Governor Ron DeSantis announced nearly $13 million has been awarded through the Florida Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan for agricultural producers. More than 70 applications have been approved from farmers in Bay, Calhoun, Franklin, Gadsden, Gulf, Holmes, Jackson, Jefferson, Leon, Liberty, Okaloosa, Wakulla, Walton and Washington counties. “We remain committed to utilizing all available resources to help Floridians continuing to …
UF Offers New Horticultural Therapy Course with Certificate Program to Follow
GAINESVILLE, Fla. (UF/CALS) – As a junior psychology major at the University of Florida, Emily Fradet looked for ways to gain more hands-on experience in clinical psychology, counseling and therapy treatment of patients. She stumbled upon a new fall 2019 introductory course in horticultural therapy while searching for intriguing electives. “I’m interested in alternative forms of therapy, so I thought …
Senate Passes the Family Farmer Relief Act
(NAFB) — The Senate passed the Family Farmer Relief Act of 2019 late last week. It’s a bill that will expand family farmers’ access to relief under Chapter 12 farm bankruptcy rules by increasing the debt limit from $4.2 million to $10 million. The House of Representatives passed the bill earlier last week and it now moves on to President …
Senators Introduce Legislation to Redefine WOTUS
(NAFB) — Senators Joni Ernst of Iowa and Mike Braun of Indiana introduced the Define WOTUS Act last week. Feedstuffs Dot Com says the legislation will codify a definition of the Waters of the U.S. (WOTUS) Rule and reassert Congressional authority to define the term. Ernst says the Obama-era rule threatened Iowa’s farmers, manufacturers, and small businesses by giving the …
More Trade Negotiations Not Tariffs
(NAFB) — President Trump’s planned new tariff on all remaining Chinese exports to the U.S. is not going over well with American agriculture, despite the patience of many in farming with the tariff war, so far. A new 10 percent tariff on all remaining $300 billion in China’s exports to the U.S. will start September first because China gave no …
Young Farmers Cultivate Success In Statewide Contests
(ALFA) — Young farmers cultivated success — and scored more than $80,000 in prizes — during contests at the Alabama Farmers Federation’s 47th Commodity Producers Conference in Chattanooga Aug. 3. Luke Smelley won the 2019 Outstanding Young Farm Family (OYFF) competition. Judges visited his Hale County catfish, cattle and hay farm this summer, after finalists were named in March. Smelley …
State Revives Red Tide Task Force
(NSF) — A task force focused on red tide outbreaks along the Gulf Coast has been reorganized within the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Gov. Ron DeSantis announced the revised panel, tasked with studying the causes of red tide, during a press conference Friday at the SandBar Tiki & Grille in Englewood. The panel, comprised of researchers and scientists, …
Secretary Perdue Statement on U.S. and E.U. Beef Agreement
WASHINGTON, D.C. (USDA) – U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue issued the following statement after an agreement was signed between the United States and the European Union regarding beef trade between the two nations: “Getting more US beef into the EU market is yet another example of President Trump expanding markets around the globe for our agriculture producers. EU consumers …
NCBA Hails Increased Access to European Markets for U.S. Beef
WASHINGTON (NCBA) — Jennifer Houston, President of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA), joined President Trump and other NCBA officers at a White House signing ceremony for an agreement that will establish a duty-free quota for high-quality American beef in the European Union (EU). Houston released the following statement after the event: “This is a good day for America’s cattlemen …
Ag Commissioner Gary Black to Represent Agriculture on EXIM 2019 Advisory Committee
Washington, D.C. (EXIM) – The Export-Import Bank of the United States (EXIM) announced the 17 members of its 2019 Advisory Committee. The Honorable Stevan Pearce, small business owner and former Member of the U.S. House of Representatives and the New Mexico House of Representatives, will serve as chair. The EXIM Advisory Committee, as required by Congress, advises EXIM on its …