By Carl Purvis, USDA In this Ask the Expert, Charles Stephens, Associate Deputy Administrator, Specialty Crops Program, for USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) answers a few questions on how the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP) can assist specialty crop growers. What is the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP)? CFAP provides direct payments to producers to offset price declines and additional …
Collins Statement on Trump Administration Requesting Investigation into Mexico’s Unfair Trade Practices
GAINESVILLE, Ga. — Rep. Doug Collins (R-Ga.) released the following statement after the Trump Administration released a 28-page report detailing how it would address threats that increased imports pose to American producers of seasonal and perishable fruits and vegetables. The report also requested a U.S. International Trade Commission investigation into blueberry imports from Mexico, which have long harmed blueberry farmers in …
High Tech Farming Coming to Hampton County, S.C.
$314 Million Agriculture Technology Campus a Big Win for Local Food COLUMBIA – A 1,000-acre agribusiness cluster in Hampton County, South Carolina will employ 1,547 people in growing, packing and shipping tomatoes, leafy greens, blueberries and other fresh produce – using a cutting-edge approach called Controlled Environment Agriculture. The $314 million Agriculture Technology Campus is a joint venture encompassing multiple …
NCDA&CS, WNC Communities Sign Proclamation to Continue Hemlock Restoration Initiative
RALEIGH – North Carolina Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler today co-signed a proclamation with Jennifer Ferre, the executive director of WNC Communities, in which both leaders pledge continued support for the Hemlock Restoration Initiative. Troxler first announced the allocation of seed funding for the initiative in March of 2014. Since then, collaboration with WNC Communities has resulted in positive momentum in …
FSGA Applauds USTR Plan for ‘Seasonal and Perishable’ Farmers
Dover, Fla.- The Florida Strawberry Growers Association (FSGA) is grateful to USTR Ambassador (Robert) Lighthizer, USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue, and Secretary Wilbur Ross at the Commerce Department for keeping their word to find a way to bring meaningful trade relief to Florida strawberry growers who have suffered legitimate injury from subsidized imports from Mexico. “This administration has embraced an issue …
Vidalia Onion Production Meeting Next Friday, Sept. 11
The annual Vidalia Onion Production Meeting will be held virtually this year on Friday, Sept. 11, beginning at 9:30 a.m. The topics that will be covered include variety trial review, flavor updates, nitrogen fertility management and onion disease management. Everyone who wants to attend the meeting online will need to register before. Registered participants will receive a link the day …
Auburn Economist Encouraged by Federal Agencies’ Plan of Action
One economist in the Southeast is encouraged by the plan to address the threat of increased foreign imports to U.S. producers of seasonal fruits and vegetables. Adam Rabinowitz, Auburn University Assistant Professor and Extension economist, believes the hearings held in August for Florida and Georgia producers opened communications and led to a report released by the Office of the U.S. …
Commissioner Black Pleased with Announcement from USTR
Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Gary Black is pleased farmers and agricultural leaders have a seat at the decision-making table again. The agreement to have the August hearings that focused on unfair trade practices involving foreign produce and included testimonies from farmers and industry leaders from Florida and Georgia was a “positive step,” he said. This led to a plan of action, …
Florida Fruit and Vegetable Association Commends USTR
MAITLAND, FL (Sept. 1, 2020) – The Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association commended the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Commerce on Tuesday for their plan to begin remedying the immense harm to produce growers in Florida and elsewhere caused by unfair trade practices and harmful import volumes from Mexico and other …
Fried Issues Statement on USTR Announcement on Mexico’s Trade Practices
Tallahassee, Fla. – After Tuesday’s announcement from the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) on the administration’s plan to address the threat posed by unfair trade practices and increased foreign imports, Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried issued the following statement: “I appreciate the USTR’s recognition of the decades-long suffering endured by both Florida and America’s seasonal producers due to unfair Mexican trade practices — this …