(NSF) — Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried wants the federal government to act as quickly as possible to deliver part of a new stimulus package to aid farmers. In a letter to U.S. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue this week, Fried said many of Florida’s 47 thousand growers are sitting on surpluses of products as restaurants and other establishments have closed …
Farmers and Other Essential Food Production Workers will Carry Permission Letters during COVID-19 Shutdown
(U.S. Sugar) — All U.S. Sugar employees and suppliers who have been deemed essential to the nation’s food supply and national security will begin carrying authorization letters to inform authorities that they are approved to be out of their homes and working. “Our farmers, workers and other essential food production vendors will continue working around the clock to keep safe, …
Commissioner Nikki Fried Letter to USDA Secretary Perdue: Ensure Farmers Are “Not Left Behind”
(FDACS) — Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nicole “Nikki” Fried sent a letter to U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue requesting flexibility to help move Florida perishable crops quickly to food banks, school meal programs, and other federal food purchase programs. With many restaurants and food service establishments closed, Florida agricultural producers are facing a sudden market decline for fresh commodities ready to be harvested such …
NPPC Cancels 2020 World Pork Expo
Next Year’s WPX Set for June 9-11, 2021 (NPPC) — The National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) announced that its board of directors has decided to cancel the 2020 World Pork Expo in June due to COVID-19 human health concerns. World Pork Expo 2021 is scheduled for June 9-11 at the Iowa State Fairgrounds. “While deeply disappointed to cancel this year’s …
UF Plant and Soil Diagnostic Labs Essential to Florida Agriculture, Economy During COVID-19
(UF/IFAS) — In the time of COVID-19, plants still get sick, and the soil that nourishes them needs care. The health of plants and soil is critical to agriculture, an industry designated an essential service in response to the pandemic. That’s why, when many American universities have transitioned to online-only and their employees adapt to working from home, scientists at …
Florida Forestry Keeps the Toilet Paper Rolling
(UF/IFAS) — Forest products contribute to a large and valuable industry for the state of Florida – altogether comprising the state’s largest agricultural commodity. This includes primary and secondary product industries that range from lumber to, you guessed it, toilet paper. With stores struggling to maintain supply in toilet paper aisles and many Floridians now under stay-at-home orders, shoppers can …
Flexibilities Added for Crop Insurance to Support America’s Farmers and Ranchers
RMA Offering Remote Assistance and Authorizing Additional Flexibility for Producers (USDA/RMA) — USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA) is authorizing additional flexibilities due to coronavirus while continuing to support producers, working through Approved Insurance Providers (AIPs) to deliver services, including processing policies, claims and agreements. These flexibilities include: enabling producers to send notifications and reports electronically, extending the date for production …
Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner. Releases New Videos to Address Misconceptions About the Beef Industry
(NCBA) — In the latest effort to address myths about beef production and nutrition, Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner., managed by the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, a contractor to the Beef Checkoff, has released a new video series, ‘Real Facts About Real Beef.’ The videos highlight real farmers and ranchers and other beef experts candidly addressing some of the most common misconceptions …
State Beef Councils Win Major Legal Victory
(NCBA) — The Beef Checkoff program and fifteen grassroots-led state beef councils won a major court victory when the United States District Court of Montana ruled in favor of USDA and the Montana Beef Council in the matter of R-CALF vs. Sonny Perdue and USDA. NCBA praised the court’s decision, which ends a legal battle that has spanned more than …
COVID-19 Update for Growers and Packers
(UF/IFAS) — The CDC, FDA and USDA all agree “Currently, there is no evidence of food or food packaging being associated with transmission of COVID-19”, including imported foods and materials. FDA has issued guidance that if an employee tests positive for COVID-19 they “do not anticipate that food products would need to be recalled or be withdrawn from the market”. Citrus growers, harvesters, packers, …