(NSF) — Florida Forever, the state’s signature land-preservation program, will get a sizable, one-time boost in funding as lawmakers inched closer Sunday to patching together an estimated $92 billion budget for next fiscal year. House and Senate negotiators also agreed to keep alive an economic development fund backed by Gov. Ron DeSantis but cut spending on the program. The $100 …
Oliva: Senate E-Verify Plan Un-American
(NSF) — House Speaker José Oliva on Saturday blasted a plan that would give Gov. Ron DeSantis’ administration the power to randomly audit private businesses to ensure they are not hiring undocumented workers. DeSantis and the Senate have settled on a proposal that would give his administration the authority to audit Florida employers to ensure they are verifying workers’ legal …
Senate Rolls Out Last Minute E-Verify ‘Compromise’
(NSF) — A last-minute deal on E-Verify emerged in the Senate on Friday, moving the Republican-dominated Legislature closer to giving Gov. Ron DeSantis a win on a key campaign promise. After weeks of negotiating with the governor’s office and reviewing a House proposal, Senate bill sponsor Tom Lee said Friday the Senate earlier that day had reached a “compromise” that …
House Approves DeSantis’ Call to Hike Environmental Fines
(NSF) — The Florida Legislature is close to approving Gov. Ron DeSantis’ push to boost fines on environmental lawbreakers. The House, with little comment, voted 106-0 on Friday to pass a proposal (HB 1091) that would make numerous changes in the amounts and duration of penalties for violating Florida environmental laws. The Senate put on hold a similar proposal (SB …
USDA Announces Action Plan at Pork Forum
(USDA/APHIS) — The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs, Greg Ibach announced additional measures to control and eradicate African Swine Fever (ASF) if the virus is ever detected in the U.S. “First and foremost, USDA is committed to doing all it can to prevent ASF from entering the U.S. and we greatly appreciate the …
Annual Meat Conference Exhibitors Donate to Nashville Food Project
(NAMI) — Exhibitors at the Annual Meat Conference , co-hosted by FMI, The Food Industry Association and the North American Meat Institute (Meat Institute), this week in Nashville, Tennessee, donated 28,000 pounds of meat and poultry products to The Nashville Food Project , a nonprofit that seeks to increase access to healthy foods in homeless and working poor communities across Davidson County, Tennessee. The donation will provide 90,000 …
DeSantis Sides With Senate on E-Verify
(NSF) — Gov. Ron DeSantis is backing the Senate in a heated fight over E-Verify, a move that could tip the scale in a contentious immigration battle as the 2020 legislative session draws to a close. Senate President Bill Galvano said his chamber is ready to consider legislation that was negotiated between Sen. Tom Lee, who is sponsoring the bill, …
USDA to Open Signup for Conservation Reserve Program Grasslands
(USDA/FSA) — Farmers and ranchers may apply to enroll grasslands in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) Grasslands signup beginning March 16. The signup runs through May 15. “Through this CRP Grasslands signup, farmers and ranchers can protect grasslands, rangelands and pastures, while maintaining the land as working grazing lands,” said Richard Fordyce, Administrator of USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA). “The …
Protein Exports Piling up in U.S. Due to Coronavirus
(NAFB) — The spread of coronavirus is causing a glut of protein in U.S. cold-storage facilities. The Wall Street Journal says the protein backup includes pork, chicken, and beef intended for export to overseas markets that have been hit by the outbreak. The quantity of breasts, thigh meat, and drumsticks has grown by 12 percent through the first month of …
Ag Economy Barometer Hits All-Time High
(NAFB) — Producers’ perceptions of improved current conditions in the agricultural economy pushed the Purdue University/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer to a record high. The index rose to 168 in February, an increase of one point from January, and was 18 points higher than in December of 2019. This month’s increase came about largely because of the improvement in the …