Brooksville, FL – Today, the Florida Blueberry Growers Association (FBGA) and Georgia Blueberry Growers Association (GBGA) sent a joint letter to their Congressmen asking that provisions to protect the blueberry industry of Florida and Georiga be included in North American Free Trade Agreement negotiations (NAFTA). “The Florida & Georgia Blueberry industries have experienced growth and stability in the recent past, however …
Uncertainty Remains in NAFTA Renegotiation Talks
The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) has been an ongoing issue since President Donald Trump took office. He has been clear about his distaste for NAFTA and the aspects of the agreement that allow for unfair trade practices. In 1994, NAFTA went into effect under the Clinton administration. The idea that came about in the 1980s under President Reagan …
Florida Tomatoes and Strawberries Feel the Heat from Mexican Imports
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 …
Chairman Conaway Introduces the Agriculture and Nutrition Act
Three years, 114 hearings, six listening sessions and countless industry meetings have laid the groundwork for the 2018 farm bill. The House Agriculture Committee delivered what it calls a strong farm bill for producers, consumers and all of rural America. After introducing the Agriculture and Nutrition Act of 2018 (H.R. 2) during a teleconference, House Agriculture Committee Chairman Michael Conaway …
Measuring Tariff Impacts on Specialty Crops
Chinese tariffs could have consequences on U.S. specialty crops. However, it may be difficult to determine exactly how much of an impact the tariffs will have on the industry. U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Rod Bain explores this issue with USDA Chief Economist Rob Johansson. Johansson discusses the types of tools that the USDA has that could help measure the …
Trump Pledges to Protect Farmers as He Considers More China Tariffs
A trade dispute with China has U.S. producers wondering how this will impact them and their businesses. Despite worrisome retaliation tariffs from China, President Trump and U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue vows to take care of America’s farmers and ranchers. Perdue says that he is under an order from President Trump to develop a plan to protect U.S. farmers …
Crop Insurance, Immigration Debate Critical for Produce Industry
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 …
Florida Farm Bureau Closely Monitoring AG Act
John Walt Boatright, national affairs coordinator for Florida Farm Bureau, recently gave a presentation at the Florida Agricultural Policy Outlook Conference on the immigration debate happening in Washington, D.C. “Florida Farm Bureau has been monitoring the current immigration debate primarily because of the inclusion of Chairman Goodlatte’s Agricultural Guestworker Act, also known as the AG Act,” Boatright said. The AG …
When Will NAFTA Renegotiations End?
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 Evolution of the Industry’s View on the Farm Bill
“We never wanted to be brought into the farm bill,” says Robert Guenther, senior vice president of public policy for the United Fresh Produce Association. He is speaking for the fruit and vegetable industry. “We were really focused on not wanting to become a subsidized commodity back in the day. That’s evolved,” he says. So, why the change? Guenther says …