By Karla Arboleda Two individual reports from the University of Florida (UF) and University of Georgia (UGA) say that the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) could lead to economic losses in both Florida and Georgia, respectively, if it is ratified by Congress. The renegotiation of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) has been ratified in Mexico, and the United States …
New Proposal Makes H-2A More User Friendly
The H-2A program is set to be revamped. President Trump recently announced that the Department of Labor (DOL) will start the modernization process for the H-2A guest worker program. The DOL published a formal rule change, stating “it should streamline and simplify the H-2A application process, strengthen protections for U.S. and foreign workers, and ease unnecessary burdens on employers.” DOL announced on …
Hemp Pesticides Get Approved in South Carolina
By Karla Arboleda Hemp growers in South Carolina received a list of pesticides permitted for use on their crops. Earlier this month, the Department of Pesticide Regulation approved a list of pesticides from section 25(b) under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act administered through the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Steve Cole, director for regulatory public service programs for Clemson …
New Tool to Navigate the H-2A Program
Navigating the H-2A program can be confusing and cumbersome. But, thanks to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), growers applying to the program now have a new tool in the form of an interactive H-2A checklist. According to Kaveh Sadeghzadeh, deputy director of communications for USDA farm production and conservation, “The H-2A checklist tool is the first phase of an …
2019 Legislative Sessions Wrap-Up
The 2019 legislative sessions in Florida, Georgia and Alabama have officially ended. Each year, agriculture advocates from all three states work tirelessly to fight for their industry. This article serves as a summary of how agriculture fared in the Florida, Georgia and Alabama sessions. Florida: Some Success, but More Work to Be Done By Adam Basford Going into the 2019 …
Florida Meetings Increase Hemp Hype
The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) recently held a series of workshops on the status of an industrial hemp industry in Florida. Since the passage of the 2018 farm bill, growers throughout the state have been wondering how and when they can begin producing the crop. The question-and-answer meetings were designed to address uncertainties and introduce a …
Hemp Regulations Still in the Works
By Karla Arboleda The National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) is ready to see industrial hemp production take off, but there are a few things that need to happen first. What to know Aline DeLucia, senior director of public policy for NASDA, says the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will review state plans once regulations are in place, …
UF/IFAS Vice President to Retire in 2020
By Karla Arboleda After serving nearly 10 years as the senior vice president for agriculture and natural resources with the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS), Jack Payne announced he will retire next year. His last day with UF/IFAS will be July 1, 2020. Payne has overseen Extension offices across Florida and its 12 research and …
Georgia Crop Insurance Program Expands; Deadlines Approaching
By Karla Arboleda Growers in Georgia will soon be facing deadlines to secure their crop insurance. The U.S Department of Agriculture (USDA) Risk Management Agency (RMA) office in Valdosta, Georgia, is reminding growers of deadlines related to their crop insurance and new counties that have been added to the program. Davina Lee, USDA RMA regional office director, highlights important dates …
Perdue Sets the Record Straight on USMCA
While the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) awaits ratification, southeastern growers and industry groups continue to voice their concerns about the agreement. USMCA, the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) rewrite, did not include provisions protecting southeastern producers from what some call unfair trade practices from Mexico. During a recent press conference, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue addressed these claims in …