(TALLAHASSEE/NSF/June 8, 2022) — Gov. Ron DeSantis on Wednesday vetoed a controversial measure tied to Everglades restoration that, even after being watered down during the legislative session, continued to draw concerns about potential wetlands destruction. Senate President Wilton Simpson, R-Trilby, pushed to pass the bill (SB 2508) during the session that ended in March. DeSantis criticized an initial version, leading …
Cattle, Water Industry Reps Gives Insights During First WOTUS Roundtable
WOTUS is in the spotlight once again. Cattle producers representing several states voiced their concerns with the Environmental Protection Agency’s and Army Corps of Engineers’ ongoing Waters of the U.S. rulemaking attempt at a roundtable organized by the Kansas Livestock Association. “Very important to our members are clarity with jurisdictional rules. We supported the navigable waters protection rule in particular …
Fried Says Florida Cabinet Meeting Canceled
(TALLAHASSEE, FL/NSF) — Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried said Tuesday her office was notified that Gov. Ron DeSantis canceled a scheduled June 28 meeting of the Florida Cabinet and a June 29 meeting of the state Board of Executive Clemency. The governor’s office didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment. Fried, the only Democrat on the Cabinet and a candidate …
Stabenow on Senate Ag Committee Work
As the senate continues to work on the next farm bill, Senate agriculture committee chair Debbie Stabenow of Michigan says she’s looking forward to their hearing in Arkansas next week, and the work that comes after. “And then we will begin what is a really important—a thoughtful step-by-step set of hearings through each of the titles of the farm bill …
ANCW Members Discuss Issues with Lawmakers during Fly-In
Last month, the American National CattleWomen (ANCW) participated in a fly-in event to Washington D.C. ANCW President, Reba Mazak from Sumter County, Florida, told Southeast AgNet they worked with the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association staff there in setting up meetings with various lawmakers. And she explains what they discussed with lawmakers while in our nation’s capital. Reba noted it is critical for …
DeSantis Signs Florida Budget, Vetoes $3.13 Billion
(TALLAHASSEE/NSF) — Pointing to a need to further brace the state against a potential recession, Gov. Ron DeSantis issued $3.13 billion in vetoes Thursday as he signed a record $109.9 billion budget for the fiscal year that will begin July 1. Among the large vetoes were $650 million for a new 4,500-bed prison; $195 million for construction of a prison …
Senator Boozman Discusses Farm Bill
Legislators are turning their focus to preparing the next farm bill. Senate Agriculture Committee Ranking Member John Boozman (R-AR) says the farm bill is important because agriculture is important. “One of the problems that we got with agriculture is the fact that very few people are directly, or even indirectly, related to the farm,” he said. “It’s very different than …
Alabama 2022 Farm Legislation a Win for Agriculture
Alabama’s 2022 state legislative season was a success for agriculture with the passage of key bills. “I would say overall we were very happy with how it went. We had some priorities that we called the farm package here at the Alabama Farmers Federation, and all of that was successful,” said Blake Thaxton, a director with the Alabama Farmers Federation. …
House Ag Advances Key Bills
While key bills ranging from boosting EQIP funding and domestic fertilizer production to increasing meat processing competition moved through House Ag Committee this week, one that moved through is highly controversial. Passed by only a near party-line vote, the “Meat and Poultry Special Investigator Act” is sponsored by Virginia Democrat Abigail Spanberger. “We have already seen that for two-years now, …
Vilsack: ‘Don’t Lose Sight of Farm Families’
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack made a plea to the Senate Ag Appropriations Committee in an effort to get help for the nation’s farmers and ranchers who are struggling. The committee met this week to review President Biden’s budget proposal for the Department of Agriculture. “I represented farmers during the 1980s as a small-town lawyer. I can tell you the pain. I can …