Peanut Butter Challenge Back on Track After Hurricane Michael Recovery

(UF/IFAS) — Last year’s UF/IFAS Extension Peanut Butter Challenge was just getting started when Hurricane Michael hit the Florida Panhandle. As the communities dealt with the aftermath and UF/IFAS Extension offices became collection points for all varieties of donations, the annual peanut butter jar collection became less of a focus than the many items of need during recovery. This year’s …

Battle to Claim Credit for Final Version of USMCA

(NAFB) — While the U.S-Mexico-Canada Trade Agreement (USMCA) did pass in the U.S. House on Thursday, both Republicans and Democrats claimed credit for the final version of the pact. Agri-Pulse says Republican lawmakers piled their praise upon President Trump for demanding that the North American Free Trade Agreement be renegotiated. However, Democrats say the changes they demanded were what made …

Pleased With House Passage of USMCA

Many in agriculture were quick to praise the U.S. House of Representatives’ approval of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) Thursday, after the measure passed by a vote of 385-41. National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) Director of International Trade and Market Access, Kent Bacus, said this agreement strengthens our trade relationships with Canada and Mexico. Bacus looks ahead to the agreement’s prospects in the U.S. Senate …

House, Senate, Pass Ag Spending Package

(NAFB) — The House and Senate this week came together in passage of spending bills for fiscal year 2020. Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Richard Shelby, an Alabama Republican, says, “bipartisan cooperation has made this possible.” The spending package for agriculture includes $23.5 billion in discretionary funding, $451 million above fiscal year 2019 enacted levels. It also includes $1.5 billion in …

Groups Respond to Passage of USMCA

America’s Cattle Producers Hail House Passage Of USMCA NCBA Urges Senate to Swiftly Follow House’s Lead (NCBA) — National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) President Jennifer Houston issued the following statement regarding the U.S. House of Representatives’ approval of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) by a vote of 385-41: “This was a crucial win for all U.S. beef producers and a reassurance …

USMCA Leaves Florida Producers Out in the Cold

Congressman Ted S. Yoho (R-FL), member of the House Agriculture Committee, released the following statement after voting ‘no’ on the shortfalls of the USMCA agreement for Florida farmers.  “NAFTA was originally created to remove traditional trade barriers and facilitate economic growth amongst the U.S., Canada and Mexico. Our great state of Florida is one of the biggest agriculture partners in …

USMCA Vote Moves Deal Closer to Ratification

The U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) continues forward progress with the House of Representatives passing the trade deal by a large margin. The USMCA vote was 385 to 41 in favor of moving the legislation closer to ratification by the Senate.  Several agricultural groups have issued statements of support and appreciation for moving the agreement through Congress. “The USMCA will provide continuity …

Commissioner Nikki Fried Comments on House Passage of USMCA

(FDACS) — The U.S. House passed the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Trade Agreement (USMCA). In response, Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nicole “Nikki” Fried offered the following statement: “It is deeply disappointing that seasonal protections were not included in this USMCA implementing legislation. For nearly a year, I have called repeatedly for effective, timely relief from unfair trade practices for America’s seasonal produce growers in the USMCA. …

Nearly 170,000 Giant African Land Snails Eradicated in Eight Years

(FDACS) — For more than eight years, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) have been working cooperatively to eradicate the giant African land snail from Miami-Dade and Broward Counties. During that time, over 168,500 snails have been collected in 32 core areas of Miami-Dade County, and in one area of …