Five Questions for Republicans Running for Florida Agriculture Commissioner

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By Gary Cooper, Founder and President of AgNet Media, Inc. The three Republican candidates for Florida Agriculture Commissioner presented their views to approximately 200 attendees at a recent Candidate Summit Luncheon near Orlando. Coldwell Banker Commercial Saunders Real Estate organized and hosted the event in conjunction with its  10th annual Lay of the Land Conference, which draws a strong agricultural following. …

Florida Farmers Advocate for Ag

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This past week, Florida Farm Bureau Federation (FFBF) held its annual Field to the Hill fly-in event, where Florida farmers had the opportunity to fly to Washington, D.C., and speak to their legislators about issues they are facing in the Florida agricultural industry. AgNet Media’s Abbey Taylor was able to tag along with the Farm Bureau members and witness firsthand …

Challenges Remain for Legal Agricultural Workforce

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By Brian German The United States continues to have challenges related to establishing a secure, legal agricultural workforce. Many growers and industry groups are calling for significant change to current immigration policies and ag worker programs. For Chalmers Carr, owner of Titan Farms in Ridge Springs, South Carolina, the H-2A program has been fairly helpful to his operation. “After being …

Florida & Georgia Blueberry Growers Call On To Be Considered in NAFTA Negotiations

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Brooksville, FL  – Today, the Florida Blueberry Growers Association (FBGA) and Georgia Blueberry Growers Association (GBGA) sent a joint letter to their Congressmen asking that provisions to protect the blueberry industry of Florida and Georiga be included in North American Free Trade Agreement negotiations (NAFTA).  “The Florida & Georgia Blueberry industries have experienced growth and stability in the recent past, however …

Uncertainty Remains in NAFTA Renegotiation Talks

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The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) has been an ongoing issue since President Donald Trump took office. He has been clear about his distaste for NAFTA and the aspects of the agreement that allow for unfair trade practices. In 1994, NAFTA went into effect under the Clinton administration. The idea that came about in the 1980s under President Reagan …

Florida Tomatoes and Strawberries Feel the Heat from Mexican Imports

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Florida tomatoes and strawberries have been facing heavy competition from Mexican imports for the past 10 to 15 years. Zhengfei Guan, an agricultural economist at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Gulf Coast Research and Education Center, says the imports of strawberries from Mexico have increased fourfold, and it is a similar story for fresh tomato …

Chairman Conaway Introduces the Agriculture and Nutrition Act

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Three years, 114 hearings, six listening sessions and countless industry meetings have laid the groundwork for the 2018 farm bill. The House Agriculture Committee delivered what it calls a strong farm bill for producers, consumers and all of rural America. After introducing the Agriculture and Nutrition Act of 2018 (H.R. 2) during a teleconference, House Agriculture Committee Chairman Michael Conaway …

Measuring Tariff Impacts on Specialty Crops

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Chinese tariffs could have consequences on U.S. specialty crops. However, it may be difficult to determine exactly how much of an impact the tariffs will have on the industry. U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Rod Bain explores this issue with USDA Chief Economist Rob Johansson. Johansson discusses the types of tools that the USDA has that could help measure the …

Trump Pledges to Protect Farmers as He Considers More China Tariffs

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A trade dispute with China has U.S. producers wondering how this will impact them and their businesses. Despite worrisome retaliation tariffs from China, President Trump and U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue vows to take care of America’s farmers and ranchers. Perdue says that he is under an order from President Trump to develop a plan to protect U.S. farmers …

Crop Insurance, Immigration Debate Critical for Produce Industry

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Crop insurance and the current immigration debate continue to be hot topics in the fruit and vegetable industry. Robert Guenther, senior vice president of public policy for the United Fresh Produce Association, recently discussed these issues with AgNet Media Founder and President Gary Cooper. They spoke during the recent Crop Insurance Industry Convention in Scottsdale, Arizona. “There’s diverse opinions on …