(FDACS/TALLAHASSEE, FL/March 21, 2023) — Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson, State Senator Jay Collins, State Representative Kaylee Tuck, and agriculture stakeholders announced a legislative proposal to prohibit local governments from levying special assessments on Florida agricultural lands. “All too often, our residents and decision makers take for granted Florida’s agricultural abundance, and believe that a safe, affordable, and abundant food …
Bill Introduced to Provide Clean Drinking Water for Rural Americans
A new bill would help rural Americans get clean drinking water. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. Senators Tammy Baldwin and Susan Collins introduced the bipartisan Healthy Drinking Water Affordability Act, or The Healthy H2O Act. Baldwin, a Wisconsin Democrat and Collins, a Maine Republican, say the bill will provide water testing and treatment technology grants directly to …
Florida Cattlemen Visit Lawmakers in Tallahassee
Week two of the 2023 Florida Legislative Session saw lawmakers talking to cattle ranchers from across the state. Florida Cattlemen’s Association (FCA) Director of Governmental Affairs, Sam Ard, explains what FCA members discussed while in Tallahassee. To learn more, contact the FCA office in Kissimmee. Sponsored ContentCIR Agriculture Harvester ProductsNovember 1, 2024Nuseed Carinata Covers New GroundOctober 1, 2024TriEst Ag Group: Partners in …
Bills of Interest to Agriculture Moving in Georgia Legislature
Week ten in the Georgia Legislature was another busy one, as lawmakers continued their efforts to move legislation along. Georgia Agribusiness Council (GAC) President Will Bentley notes where things stand with bills of interest to agriculture. The last day of the 2023 Georgia Legislative Session is scheduled to be March 30. To keep track of any of the bills during the …
Organizations Voice Support for Existing Pesticide Law
More than 400 organizations affirmed the support of the pesticide regulatory system under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act, or FIFRA, in a letter to lawmakers this week. The letter is in response to recently introduced legislation that the organizations say would undermine the science-based standards contained within our nation’s pesticide law. This is the third time these organizations …
Florida Lawmakers Seek to Curb China Land Purchases
(NSF/TALLAHASSEE, FL/March 15, 2023) — The Florida Senate has started fast-tracking a proposal that would bar the sale of agricultural land and property within 20 miles of military bases to interests tied to the Chinese government or other nations on a list of “countries of concern.” The bill (SB 264), which passed the Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday, also would …
Alabama Starts Black Vulture Depredation Permitting April 1
Cattle producers across many areas of the county recently welcomed the introduction of the bipartisan Black Vulture Relief Act in the U.S. House of Representatives. It’s a bill designed to give producer’s greater flexibility on black vulture management. But in Alabama, a new program through the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries (ADAI) starts April 1. ADAI Deputy Commissioner Hassey Brooks explained to Southeast AgNet’s Randall …
Environmental Groups Object to Florida Development Bills
(NSF/TALLAHASSEE,FL/March 3, 2023) — Environmental groups are raising concerns that legislative proposals would damage land-use planning and run counter to conservation efforts backed by Gov. Ron DeSantis. Representatives of 1000 Friends of Florida, Friends of the Everglades and VoteWater on Thursday targeted numerous bills filed for the upcoming legislative session that could do such things as redefine sprawl, deter citizens …
Bipartisan DAIRY PRIDE Act Reintroduced
Senate lawmakers this week reintroduced the DAIRY PRIDE Act of 2023. The bill is titled The Defending Against Imitations and Replacements of Yogurt, milk, and cheese to Promote Regular Intake of Dairy Everyday Act of 2023. The legislation would require non-dairy products made from nuts, seeds, plants, and algae to no longer be mislabeled with dairy terms such as milk, …
First 2023 House Agriculture Committee Hearing Focuses on Challenges
The House Agriculture Committee held its first hearing of the new congressional year, titled “Uncertainty, Inflation, Regulations: Challenges for American Agriculture”. Opening statements from the committee leaders were partisan and politically charged. Committee Chair Glenn “G.T.” Thompson (R-PA) listed several recent problems agriculture has faced, such as the rising costs of fuel and inputs, and the problems caused by the …