(NSF) — As the legislative session dwindles to its final weeks, House members are set Thursday to consider for the first-time a contentious proposal that would mandate employers do immigration checks on new workers. The push to implement E-Verify, a federal system designed to confirm workers’ legal eligibility, has proven to be a whirlwind legislative effort as Gov. Ron DeSantis makes …
USDA Invests in Broadband for Rural Georgia Communities
(USDA/RD) — Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue announced a $5 million investment in two, high-speed broadband infrastructure projects that will create or improve rural e-Connectivity for 1,221 rural households, 32 pre-subscribed businesses and 20 pre-subscribed farms in McIntosh and Evans counties in Georgia. This is one of many funding announcements in the first round of the United States Department of Agriculture’s …
USDA and EPA Announce Continued Commitment to Support Rural Water Systems
(USDA) — The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that will help rural water systems face the challenges of aging infrastructure, workforce shortages, increasing costs, limited management capacity and declining rate bases. Through this MOA, USDA and EPA will conduct joint activities to help rural water systems continue …
Secretary Perdue Announces New Innovation Initiative for USDA
The Agriculture Innovation Agenda is a Solution for Farmers, Consumers, and the Environment (USDA) — U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue announced the Agriculture Innovation Agenda, a department-wide initiative to align resources, programs, and research to position American agriculture to better meet future global demands. Specifically, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will stimulate innovation so that American agriculture can …
Florida E-Verify Plan Clears First Senate Hurdle
(NSF) – A Senate committee on Tuesday approved a watered-down proposal aimed at preventing undocumented immigrants from getting jobs in the state, an issue that has long divided Florida Republicans and is sowing discord among prominent business leaders. Along party lines, the Senate Judiciary Committee backed the bill (SB 664), which would require employers to do immigration checks on all …
USDA Invests in Rural Broadband Infrastructure in Georgia’s Gilmer County
(USDA) — U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development Georgia State Director Joyce White announced a $4.4 million investment in high-speed broadband infrastructure. This investment will support the construction of 90 miles of fiber-optic infrastructure in Gilmer County. The service area includes 2,159 households, 25 pre-subscribed businesses, two critical community facilities, an educational facility and 24 pre-subscribed farms, including 22 …
E-Verify Sponsors Eye Changes to Stalled Proposals
(NSF) — A politically charged immigration bill is poised to get a makeover that sponsors hope will align the measure with the position backed by Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Republican Party of Florida. The governor and the Florida GOP, led by Sen. Joe Gruters, are pushing a mandate for public and private employers to use E-Verify, a program that …
Commissioner Nikki Fried Appoints New State Leadership For Florida Forest Service
Tallahassee, Fla.– Today, Agriculture Commissioner Nicole “Nikki” Fried announced two new leadership appointments for the Florida Forest Service. The selections come after a national search and interviews with multiple candidates. Erin Albury has been appointed State Forester and Director of the Florida Forest Service. Albury succeeds James “Jim” Karels, who has led the agency the past 12 years and served …
Georgia Hemp Production on Hold
By Clint Thompson Georgia farmers looking to grow hemp can’t do so without the state legislature first authorizing $800,000 to the Georgia Department of Agriculture (GDA) to oversee hemp production. In response to a hemp production plan submitted by the GDA, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) required that the Georgia Legislature appropriated funds for oversight, according to the University …
Georgia Peanut Farm Show Provides a Day of Education for Farmers
Sen. Johnny Isakson inducted into Peanut Hall of Fame (GPC) — More than 1,600 attendees were able to fine-tune their farming operations with information gained at the 44th annual Georgia Peanut Farm Show and Conference on Jan. 16, 2020, at the University of Georgia Tifton Campus Conference Center in Tifton, Georgia. The show is sponsored by the Georgia Peanut Commission. …