year

Food and Agriculture Climate Alliance Expands Membership

Dan Citrus, Climate Change, Environment, Field Crops, News from Our Sponsors

Drills Down on Policy Recommendations (FACA) — The Food and Agriculture Climate Alliance (FACA) announced expanding membership and new policy working groups focused on developing a set of more specific policy proposals that drill down on the 40+ recommendations released by FACA in November 2020. FACA’s eight founding members — American Farm Bureau Federation (co-chair), Environmental Defense Fund (co-chair), FMI …

House Agriculture Committee

Biden Immigration Bill Introduced in Congress

Dan Labor and Immigration, News from Our Sponsors

(NAFB) — Senator Bob Menendez of New Jersey and Representative Linda Sanchez of California, both Democrats, introduced President Biden’s immigration proposal into their respective chambers. The Hagstrom Report says both members of Congress say the bill will “create an earned pathway to citizenship for all 11 million undocumented immigrants, providing Dreamers, Temporary Protective Status holders, and some farm workers with …

fried

Fried & FDACS Launch Bilingual Farmworker Vaccine Education Campaign

Dan Coronavirus, Florida, Labor and Immigration, News from Our Sponsors

With the COVID-19 vaccine becoming available for at-risk populations in Florida, Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried and the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services launched a bilingual vaccine education campaign to encourage COVID-19 vaccination among Florida’s farmworkers and agriculture community. A recent study found that food and agricultural workers are among those most at risk of death from COVID-19, facing a 39 percent increase in excess …

crop insurance

Crop Insurance Town Hall Held by Commissioner Nikki Fried and USDA

Dan Economy, Florida, News from Our Sponsors, USDA

(FDACS) — Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried held a town hall meeting on crop insurance issues at Chipola College in Marianna, Florida. Fried was joined via Zoom by Acting Administrator Richard Flournoy of the USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA) and other RMA senior and regional leaders to answer questions from agriculture producers on crop insurance and risk management. Photos/Video: A video recording and high-res …

blueberries

Fried on International Trade Commission Vote on Imported Blueberries

Dan Exports/Imports, Florida, Fruits, News from Our Sponsors, Specialty Crops

(FDACS) — The U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) ruled that blueberries were not being imported into the United States in such quantities as to harm the domestic blueberry industry nationwide. Earlier this month, Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried testified before the ITC that Mexico’s market share for blueberries had skyrocketed 2,100 percent since 2009, while Florida’s market share decreased 38 percent since 2015, indicating …

beef

Pork Exports for 2020 Shatter Previous Records

Dan Exports/Imports, News from Our Sponsors, Pork

New numbers show that U.S. pork exports reached nearly 3 million metric tons last year, topping the 2019 record by 11%. According to data released by USDA and compiled by the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF), pork export value also climbed 11% to a record $7.71 billion. USMEF President and CEO Dan Halstrom discuss the year-end pork export results in more detail. …

wrep

Updates to Conservation Easements Strengthens Protection for Farmlands, Grasslands, and Wetlands

Dan Conservation, Environment, News from Our Sponsors, USDA-NRCS

(USDA/NRCS) — The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) released the final rule for its Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP), which enables agricultural producers and private landowners to protect farmlands, grasslands, and wetlands with conservation easements. The rule updates ACEP as directed by the 2018 Farm Bill and incorporates public comments made on an interim rule. “Conservation easements are a critical conservation tool helping landowners …

gardening

Researchers Help Expand Indoor Gardening Trend Triggered by Pandemic

Dan Coronavirus, Education, Florida, Fruits, Herbs, News from Our Sponsors, Research, Specialty Crops, Vegetables

(UF/IFAS) — COVID-19 led many people to start gardening, and it’s no passing fancy. Recent research shows that about 80% of those who took up gardening since the beginning of COVID-19 will continue the pastime in 2021. Growing in the outdoor garden is one thing. Tending to plants indoors at home presents other challenges and opportunities. As they recognized the …

South African Farm Labor Exempt from Travel Ban

Dan Coronavirus, Labor and Immigration, News from Our Sponsors

(AFBF) — The U.S. State Department clarified its ban on non-citizens entering the United States from South Africa. A Biden administration proclamation suspended travel from several countries due to COVID-19 concerns. The State Department clarified that agriculture workers entering the U.S. qualify for national interest exceptions on a case-by-case basis. The American Farm Bureau Federation sent a letter to Secretary …