By Clint Thompson A contentious issue at the heart of specialty crop farmers in Georgia and Florida is one of the Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance (SCFBA)’s main core principles for the 2023 Farm Bill. It focuses on trade and foreign competition which has frustrated fruit and vegetable growers for decades. Kam Quarles, CEO of the National Potato Council and …
Florida Orange Forecast Continues to Fall
February’s federal citrus forecast trimmed another 2 million boxes from Florida’s projected orange crop, dropping expected 2022–23 production to 16 million boxes. That’s an 11% drop from what had already been projected to be a historically low orange crop. The forecast was issued by the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Agricultural Statistics Service (USDA NASS). If the Florida orange forecast …
Legislation Introduced in Hurricane Relief Effort
Rep. Scott Franklin (FL-18), Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-25) and Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL) introduced the Block Grant Assistance Act of 2023, a critical bill to ensure the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) can provide needed relief to agriculture producers devastated by Hurricanes Ian and Nicole. This bill will provide the agriculture secretary needed authority to provide block grants to …
Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance Issues Recommendations for 2023 Farm Bill
By Clint Thompson The Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance (SCFBA), which comprises more than 200 specialty crop organizations representing growers of fruits, vegetables, dried fruit, tree nuts, nursery plants and other products, have released its recommendations for the 2023 Farm Bill. In a letter to Agriculture Committee leadership in the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate, the SCFBA …
Citrus Growers Called to Vote on Marketing Order Amendments
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will conduct a referendum April 3–May 1 on proposed amendments to the federal marketing order regulating the handling of oranges, grapefruit, tangerines and pummelos grown in Florida. Notice of the referendum was published in the Federal Register on Jan. 18, 2023. The proposed amendments would include reducing the size and quorum requirements of the Citrus …
2022 Census of Agriculture Deadline Fast Approaching
WASHINGTON –The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) reminds specialty crop producers that the deadline to respond to the 2022 Census of Agriculture is Monday, Feb. 6. Producers can respond online at agcounts.usda.gov or by mail. NASS mailed the Census of Agriculture questionnaires last week to every known ag producer in the U.S. and Puerto Rico. The ag census …
2022 Census of Agriculture due Feb. 6
WASHINGTON –The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) reminds specialty crop producers that the deadline to respond to the 2022 Census of Agriculture is Monday, Feb. 6. Producers can respond online at agcounts.usda.gov or by mail. NASS mailed the Census of Agriculture questionnaires last week to every known ag producer in the U.S. and Puerto Rico. The …
Deadline Looming for Food Safety Certification for Specialty Crops Program
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) reminds specialty crop farmers that assistance is available to help cover expenses of complying with regulatory and market-driven food safety certification requirements. Applications for the Food Safety Certification for Specialty Crops (FSCSC) program for eligible 2022 costs are due by Tuesday, Jan. 31. The USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) will accept applications for 2023 …
Sweet Corn Seminar Focused on South Florida Production
By Frank Giles Florida produces more sweet corn for the fresh market than any other state. About 37,000 acres of the crop are planted in Florida with more than half of that coming from the Palm Beach County/Everglades Agricultural Area (EAA). This year’s crop got off to a shaky start after experiencing heavy rains and winds from Hurricanes Ian and …
U.S. Trade Representative Acknowledges Problem With Rising Imports
By Clint Thompson The U.S. trade representative (USTR) promised specialty crop producers help but not an investigation into imports of Mexican produce. For one industry leader, that is at least an acknowledgement that Southeast fruit and vegetable producers are suffering from unfair trade practices. “The fact that they’ve agreed to set up a stakeholder committee is an acknowledgment that they …