Legislative Archives - Specialty Crop Industry https://specialtycropindustry.com/category/legislative/ Vegetable and Specialty Crop News Mon, 16 Oct 2023 14:25:50 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.3.1 116110416 Getting Their House in Order: Farm Bill Legislation on Hold Amid Government Upheaval https://specialtycropindustry.com/farm-bill-government-speaker-house/ Tue, 17 Oct 2023 16:00:00 +0000 https://specialtycropindustry.com/?p=23265 By Clint Thompson The waiting game for specialty crop producers eager for new Farm Bill legislation is going to be a longer wait than expected. Kevin McCarthy’s ouster as Speaker of the House a couple of weeks ago means legislators must find his replacement before any progress on a new Farm Bill can take place, says Adam Rabinowitz, Alabama Extension ...

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]]> 23265 USDA Announces October Lending Rates for Producers https://specialtycropindustry.com/usda-announces-october-lending-rates-for-producers/ Wed, 11 Oct 2023 11:30:00 +0000 https://specialtycropindustry.com/?p=23236 The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced loan interest rates for October. The USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) offers farm ownership and operating loans with favorable interest rates and terms to help eligible agricultural producers, whether multi-generational, long-time, or new to the industry, obtain financing needed to start, expand or maintain a family agricultural operation. Interest rates for Operating and Ownership ...

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]]> 23236 North Carolina Receives $6.3 million USDA Award for Conservation Easements in the Neuse River Basin https://specialtycropindustry.com/north-carolina-receives-6-3-million-usda-award-for-conservation-easements-in-the-neuse-river-basin/ Wed, 11 Oct 2023 09:00:00 +0000 https://specialtycropindustry.com/?p=23218 RALEIGH – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Natural Resources Conservation Service awarded the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services $6.3 million to place conservation easements on farms in the Upper Neuse River Basin. This project was funded through USDA’s Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP). “Securing more funding for conservation easements is a critical step in preserving our ...

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]]> 23218 POTUS, WOTUS, SCOTUS https://specialtycropindustry.com/potus-wotus-scotus/ Thu, 05 Oct 2023 09:30:00 +0000 https://specialtycropindustry.com/?p=23169 By Frank Giles The debate over the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) Waters of the United States (WOTUS) has been ongoing for years. During the President of the United States (POTUS) Barack Obama administration, a new definition of WOTUS was laid out that left a lot of ambiguity on what EPA’s jurisdiction might ...

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]]> 23169 USDA’s New Crop Insurance for Tropical Storms Benefits Producers Impacted by Idalia https://specialtycropindustry.com/usdas-new-crop-insurance-for-tropical-storms-benefits-producers-impacted-by-idalia/ Fri, 29 Sep 2023 10:00:00 +0000 https://specialtycropindustry.com/?p=23118 WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) recent expansion of its hurricane crop insurance policy to cover tropical storms this year has already provided farmers with $85.4 million to help them recover from Hurricane Idalia. USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA) rolled out the new Tropical Storm Option for its Hurricane Insurance Protection-Wind Index (HIP-WI) Endorsement earlier this year after ...

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]]> 23118 USDA Launches Program to Support Producers, Farmworkers https://specialtycropindustry.com/usda-launches-program-to-support-producers-farmworkers/ Thu, 28 Sep 2023 09:30:00 +0000 https://specialtycropindustry.com/?p=23095 Southeast specialty crop growers should be aware that the U.S. Department of Agriculture Farm Labor Stabilization and Protection Pilot Program (FLSP) will award up to $65 million in American Rescue Plan Act funding to support agricultural employers in implementing robust labor standards that promote a safe, healthy work environment for both U.S. workers and workers hired from northern Central American ...

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]]> 23095 USDA to Measure Florida, Georgia Fruit Chemical Usage https://specialtycropindustry.com/usda-to-measure-florida-georgia-fruit-chemical-usage/ Wed, 27 Sep 2023 09:30:00 +0000 https://specialtycropindustry.com/?p=23084 The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) is planning to interview almost 800 fruit growers from Florida, Georgia and South Carolina this fall. The survey will center on chemical use in fruits. NASS officials will collect information on bearing acreage, pest management practices, including acres treated and application rates, and pesticide application, including acres treated and ...

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]]> 23084 Farm Bill Update: What Happens if New Legislation is Not Finalized? https://specialtycropindustry.com/farm-bill-update-what-happens-if-new-legislation-is-not-finalized/ Thu, 21 Sep 2023 10:45:00 +0000 https://specialtycropindustry.com/?p=23045 By Clint Thompson The absence of a new Farm Bill by the end of 2023 would not be the end of the world for the agriculture industry. It would just mean an extension or continuation of the current one. Adam Rabinowitz, Alabama Extension economist, commented on what happens if a new Farm Bill is not in place by the end ...

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]]> 23045 GFVGA Optimistic New Farm Bill in Place by End of Year https://specialtycropindustry.com/gfvga-optimistic-new-farm-bill-in-place-by-end-of-year/ Wed, 20 Sep 2023 11:30:00 +0000 https://specialtycropindustry.com/?p=23033 By Clint Thompson The Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association (GFVGA) is hopeful a new Farm Bill will be established sooner rather than later. “We’re still optimistic that we may see a bill come out of the Senate and the House this year. As to whether or not they’ll be able to come together as a conference committee and get ...

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]]> 23033 Ag Economist: New Farm Bill Not Expected at End of September https://specialtycropindustry.com/ag-economist-new-farm-bill-not-expected-at-end-of-september/ Thu, 14 Sep 2023 10:45:00 +0000 https://specialtycropindustry.com/?p=22985 By Clint Thompson Ongoing Farm Bill discussions are not expected to lead to a resolution by the end of September, according to one economist. “There will not be a Farm Bill by the end of this month. I would be absolutely shocked if they could get anything done. We’ve still not seen a draft of anything coming out of committee. ...

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