New Ag Inspection Station Under Construction Near Campbellton

By: Shelia Mader

Construction is underway on a new Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services agricultural inspection station near Campbellton, marking a significant addition to the state’s border protection network in Jackson County.

State and local officials gathered in November 2025 to break ground on the facility, which is being built along U.S. Highway 231 just south of the Alabama state line. The location was selected to monitor one of the primary north-south corridors into Florida’s Panhandle, where a steady flow of commercial and agricultural traffic enters the state each day.

Once completed, the station will serve as both an agricultural inspection point and a law enforcement checkpoint, operating under the Department’s Office of Agricultural Law Enforcement. While often compared to a traditional weigh station, its mission extends beyond weight compliance to include inspections aimed at protecting Florida’s agriculture industry and public safety.

Officials say the facility will operate around the clock, allowing inspectors to screen commercial vehicles for potentially harmful pests, plant diseases, and unsafe food products before they can enter the state. In addition, the station will support broader enforcement efforts by providing a controlled point for identifying illegal activity, including the transport of contraband.

The project is part of a statewide effort to strengthen Florida’s agricultural safeguards at key entry points. When finished, the Campbellton site will become the 24th agricultural inspection station in Florida, expanding coverage in a region that previously had fewer fixed inspection resources along major highways.

Construction is expected to continue through 2026, with the station projected to open later this year. Once operational, it is anticipated to play a key role in protecting one of Florida’s largest economic sectors while also enhancing enforcement capabilities along the state’s northern border.

Local leaders have pointed to the project as both a protective measure and an investment in infrastructure, bringing new state resources and personnel into Jackson County while reinforcing Florida’s long-standing emphasis on agricultural security.

As work progresses, the Campbellton inspection station is expected to become a permanent fixture along U.S. 231, serving as a first line of defense for goods and traffic entering the state from Alabama.