Florida specialty crop growers are encouraged to provide feedback via the House Agriculture Committee 2023 Farm Bill online feedback survey. Providing input is essential to inform federal representatives of the needs and interests of Florida’s agricultural community as Congress looks to enact major policies that will drive the food and nutrition systems for years to come. “Agriculture is the backbone …
Republican Leader Thompson, Chairman Scott Seek Farm Bill Feedback
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Feedback from producers, stakeholders and consumers on various programs is essential to future Farm Bills. House Agriculture Committee Republican Leader Glenn “GT” Thompson and Chairman David Scott are offering the opportunity for members of the public to submit their feedback and ideas for the 2023 Farm Bill through an online form available here. “It is critical we …
Freeze Effect: Legislation Introduced to Protect Growers
U.S. Representatives Greg Steube (R-Fla.) and Darren Soto (D-Fla.) introduced The Temperature Endorsement for Multi-Peril Policies (TEMP) Act this week. It will protect farmers impacted by crop-damaging freezes. Rep. Steube proposes this legislation for inclusion in the 2023 Farm Bill. “This winter, a freeze caused significant damages to Florida’s citrus, sugarcane, ornamental plants, and many fruits and vegetables. Currently, specialty-crop insurance policies are expensive, leaving …
Updated Draft for Florida Hemp Rules
By Karla Arboleda The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) updated a draft on hemp rules for the state. FDACS is working with the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture and the U.S. Department of Agriculture to authorize hemp production in Florida as quickly as possible. Fred Harris, a Greenberg Traurig attorney representing the Hemp Industries Association …
South Carolina Industrial Hemp Updates
By Karla Arboleda People in South Carolina looking forward to growing industrial hemp will be able to get research updates from Clemson University. While hemp pesticides have been approved in South Carolina, growers are still awaiting more regulations to be established by the South Carolina Department of Agriculture (SCDA). David Dewitt, state coordinator for the Clemson Extension Hemp Program, talked …
Florida Association Works With Future Hemp Community
By Karla Arboleda This month, those preparing to enter the hemp industry in Florida received legislative updates and attended meetings that were part of a statewide hemp road tour led by the Hemp Industries Association of Florida (HIAF). HIAF Chairman David Hasenauer hosted the meetings, which included several speakers that provided information on how to get started with growing hemp. …
Hemp Regulations Still in the Works
By Karla Arboleda The National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) is ready to see industrial hemp production take off, but there are a few things that need to happen first. What to know Aline DeLucia, senior director of public policy for NASDA, says the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will review state plans once regulations are in place, …
Farm Bill Implementation Listening Session Open to Producers
Register by February 22! The U.S. Department of Agriculture is hosting a listening session for initial input on the 2018 Farm Bill. USDA is seeking public input on the changes to existing programs implemented by the Farm Service Agency, Natural Resources Conservation Service and Risk Management Agency. Each agency will take into account stakeholder input when making discretionary decisions on …
Farm Bill Helps Pave Way for Hemp Production
The farm bill has passed through the House and the Senate and received President Trump’s signature on Dec. 20. While some agricultural industries were let down, other industries may have an opportunity to thrive. According to Jerry Fankhauser, assistant director of the University of Florida’s Florida Agricultural Experiment Station, the farm bill includes language that will take industrial hemp off …
The 2018 Farm Bill Is Officially Here
The Agricultural Improvement Act of 2018, known as the 2018 farm bill, has now been made official after being signed by President Donald Trump today. It was a long and strenuous process drafting a version that both congressional houses could agree to.  The farm bill will ultimately cost $867 billion over the next 10 years through a series of programs intended …