A member of the House Agriculture Committee, Congressman Ted Yoho (R-FL), has announced the introduction of the “Labor Certainty for Food Security Act” this week to solve America’s agricultural labor shortage. In a recent interview with Southeast AgNet, Congressman Yoho said there are hurdles in getting this passed. Yoho noted this commonsense bill will bring relief to America’s farmers and …
Farm Recovery Block Grants to Aid Georgia Forest Landowners
By Clint Thompson Chuck Williams, director of the Georgia Forestry Commission, believes the Farm Recovery Block Grants for Georgia farmers and forest landowners will aid an industry devastated by Hurricane Michael in 2018 but not make it whole. “In Southwest Georgia, so many of the landowners that suffered timber damage were also row crop and cattle farmers that suffered a …
E-Verify Issue Starts Moving in House
(NSF) — A party-line vote Thursday on a proposal that would require employers to check the immigration status of new hires is the latest sign that the Republican-dominated Legislature is moving toward giving Gov. Ron DeSantis a win on a campaign promise. The Republican-controlled House Commerce Committee approved a bill that would force all public employers — such as state …
House Members Ready to Take Up E-Verify
(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 …