in agriculture, natural resources, environmental policy and government operations, and I know they will build on the historic successes of our Office of Agricultural Water Policy,” said Commissioner Wilton Simpson. “Florida's farmers and ranchers are the original conservationists, and protecting our water resources while maintaining a strong domestic food supply requires practical, science-based, forward-thinking leadership from our Office of Agricultural Water Policy – and that’s exactly what Jessica Ferris and Megan Seward bring to the team.”

Jessica Ferris has served in several leadership roles within the department and most recently served as staff director for the Office of Agricultural Water Policy. During her tenure, she provided leadership for statewide agricultural and water quality initiatives, oversaw the development and implementation of the new Agricultural Regional Projects Program, and led strategic planning efforts to strengthen the office's operations and long-term impact. Ferris holds a Master of Public Administration and a bachelor's degree from Florida State University, is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP), a Florida Certified Contract Manager, and a graduate of the University of Florida's Natural Resources Leadership Institute.

Megan Seward will continue serving as assistant director of the Office of Agricultural Water Policy, where she oversees the Policy, Planning and Coordination Bureau, Budget Section, and Contracts Section. She will continue helping lead the division's implementation of agricultural Best Management Practices, BMP cost-share programs, water quality planning, rulemaking, legislative analysis, budgeting, procurement, and strategic operations. Before joining FDACS, Megan served in senior positions at Citizens Property Insurance Corporation, the Northwest Florida Water Management District, and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.

The FDACS Office of Agricultural Water Policy works closely with Florida's agricultural producers, commodity organizations, water management districts, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, UF/IFAS, and other partners to develop and implement agricultural Best Management Practices that protect water quality and conserve water resources. Agricultural BMPs are practical, cost-effective actions that agricultural producers can take to conserve water and reduce the amount of pesticides, fertilizers, animal waste, and other pollutants entering our water resources. Through voluntary, science-based conservation programs, the division helps producers improve water quality while ensuring Florida agriculture remains strong, productive, and sustainable for future generations.

For more information about Commissioner Simpson and the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, visit FDACS.gov.

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