(TALLAHASSEE/NSF/Dec. 2, 2021) — While global supply chain issues are reportedly easing, Florida farmers told lawmakers Thursday that perishable items with short shelf lives continue to struggle in being moved from fields to markets. During a meeting of the Senate Agriculture Committee, growers said the industry faces transportation and labor shortages in getting products out of the ground and to …
NCBA on Infrastructure Package
The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, otherwise known as the Build Back Better bill, is an infrastructure package focused on creating American jobs, rebuilding our nation’s roads and bridges, and combatting the climate crisis. President Biden signed the $1 trillion infrastructure deal into law back in mid-November. National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) Vice President of Government Affairs, Ethan Lane, says this …
Waiver from Trucking Federal Rule Extended
It was announced Monday that the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) had extended a waiver for commercial truckers from the federal Hours of Service (HOS) regulation to Feb. 28, 2022. The National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) thanked the Biden administration, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and Meera Joshi, FMCSA deputy administrator for the extension. The HOS rule limits truckers to 11 hours of …
Senators Announce Plan to Improve Cattle Market Fairness
Republican Senators Chuck Grassley of Iowa and Deb Fischer of Nebraska joined Democrats Jon Tester of Montana and Ron Wyden of Oregon in announcing the Cattle Price Discovery and Transparency Act. The compromise cattle market bill is an effort to return fairness to the cattle marketplace dominated by four major meatpackers. The legislation will establish regional mandatory minimum thresholds of …
Legislation Seeks to Remove Red Tape Surrounding Farm Vehicles
Senate lawmakers Tuesday introduced the Covered Farm Vehicle Modernization Act. The legislation expands and modernizes the exemptions for Covered Farm Vehicles to reflect the variety of vehicles commonly used by today’s farmers and ranchers. The bill adjusts exemption thresholds and removes the extra regulatory red tape regarding Department of Transportation registration and fuel tax licensing requirements that have little to …
Preparing for 2022 Florida Legislative Session
While Florida lawmakers are preparing for next month’s special session called by Governor Ron DeSantis to push back against White House attempts to require workers to be vaccinated against COVID-19, they also are looking ahead to the 2022 Florida Legislative Session. Next year’s session kicks off on January 11, and according to the chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, Florida’s …
House Ag Committee Dems Want Ag Spending Preserved
House Ag Committee Chair David Scott and fellow Democrats sent a letter to House and Senate leadership asking them to preserve the ag spending provisions in the Build Back Better Act. They point out that the provisions included in the agriculture portion of the Build Back Better Act will make transformative investments that will benefit agricultural producers and rural communities …
AFBF: No Methane Tax on Animals in Reconciliation Bill
The American Farm Bureau Federation, addressing a social media myth, says “the current language of the reconciliation bill does not impose a methane tax on agriculture.” Those words from AFBF’s Public Affairs Vice President Sam Kieffer, who says the statement seeks to clear up any confusion. Kieffer says that over the summer, Farm Bureau economists conducted an analysis, at the …
Congress Continues Budgeting Efforts in Washington
Congress continues working on a reconciliation package which does have implications for agriculture. Tyron Spearman reports hopes are to see something passed yet this week. Sponsored ContentNuseed Carinata Covers New GroundJuly 15, 2024CIR Agriculture Harvester ProductsJuly 1, 2024TriEst Ag Group: Partners in ProfitabilityApril 1, 2024
Florida Lawmakers Seek Answers on Black Farmer Marijuana License
(Tallahassee/NSF) — Black farmers in Florida have waited more than four years to vie for a license to participate in the state’s lucrative medical-marijuana industry. But it’s still unknown exactly how much longer they’ll have to continue to bide their time. Under the state’s medical marijuana law, one license must go to a grower who had been part of settled lawsuits …