Florida to Receive $23 Million in Aquaculture and Fisheries Assistance via CARES Act Stimulus

Clint Thompson Aquaculture, Florida, Legislative

Tallahassee, Fla. – The U.S. Department of Commerce has announced the allocation of $300 million in federal assistance for fisheries provided by the CARES Act stimulus package. These funds will be available for coastal and marine fishery participants negatively affected by COVID–19. Florida will receive $23.6 million of this funding to aid the state’s commercial fishing and aquaculture industries. The Florida Department of …

Bill Would Increase CCC Borrowing Authority

Clint Thompson Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Legislative

A bill introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives this week would expand the Commodity Credit Corporations annual borrowing authority. The legislation from Republican Representative Austin Scott of Georgia would raise the CCC’s borrowing authority from $30 billion to $68 billion. Scott says the move would give the Department of Agriculture greater flexibility to maintain farm bill programs that support …

Groups Ask Treasury Secretary to Guard Against Further Ag Consolidation

Clint Thompson Legislative

A coalition consisting of 68 farmer, environmental, and antitrust groups across the country sent a letter to Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin on consolidation. They’re asking him to ensure that pandemic relief funds do not lead to the further consolidation of the food and agriculture industry. The letter asks Mnuchin to invest the stimulus funds in farming systems that lift farmers …

Alabama Farmers and Agribusinesses Eligible for Small Business Loans

Clint Thompson Alabama, Legislative

Alabama Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries Rick Pate wants to remind farmers and agribusinesses in the state facing unprecedented economic disruption due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, they are eligible for small business loans. The Department of Treasury and Small Business Administration (SBA) recently announced that farms and agribusinesses are eligible for Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans as long as …

Alabama Legislature Sets Next Meeting Date for April 28

Clint Thompson Alabama, Legislative

The 2020 Alabama Legislative session is still under way, but lawmakers have not been spending much time in Montgomery due to the COVID-19 crisis. Plus, Gov. Kay Ivey issued a statewide stay-at-home order a week ago. But, Alabama legislators did briefly meet back on March 31 to pass a joint resolution which gives leadership authority to set meeting times during …

Georgia Farm Recovery Program Sign-Up Ends April 8

Clint Thompson Georgia, Legislative

Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Gary Black wants to remind farmers and forest landowners affected by Hurricane Michael, sign-up for the Farm Recovery Program ends one week from today, April 8. Black told us the Georgia Department of Agriculture (GDA) encourages every producer in the state, no matter what you grow, to go to the Farm Recovery website to see if you …

Good Legislative Session for Florida Agriculture

Clint Thompson Florida, Legislative

The 2020 Florida Legislative Session has come to an end, as both the House and Senate voted to pass the $93.2 billion budget on Thursday for the upcoming fiscal year. And according to Florida Cattlemen’s Association (FCA) Director of Governmental Affairs, Sam Ard, overall agriculture did very well. But he also knows Lawmakers are already focused on a potential need …

Florida Lawmakers to Vote Thursday on Budget

Dan Florida, Industry News Release, Legislative

(NSF) — Florida lawmakers will vote Thursday on a record $93.2 billion budget for the upcoming fiscal year that includes spending $500 million to increase teacher pay and bolstering reserves as the novel coronavirus threatens state revenues. The budget was distributed Sunday evening, starting a legally required 72-hour review period before lawmakers can vote on it. The House and Senate scheduled …

Florida Legislative Session to Wrap Up Wednesday

Clint Thompson Florida, Legislative

The last full week of the 2020 Florida Legislative Session has come to an end, but due to lawmakers working a bit longer on budget issues, it was extended a few days. Florida Cattlemen’s Association (FCA) Director of Governmental Affairs, Sam Ard, says they hope to wrap it all up next Wednesday. So again, the Florida Legislative Session should end …