Florida Tomatoes and Strawberries Feel the Heat from Mexican Imports

Web AdminBerries, Legislative, NAFTA, Top Posts

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 …

specialty crop farm bill

Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance Announces Farm Bill Priorities

Web AdminIndustry News Release

More than 120 organizations urge Congress to support key nutrition, block grant and research programs. The Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance (SCFBA), a national coalition of more than 120 specialty crop organizations, has announced its 2018 farm bill priorities focusing on programs for a healthier America heading into Wednesday’s U.S. House Agriculture Committee meeting on the farm bill. The SCFBA …

Crop Insurance, Immigration Debate Critical for Produce Industry

Web AdminLabor, Legislative, Top Posts

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 …

When Will NAFTA Renegotiations End?

Web AdminLegislative, NAFTA, Top Posts, Trade

Renegotiation talks for the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) began in August 2017. Representatives from the United States, Canada and Mexico complete the seventh round of talks on March 6 in Mexico City. John VanSickle, a professor of food and resource economics at the University of Florida, recently gave a NAFTA update at the Florida Agricultural Policy Outlook Conference. …

The Four Newest Members to the Florida Agricultural Hall of Fame

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Four more Florida agricultural leaders were inducted into the Florida Agricultural Hall of Fame on Feb. 13. Florida Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam presented the inductees with their awards, while Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Gary Black served as the master of ceremonies during the banquet. In a room filled with agricultural leaders from across the state, Alfonso and J. Pepe Fanjul, Lowell …

Plant Biostimulants Looking for Federal Definition

Web AdminResearch, Seeds, Top Posts

By Brian German There is an ongoing effort to get a concrete definition for what plant biostimulants are officially classified as. The need for a clearly outlined definition is due to the broad range of what can be considered a biostimulant. Beaudreau “Biostimulants can mean a number of different things,” said Executive Director of the U.S. Biostimulant Coalition David Beaudreau. …

E-Verify Could Mean Trouble for Growers

Web AdminLabor, Legislative, Top Posts

E-Verify was once a part of U.S. Congressman Goodlatte’s Agriculture Guestworker Act (AG Act), but now E-Verify is a standalone piece of legislation. According to Amy Wolfe, president and CEO of AgSafe, this separation could mean trouble for growers. Wolfe compares E-Verify to a digital I-9 form. “It’s (e-verify) the online, instant feedback equivalent to I-9. We’ve all filled out …

Putnam on Disaster Funding for Florida Agriculture

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Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam issued the following statement after the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives passed a spending bill that includes more than $2.3 billion for agricultural assistance: “The passage of this spending bill is a critical first step to finally getting Florida’s farmers, ranchers and growers long-awaited and desperately needed relief. Without this emergency assistance, …

Conaway Warns of Crop Insurance Fight

Web AdminLegislative, Top Posts

A crop insurance fight may be on the horizon as the farm bill gets crafted. Congressman and House Agriculture Committee Chair Michael Conaway spoke about the potential fight at the 2018 Crop Insurance Industry Convention in Scottsdale, Arizona. “There’s a fight ahead perhaps on crop insurance,” Conaway told AgNet Media’s Gary Cooper. “The renewal of the farm bill will give …

Bill Seeks Tighter Scrutiny of Organic Products

Web AdminLegislative, Organic, Top Posts

By Brian German Congress will be reviewing legislation that would establish greater oversight for organic products.  The bill, known as the Organic Farmer and Consumer Protection Act, was introduced by Rep. John J. Faso (R-NY) and has 33 House cosponsors. The bill aims to update organic import documentation with new technology and create stricter enforcement of organic products coming into …