board members

Florida Cabinet Meeting Scheduled

Clint Thompson Florida, Legislative

Governor Ron DeSantis and the Florida Cabinet are scheduled to get together next week for their first meeting since the state started feeling the effects of the coronavirus pandemic. According to the News Service of Florida, DeSantis, Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried, Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis and Attorney General Ashley Moody are slated to meet May 28, according to information …

dtn

President Trump on New CFAP Program

Clint Thompson Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Legislative

During a special presentation at the White House Tuesday, President Trump announced details of the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP). According to a story from Gary Crawford, the program is designed to help farmers hurt by the COVID-19 pandemic. CFAP will provide vital financial assistance to producers of agricultural commodities who have suffered a 5%-or-greater price decline due to COVID-19 …

perdue

USDA Announces Details of Direct Assistance to Farmers Through Coronavirus Food Assistance Program

Clint Thompson Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Industry, Legislative

Farmers and Ranchers to Receive Direct Support for Losses Related to COVID-19 Contact: USDA PressEmail: press@oc.usda.gov (Washington, D.C., May 19, 2020) – U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue today announced details of the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP), which will provide up to $16 billion in direct payments to deliver relief to America’s farmers and ranchers impacted by the coronavirus …

great year

Alabama Cattlemen Tracking Legislative Session

Clint Thompson Alabama, Cattle, Legislative

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected the 2020 Alabama Legislative Session. But state lawmakers did meet to finalize a budget for the upcoming fiscal year. Alabama Cattlemen’s Association (ACA) Executive Director Erin Beasley explains where things stand with not only the budget, but other bills they have been tracking. For more information, contact the ACA office in Montgomery.

fried

Florida to Receive $23 Million in Aquaculture and Fisheries Assistance via CARES Act Stimulus

Clint Thompson Aquaculture, Florida, Legislative

Tallahassee, Fla. – The U.S. Department of Commerce has announced the allocation of $300 million in federal assistance for fisheries provided by the CARES Act stimulus package. These funds will be available for coastal and marine fishery participants negatively affected by COVID–19. Florida will receive $23.6 million of this funding to aid the state’s commercial fishing and aquaculture industries. The Florida Department of …

Bill Would Increase CCC Borrowing Authority

Clint Thompson Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Legislative

A bill introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives this week would expand the Commodity Credit Corporations annual borrowing authority. The legislation from Republican Representative Austin Scott of Georgia would raise the CCC’s borrowing authority from $30 billion to $68 billion. Scott says the move would give the Department of Agriculture greater flexibility to maintain farm bill programs that support …

treasury

Groups Ask Treasury Secretary to Guard Against Further Ag Consolidation

Clint Thompson Legislative

A coalition consisting of 68 farmer, environmental, and antitrust groups across the country sent a letter to Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin on consolidation. They’re asking him to ensure that pandemic relief funds do not lead to the further consolidation of the food and agriculture industry. The letter asks Mnuchin to invest the stimulus funds in farming systems that lift farmers …

commissioner

Alabama Farmers and Agribusinesses Eligible for Small Business Loans

Clint Thompson Alabama, Legislative

Alabama Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries Rick Pate wants to remind farmers and agribusinesses in the state facing unprecedented economic disruption due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, they are eligible for small business loans. The Department of Treasury and Small Business Administration (SBA) recently announced that farms and agribusinesses are eligible for Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans as long as …

Alabama Legislature Sets Next Meeting Date for April 28

Clint Thompson Alabama, Legislative

The 2020 Alabama Legislative session is still under way, but lawmakers have not been spending much time in Montgomery due to the COVID-19 crisis. Plus, Gov. Kay Ivey issued a statewide stay-at-home order a week ago. But, Alabama legislators did briefly meet back on March 31 to pass a joint resolution which gives leadership authority to set meeting times during …

georgia

Georgia Farm Recovery Program Sign-Up Ends April 8

Clint Thompson Georgia, Legislative

Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Gary Black wants to remind farmers and forest landowners affected by Hurricane Michael, sign-up for the Farm Recovery Program ends one week from today, April 8. Black told us the Georgia Department of Agriculture (GDA) encourages every producer in the state, no matter what you grow, to go to the Farm Recovery website to see if you …