SPECIALTY CROPS BILL INTRODUCED IN HOUSE

The Equitable Agriculture Today for a Healthy America Act (or the "EAT Healthy America Act"), was introduced Wednesday (September 27) by U.S. Representatives Richard Pombo (R-CA), Dennis Cardoza (D-CA), Adam Putnam (R-FL) and John Salazar (D-CO).

The legislation includes proposals for new research programs, expanded conservation initiatives, invasive pest prevention and management, export market access, and nutrition programs. The proposals do not include direct payments to producers, but instead are public/private partnership investments designed to enhance the competitiveness of specialty crop growers.

FFVA, as part of the Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance, has been working with Congress to develop comprehensive specialty crop legislation for consideration in the 2007 Farm Bill debate.

“Specialty crop producers are finally taking a seat at the farm bill table,” said FFVA President Mike Stuart, who co-chairs the Alliance. “We’re not looking for producer subsidies,” Stuart said, continuing, “What we are seeking is a package of diverse initiatives designed to help specialty crop producers compete in an increasingly difficult global marketplace.”

FFVA Chairman Jay Taylor testified on behalf of specialty crop growers at a hearing chaired by the House Agriculture Subcommittee on Livestock and Horticulture, prior to the bill’s introduction.

AG INSTITUTE/FARM CREDIT FORUM HEARS CANDIDATES’ TAKE ON AG

Outlining their positions on the future of Florida agriculture, those candidates running for state office who were present stood up to the industry's questions at the 8th Quadrennial Farm Credit/Ag Institute Candidates Forum Thursday (September 28) in Orlando.

Candidates participating were: Jeff Kottcamp, Republican gubernatorial candidate Charlie Crist’s choice for lieutenant governor; Bill McCollum, the Republican vying for the attorney general position; both Senate President Republican Tom Lee and banking executive Alex Sink, who are running for chief financial officer; and Charles Bronson and attorney Eric Copeland, both in the race for the ag commissioner’s post, currently held by Bronson.

Most candidates addressed issues affecting agriculture including private property rights, the greenbelt exemption, sales tax exemptions on ag electricity and production, and oppportunities in alternative fuels.

Casey Pace, president of the Ag Institute, also took a moment to present the results of Ag Institute’s recent survey of Florida voters. Those survey results will be covered in the upcoming Harvester Online as well as the Ag Communicator, the Ag Institute’s quarterly newsletter. In a nutshell, those results were encouraging, as about 80 percent of those surveyed had either a very favorable or somewhat favorable opinion of Florida agriculture, versus about 6 percent who answered “not at all favorable.”

AG EMPLOYERS BENEFIT FROM LABOR FORUM

Labor shortages and the nuts and bolts of the H-2A guest worker program were on everyone’s mind at the 32nd Ag Labor Relations Forum Thursday and Friday (September 28-29) in Orlando.

Based on the theme, “Learn How to Avoid Labor Troubles Before They Occur,” speakers and workshops updated participants on the progress of immigration reform, provided guidance on issues such as farmworker housing and farm safety, and took them through a course in how to use the H-2A guestworker program.

As Friday's breakfast keynote speaker, Casey Welch, coordinator of national affairs for Florida Farm Bureau Federation, encouraged those present to participate in a program where they send empty shopping bags to members of the House of Representatives with a message about the importance of comprehensive immigration reform to the domestically-produced food supply.

FORMER UF VICE PRESIDENT FOR AGRICULTURE AND NATURAL RESOURCES DIES

James M. Davidson, former University of Florida’s vice president for agriculture and natural resources, died Tuesday (September 26) after a long illness. He was 72. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the University of Florida Foundation, P.O. Box 110170, Gainesville, Fla. 32611, to support the Davidson Graduate Student Travel Scholarship Fund.

MARK YOUR CALENDARS FOR THE NOVEMBER GENERAL ELECTION

Don’t forget to register for the General Election on Tuesday, November 7, 2006. You must be a registered voter to vote in an election. If you are not registered to vote, you have until October 10 to register for this important November election. For additional information, contact your County Supervisor of Elections Office.