Georgia Fruit & Vegetable Grower's Association

News & Issues

 

Category: Letters of Support

Specialty Crops Score Big Win with Farm Bill

April 27, 2012 – 6:45 am |  Filed Under: 
Specialty Crops Score Big Win With Farm Bill Passing Senate Ag Committee The Senate Agriculture Committee has passed their version of the 2012 Farm Bill. For Specialty Crops there were some key improvements for specialty crops from the previous Farm Bill. The Bill includes the following key provisions: Specialty Crop Block Grants funded at $70 million per year (increase of $142 million over 10 years) Specialty Crop Research Initiative funded at $25 million in FY13; $30 million in FY14-15; $65 million in FY16; $50 million in FY17 (increase of $416 million over 10 years) Plant Pest and Disease Program funded
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Senate Ag Committee Releases Legislative Language for 2012 Farm Bill

April 23, 2012 – 11:44 am |  Filed Under: 
On Friday, April 20, the Senate Agriculture Committee released legislative language for the 2012 Farm Bill.  After an initial review of the language, much of the GFVGA supported Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance recommendations have been included in this initial proposal. Committee review and debate will begin on Wednesday, April 25 at 9:00 AM. Listed below are some of the highlights of the Farm Bill proposal that affect our growers; however, there are several key elements yet to be reviewed and analyzed by the Alliance. We will keep you informed as more information is available to be shared. ACTION ITEM
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Specialty Crop Alliance Asks for Action on Farm Bill

February 27, 2012 – 6:06 am |  Filed Under: 
A letter sent February 10 to the chairs and ranking members of the House and Senate Agriculture Committees urged the passage of a comprehensive Farm Bill this year. The Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance, for which Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association serves on the steering Committee, signed the letter along with more than 80 other organizations with interests in the Farm Bill. The letter stated that a new comprehensive bill would increase the effectiveness of the safety net for farmers, protect natural resources, help prevent hunger, create jobs and spur investments in agricultural research. “There’s been quite a bit
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Proposed Specialty Crops Gains in the Farm Bill Proposal FAILS with No Agreement from the Deficit Reduction Super Committee

November 29, 2011 – 10:49 pm |  Filed Under: 
  Over the last several months the Chairs and Ranking Members of the U.S. House and Senate Agriculture Committees crafted a proposal that would save $23 billion dollars in Farm Bill expenditures over the next 10 years.  The concept was to offer up cuts the Agriculture Committees felt would be appropriate rather than leave this in the hands of the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction to dictate the programs and amounts to be cut.  Most agricultural organizations supported this concept, rather than take a chance on more drastic cuts from the Joint Deficit Committee.  For the Specialty Crop Industry,
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ACTION REQUESTED!!

March 11, 2011 – 1:47 pm |  Filed Under: 
       CALL TO ACTION To all Georgia Growers and Agribusinesses, As you know the Georgia House of Representatives has passed House Bill 87 (Illegal Immigration Reform and Enforcement Act of 2011).  The fight is now in the Senate!! The Senate Judiciary Committee passed Senate Bill 40 out of committee last week and we expect it to be on the floor of the Senate for debate as early as Monday of next week.  This weekend is the time to contact your legislators.  We have been told we have made progress with the Senate leadership and some are asking us to reach
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IMMIGRATION LEGISLATIVE UPDATE – 3/8/11

March 10, 2011 – 12:47 pm |  Filed Under: 
To all Georgia Growers, As you may be aware, two bills have been introduced in the Georgia legislature dealing with immigration and undocumented workers. Both bills would require all Georgia companies with more than 5 employees to use the Federal E-verify program when hiring new W-2 employees, including seasonal workers. There are also other provisions in the bills imposing potential fines and criminal charges on the employer, even when the employee may have I-9 documents. House Bill 87 (Illegal Immigration Reform and Enforcement Act of 2011), http://www.legis.ga.gov/Legislation/20112012/108553.pdf  passed in the Georgia State House of Representatives, Thursday, March 3, 2011 by
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