Commissioner Wilton Simpson Announces the Protection of 13,371 Acres of Ranchland through the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program 

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Commissioner Wilton Simpson announced the protection of 13,371 acres of Florida ranchlands through the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ Rural and Family Lands Protection Program. With approval by the Governor and Cabinet, approximately 13,371 acres of working agricultural lands will be preserved through cost-effective agricultural conservation easements totaling $36,754,000. Agricultural conservation easements prevent future development of the land …

U.S. Specialty Crop Coalition Endorses Legislation Addressing Research, Nutrition and Trade 

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The Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance (SCFBA), a national coalition of more than 200 specialty crop organizations representing growers of fruits, vegetables, dried fruit, tree nuts, nursery plants and other products, endorsed legislation that would address major priorities tied to research, nutrition and trade laid out in the group’s 2023 Farm Bill recommendations:  “The Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance has …

U.S. Rep Introduces Federal Disaster Responsibility Act

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U.S. Rep. Kat Cammack introduced the Federal Disaster Responsibility Act on Sept. 5. She said the bill, which fully funds the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Disaster Relief Fund (DRF), ensures that block grants are secured for Florida’s growers, among other things. The grants would make sure growers get the necessary tax breaks from hurricane losses they suffered. The bill would also …

SCFBA Co-Chair Discusses Support for Recent Legislation

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By Clint Thompson The Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance (SCFBA) applauds recent legislation that addresses multiple priorities in the upcoming Farm Bill. Kam Quarles, CEO of the National Potato Council and co-chair of the SCFBA, discussed the provisions that highlight various needs of the specialty crop industry. These include producers’ access to conservation programs, the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program …

Georgia Citrus Development Act Introduced

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U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff is leading the charge to support Georgia’s farmers and strengthen the state’s growing citrus industry. He introduced the Georgia Citrus Development Act of 2023 to ensure Georgia citrus growers are represented when guiding key decisions for the industry. Sen. Ossoff’s bill would add a new Georgia member to the Citrus Disease Subcommittee (CDS), a national policy …

Rubio, Colleagues Introduce Land Grant Research Prioritization Act

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U.S. Senators Marco Rubio (R-FL), Jon Ossoff (D-GA), and Raphael Warnock (D-GA) introduced bipartisan legislation last week to authorize the U.S. Department of Agriculture to make priority research grants available for land-grant universities to research and develop agricultural applications of artificial intelligence (AI), advanced mechanized harvester technologies, invasive species control and aquaculture. “Florida’s land-grant universities are constantly innovating to address …

USDA Provides Significant Support for American Producers, School Meal Providers and Emergency Food Operations

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Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced that the Biden-Harris Administration is providing $2.7 billion to support American farmers, students who participate in school meal programs, and emergency food operations. Through the USDA’s Commodity Credit Corporation, the Department will provide nearly $1.3 billion for states to purchase foods to be distributed to schools for their meal programs and nearly $1 billion for …

U.S. Representatives Introduce Fair Access to Agriculture Disaster Programs Act

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U.S. Representatives Jimmy Panetta of California and Kat Cammack of Florida have introduced bipartisan legislation to reduce income barriers that producers face in accessing agriculture disaster assistance. The Fair Access to Agriculture Disaster Programs Act aims to ensure that basic safety-net programs for producers are readily available to help full-time farmers recover following natural disasters. Current adjusted gross income (AGI) limitations disproportionately prohibit producers …