This July 4 should not just be about grilling hamburgers and hot dogs. Vegetables can work just fine on the outdoor grill, says Sandy Proctor, Extension food expert with Kansas State University. She discussed the idea of cooking fresh veggies this holiday season. “I think grilled vegetables are really an opportunity to show what you can do on the grill …
Disaster Declaration Key for Georgia Peach Producers
By Clint Thompson A natural disaster declaration for 18 Georgia counties by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is vital assistance for peach producers impacted by the mid-March freeze. Chris Butts, executive vice president of the Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association, discussed how important this declaration is for his growers who suffered near 100% loss. “What the declaration does …
CRAFT a Popular Program for GrowersÂ
During the Florida Citrus Industry Annual Conference earlier this month, Tamara Wood, executive director of the Citrus Research and Field Trial (CRAFT) Foundation, gave an update on a new phase of the CRAFT program. Started in 2019, CRAFT was initially focused on new plantings. The program helps growers cover the cost of new plantings if they agree to an experimental …
U.S. Representatives Introduce Fair Access to Agriculture Disaster Programs Act
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 …
S.C. Department of Agriculture to Hold Listening Call About Infrastructure Needs
COLUMBIA – The South Carolina (S.C.) Department of Agriculture will host a listening call regarding the Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure (RFSI) cooperative agreement on Wednesday, June 28. The purpose of the program is to build resilience in the middle of the food supply chain; to provide more and better markets to small farms and food businesses; and to support the …
Protect Your Production
By Clint Thompson Florida’s climate allows growers to produce more than 300 different specialty crops. Unfortunately, that same environment can lead to various factors which can negatively impact production every year. Producers should prepare for the possibility every season that their crop could be impacted by weather events like hurricanes or tornadoes, as well as invasive species, plant diseases and …
Federal Assistance: Alabama Producers in 51 Counties Eligible for Disaster Assistance
By Clint Thompson A pair of March freeze events devastated fruit and vegetable crops in Alabama. Specialty crop producers in 51 counties in Alabama have been found eligible for disaster assistance from the Farm Service Agency (FSA). The U.S. Department of Agriculture included 51 counties in its recent Crop Production Loss Disaster Declaration. Primary affected areas include Baldwin, Blount, Chilton, …
Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance Endorses Disaster Relief, Mechanization Bills
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 last week the following legislation that will be considered during the 2023 Farm Bill discussions: The SCFBA was established to advocate for broad-based Farm Bill policy initiatives to …
Agricultural Trade Mission to Japan
A country known for its many purchases of U.S. agricultural products could soon become a greater buyer following an agricultural trade mission (ATM). Under Secretary of Agriculture for Trade Alexis Taylor brought almost 40 U.S. food companies and commodity groups to Japan in hopes of boosting farm and food exports to the country. “I heard a lot of real positive …
Block Grant Assistance Act Passes
Rep. Scott Franklin (FL-18) announced the House of Representatives passed the Block Grant Assistance Act on June 12. This critical bill provides needed authority for the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to issue block grants to growers devastated by Hurricanes Ian and Nicole. It now heads to the Senate for consideration. Those supporting the Block Grant Assistance Act include Florida Commissioner of …