Biden-Harris Administration Partners with Producers to Strength Ag Supply Chains

Clint ThompsonLegislative

WASHINGTON – As part of the inaugural meeting of the White House Council on Supply Chain Resilience, President Biden and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack announced last week that the USDA is making investments that will strengthen American food and agriculture supply chains, expand markets for producers and lower food costs. “The Biden-Harris Administration is championing America’s …

AEWR Increases for Southeast Region

Clint ThompsonLabor

Florida’s new Adverse Effect Wage Rate (AEWR) for 2024 is expected to increase by 3% from $14.33 to $14.77, according to results from the most recent Farm Labor Survey that was released last week. As part of the Southeast that includes Georgia, Alabama and South Carolina, Georgia expects a 7% rise in its AEWR, increasing from $13.67 to $14.66. Georgia’s …

FLSP Application Deadline Extended

Clint ThompsonUSDA

Southeast specialty crop producers should be mindful that the application deadline for the Farm Labor Stabilization and Protection Pilot Program (FLSP) has been extended. Applications now must be submitted by Wednesday, Jan. 3, 2024. The pilot grant program is awarding up to $65 million in American Rescue Plan Act funding to support agricultural employers in implementing robust labor standards that …

specialty crop

Undersecretary Keys in on Specialty Crop Trade

Dan CooperExports/Imports, Specialty Crops, Trade

While meeting with reporters at the National Association of Farm Broadcasting annual convention, USDA Undersecretary for Trade, Alexis Taylor, keyed in on trade missions that could be particularly beneficial to the nation’s specialty crop industries. Taylor said funding from the USDA will also help the industry with trade challenges. “In addition to some market development work, we’re doing a hundred …

Specialty Crop Priorities for the Farm Bill

Web AdminFarm Bill, Specialty Crops

By Sabrina Halvorson Since the beginning of the year, the big question about the farm bill has been when it will get done. But specialty crop growers have said all along that there is no question about what needs to be done. AIMING FOR FAIR SHARE“We want to be treated equally,” said Rebeckah Adcock, International Fresh Produce Association (IFPA) vice …

GFVGA Optimistic New Farm Bill to be in Place Sooner Rather than Later

Web AdminFarm Bill, Georgia

By Clint Thompson The Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association (GFVGA) remains optimistic that a new farm bill will be in place sooner rather than later. Even amid the delays with the election of a new Speaker of the House, Chris Butts, executive vice president of the GFVGA believes Mike Johnson’s election as the new speaker will help expedite the …

Support for Young, Beginning and Small Growers

Web AdminAgri-business

By Frank Giles Last month, we celebrated National Farmers’ Day. The day was recognized with the expected expressions of gratitude on social media and other platforms. But I also noted that a few used the day to raise the topic of the aging population of growers. The graying of the audience (myself included) doesn’t go unnoticed at the farm meetings …

Vilsack Speaks on Possible Extension to Farm Bill

Web AdminFarm Bill

By Clint Thompson The chances of an extension to the 2018 Farm Bill increases every day that legislative leaders fail to pass a new one. That is the outlook shared by Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack, who spoke on the subject last Tuesday. “Each day that goes by without a speaker, without a budget and without a Farm Bill, the likelihood …

Crop Insurance Deadline is Nov. 20 For Florida Blueberries and Whole-Farm Revenue Protection

Web AdminBlueberries, USDA

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Risk Management Agency (RMA) reminds Florida blueberry producers that the deadline to apply for crop insurance coverage for the 2024 crop year is Nov. 20. Growers who are interested in the Whole-Farm Revenue Protection policy and are late fiscal year filers have until Nov. 20 to apply for crop insurance. Current policyholders who wish to …

Wage Rate

GFVGA Advises Growers to Carefully Consider FLSP Program

Web AdminLabor, USDA

By Clint Thompson The Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association (GFVGA) cautions its specialty crop producers about participating in the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farm Labor Stabilization and Protection Pilot Program (FLSP Program). The GFVGA wants growers to carefully consider what is required of their farming operations to participate in the grant program that will use up to $65 million …