U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Representatives Vern Buchanan (R-FL), Stephanie Murphy (D-FL), and Al Lawson (D-FL) led a bipartisan group of Senators and Representatives in a letter raising concerns to United States Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer regarding the lack of progress in the new U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) with respect to improved mechanisms to initiate and sustain legitimate anti-dumping and countervailing …
A Balancing Act
In the world of small business there is a constant balancing act between what needs to be done versus what can be properly achieved with the resources available. For a grower, this means some farm improvements may be put off while addressing the main priorities of producing and harvesting a marketable crop. In the sector of niche journalism, under which …
Inaugural Florida Industrial Hemp Conference & Exhibition
The Inaugural Florida Industrial Hemp Conference & Exhibition (FIHCE 2019) will be held November 3-5, 2019, at the Rosen Centre Hotel located in Orlando, Florida, USA. FIHCE 2019 is a networking and educational event designed to foster the development of an industrial hemp industry in Florida. Tentative conference topics include: • Hemp Market Forecast • Federal and State Regulations and …
GFVGA Keeping an Eye on D.C.
This year, the Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association (GFVGA) will be focusing on crucial legislation in Washington, D.C. Charles Hall, GFVGA executive director, says the two pieces of legislation the association will be focusing on the most are the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) and disaster relief. Hall says he is worried about the USMCA and is going to spend a …
Commissioner Nikki Fried Appoints Holly Bell as Director of Cannabis
Commissioner Nicole “Nikki” Fried announced her appointment of Holly Bell as the Director of Cannabis. Bell’s selection comes after a national search and interviews with multiple finalists for the position. In her role as Director of Cannabis, Bell will oversee the development of rules, work directly with scientific experts, and ensure Commissioner Fried’s vision for cannabis in Florida continues moving forward. Bell will work closely with the Department’s …
Industrial Hemp A Featured Topic at UF/IFAS Ag Policy Conference Feb. 26 in Balm
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Industrial hemp may soon be a financially significant crop in Florida, and an expert with the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences will discuss some of the challenges and opportunities related to this fledgling industry at the fourth annual Florida Agricultural Policy Outlook Conference in Balm. The conference happens 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. …
Desantis Urged to Help Farmers on Trade Deal
Incoming Gov. Ron DeSantis is being urged to use his close ties with President Donald Trump to bolster efforts to help Florida farmers fend off low-priced crop imports that weren’t addressed in the rewrite of the North American Free Trade Agreement. During a conference call last week, several members of DeSantis’ Transition Advisory Committee on the Environment, Natural Resources & …
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 …
Secretary Perdue Comments on Signing of USMCA
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue issued the following statement regarding the signing of the new trade pact, the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), replacing the outdated North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA): “I have often said that we live in the best neighborhood on Earth – North America – and the signing of a new trade agreement with Mexico and …
Lake Okeechobee Algae: A Decades-Long Debate Continues
As the Lake Okeechobee blue-green algae debate continues, it can be difficult to decipher the truth from misinformation. A debate that has now become a national news story has been decades in the making. The same arguments from north and south of the lake have been made throughout the debate’s history. The algae issues in the waterways on the east …