The COVID-19 pandemic has affected the 2020 Alabama Legislative Session. But state lawmakers did meet to finalize a budget for the upcoming fiscal year. Alabama Cattlemen’s Association (ACA) Executive Director Erin Beasley explains where things stand with not only the budget, but other bills they have been tracking. For more information, contact the ACA office in Montgomery. Sponsored ContentFlorida Cattle …
Florida to Receive $23 Million in Aquaculture and Fisheries Assistance via CARES Act Stimulus
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
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
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
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
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
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
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 Pass $93.2 Billion Budget, Face Uncertainty
(NSF) — State lawmakers on Thursday approved a record $93.2 billion budget for next year, with attention already focused on a potential need to revisit the spending plan this summer as the novel coronavirus upends the economy. The budget (HB 5001), which takes effect July 1, was approved in a 104-0 vote by the House and a 32-0 vote by …
Florida Lawmakers to Vote Thursday on Budget
(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 …