Florida Growers Encourage Legislators to Prioritize Hurricane Relief

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Hurricane recovery assistance was top of mind when citrus growers met with U.S. Sen. Rick Scott and U.S. Rep. Scott Franklin April 11 in Highlands County. “The primary topic of conversation during the roundtable was encouraging Sen. Scott and Congressman Franklin to do everything in their power to get the Block Grant Assistance Act passed through Congress as quickly as …

Legislation Creates TEAM Card to Lessen Sales Tax

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Recently filed state legislation would create a Florida Farm Tax Exempt Agricultural Materials (TEAM) card to be used for sales-tax-exempt purchases of agricultural materials. The filing was announced by Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson, state Sen. Jay Collins, state Rep. Danny Alvarez and agriculture stakeholders. “The Florida Farm TEAM Card will help to alleviate burdens felt by farmers and …

HCCGA Annual Meeting Addresses Disaster Relief

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The Highlands Country Citrus Growers Association (HCCGA) held its annual meeting in early March, celebrating 33 years of service to its membership. The event turned out a packed house in Sebring, with growers optimistic despite a challenging season. Matt Joyner, executive vice president and chief executive officer of Florida Citrus Mutual, spoke during the event and outlined a busy list …

First Step Taken to Establish a Georgia Citrus Commission

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By Clint Thompson The Georgia House of Representatives Agriculture & Consumer Affairs Committee passed legislation that would establish a Georgia Citrus Commission. It must now go to the House Rules Committee before being discussed in the Senate. A citrus commission would be a huge step for an industry that has already exploded in Georgia, said Lindy Savelle, president of the …

FFVA Sends Letter to EPA About TM Fungicide

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The Florida Fruit and Vegetable Association (FFVA) submitted comments last week to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in response to the agency’s proposed interim registration review decision for thiophanate-methyl (TM) fungicide. Strawberry, cucurbit vegetable, succulent bean, potato and peach producers, including FFVA members, benefit from the fungicide, as it manages and suppresses key diseases. These include white mold, crown rot, …

Legislation Introduced in Hurricane Relief Effort

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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 …

Senate Labor Act Left Out of Omnibus Deal

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By Frank Giles On Dec. 22, the U.S. Senate passed the omnibus appropriations bill. The $1.7 trillion measure would fund the federal government through the remainder of 2023. The measure now moves to the U.S. House of Representatives for a vote to avoid a government shutdown on the evening of Dec. 23. Much to the dismay of farm groups nationwide, …

No Ag Labor Reform in Omnibus Package

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By Frank Giles On Dec. 22, the U.S. Senate passed the omnibus appropriations bill. The $1.7 trillion measure would fund the federal government through the remainder of 2023. The measure now moves to the U.S. House of Representatives for a vote to avoid a government shutdown on the evening of Dec. 23. Much to the dismay of farm groups nationwide, …

GFVGA Supports Senate Bill

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By Clint Thompson The Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association (GFVGA) supports the bill introduced in the Senate last week, titled the Affordable and Secure Food Act of 2022 (ASFA). The organization is also calling for members to contact Georgia’s two U.S. Senators this week to express support for the bill. Senator Michael Bennett (D-CO) introduced the Senate version of …

Alabama Extension Economist Skeptical About Senate Bill’s Passage

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By Clint Thompson Specialty crop interest groups were encouraged by the introduction of the Affordable and Secure Food Act of 2022 (ASFA) last week. The Senate bill would freeze the Adverse Effect Wage Rate (AEWR) at the 2022 rates for one year and cap future increases by 3%, something that the Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association and Florida Fruit …