Specialty Crop Grower Magazine: Congressional Inertia Hamstrings Produce Priorities

Clint ThompsonSpecialty Crop Grower Magazine

By Cathy Burns Last year, what the specialty crop industry received in terms of legislative and regulatory policies from federal lawmakers was a mixed bag. While we did see a few positives in terms of investment opportunities in innovation, technology and sustainability, we also saw negatives such as proposed cuts to the fruit and vegetable benefit in the Women, Infants …

U.S. Congressman Scott Addresses China Concerns During Conference

Web AdminSpecialty Crops

By Clint Thompson U.S. Congressman Austin Scott (R-GA-08) believes China to be an adversary, no longer an aggressive competitor. So, naturally when China controls certain agricultural inputs, most notably seed, it concerns the legislator. “I don’t blame the Chinese for being smart, I blame us for being naïve about what they were doing and not paying enough attention to it …

Florida Congresswoman Kat Cammack Announces Selection to House Ag Committee

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GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The House Committee on Agriculture announced its committee roster for the 118th Congress. Representative Kat Cammack will serve a second term on the committee as the only Florida Republican of the 26 GOP Conference members appointed. “It’s an honor to serve a second term on the Agriculture Committee,” Cammack said. “2023 is a big year for the …

GFVGA Issues Letter to Georgia Congressional Delegation Following AEWR Announcement

Web AdminLabor

By Clint Thompson The Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association issued a letter on Dec. 5 to the entire Georgia Congressional Delegation. The letter was in response to the 14% increase in the Adverse Effect Wage Rate, which would increase from $11.99 per hour in 2022 to $13.68 per hour in 2023. Chris Butts, executive vice president of the Georgia …

TFI Statement on Congressional Deal to Avoid Rail Carrier Strike

Web AdminFlorida Grower

ARLINGTON, VA – The Fertilizer Institute (TFI) applauded Congress for taking action to avert an economically devastating rail strike. “TFI thanks Congress for its swift work this week to implement the September Tentative Agreements (TAs) reached by rail carriers and union leadership to avert a rail strike that would have severely disrupted delivery of fertilizer to farmers as well as …

TFI Applauds Swift Congressional Action to Avert Rail Shutdown

Web AdminFertilizer

ARLINGTON, VA – The Fertilizer Institute (TFI) applauded Congress for taking action to avert an economically devastating rail strike. “TFI thanks Congress for its swift work this week to implement the September Tentative Agreements (TAs) reached by rail carriers and union leadership to avert a rail strike that would have severely disrupted delivery of fertilizer to farmers as well as …

Fried Calls on Congress to Protect Florida Farmers

Web AdminFlorida Grower

Last week, Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Nikki Fried submitted written testimony to the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Subcommittee on Commodities, Risk Management and Trade urging Congress to address unfair foreign trade practices causing decades-long harm to Florida farmers and the lack of protections for the domestic seasonal produce industry. “Our state’s fruit and vegetable farming industry …

Voice of Leadership: Congressman Scott Sounds Off on Mexican Imports

Web AdminExports/Imports, Georgia, Top Posts, Trade

How can you stay in business by selling a commodity for less than the inputs required to produce it? While it may sound like simple economics, it’s a financial game that’s just not adding up for many Southeast vegetable and specialty crop producers? What’s the ‘X’ factor? Imports from foreign countries like Mexico, Peru and Chile. If they continue to …

Congressman Scott Speaks During ITC Blueberry Hearing

Web AdminBerries, Top Posts

U.S. Congressman Austin Scott (GA-08) testified on Tuesday during a virtual hearing with the U.S. International Trade Commission regarding a global safeguard investigation into fresh, chilled or frozen blueberries. The investigation centers on unfair trade practices regarding blueberry imports from foreign countries, including Mexico. Sponsored ContentTriEst Ag Group: Partners in ProfitabilityApril 1, 2024SECURE FUNDING NOW | USDA-Sponsored Farming Project Underway …

Congressional Support Helps Lead to Potential Investigations of Imports of Cucumbers, Squash

Web AdminCucurbits, Georgia, Top Posts

Congressional support of Georgia’s vegetable and specialty crop sector has helped lead to potential investigative action regarding imports of cucumbers and squash. Letters from both Georgia U.S. Senators; David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler; as well from four Georgia Congressmen; Sanford Bishop (D-GA-02), Austin Scott (R-GA-08), Buddy Carter (R-GA-01) and Rick Allen (R-GA-12), were sent to U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) Robert …