Tag Archives: Ag Policy

USDA Withdraws Fair and Competitive Livestock and Poultry Markets Rule

February 5, 2025UncategorizedAg Policy, Fair and Competitive Livestock and Poultry Markets, FloridAgriculture eNewsletter, livestock, Packers and Stockyards Act, poultry, USDAShelby Martin

February 2025 FloridAgriculture eNewsletter

In the final week of the Biden Administration, Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack announced that the USDA had withdrawn its rule entitled Fair and Competitive Livestock and Poultry Markets, marking the second time such a rule had been halted.

As in the previous version, the rule intended to address unfair practices being undertaken by packers governed by the Packers and Stockyards Act (PSA). In effect, the rule would have lowered the threshold for legal action against a PSA regulated party, by not requiring proof of harm to either the industry or a single party. Furthermore, the rule did not define who is a covered party under PSA, opening the door to any individual or consumer to bring legal action.

Florida Farm Bureau opposed the ruling. In announcing the withdrawal of the rule, Secretary Vilsack stated there wasn’t enough time left in the administration to finalize the rule and keep the original intent.

For more information, contact the Florida Farm Bureau Ag Policy team.

EPA Releases Final Ruling on Application Exclusion Zone

December 10, 2024UncategorizedAEZ, Ag Policy, Application Exclusion Zones, EPA, FloridAgriculture eNewsletter, Pesticide, U.S. Environmental Protection AgencyShelby Martin

December 2024 FloridAgriculture eNewsletter

Effective December 4, 2024, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has mandated Application Exclusion Zones (AEZ), which include additional precautions to protect workers and bystanders during pesticide applications. The AEZ refers to the area immediately surrounding the pesticide application equipment, and only exists during the application, moves simultaneously with the equipment and can extend outside of the property’s boundaries. The size of the AEZ is determined through application method and droplet size.

Pesticide handlers will now be subject to stricter Worker Protection Standards under the AEZ Final Rule. Pesticide applicators must suspend applications if any other persons are in the AEZ, regardless of whether they are within the property’s boundaries or in an easement on the property. Additionally, agricultural employers and establishment owners are responsible for ensuring no person is within an AEZ on their property, other than the licensed pesticide applicator.

Under the AEZ Final Rule, the AEZ must be a minimum of 100 feet horizontally in all directions when a pesticide is applied by the following methods: air (fixed wing or helicopter); air blast or air propelled; fumigant, smoke, mist, or fog, or fine spray quality/droplet size.

Additionally, the AEZ must be a minimum of 25 feet horizontally in all directions when a pesticide is applied by the following methods: not applied in a manner that would require a 100-foot buffer or using medium or large spray quality/droplet sizes, sprayed from a height of greater than 12-inches from the soil surface or planting medium.

No AEZ is required when the pesticide is applied in a manner other than the aforementioned methods. The AEZ Immediate Family Exemption allows farm owners and their immediate family members to remain inside closed buildings during pesticide applications, given the stipulations are satisfied.

Florida Farm Bureau supports the continued use of agricultural chemicals that currently have no viable alternatives. We further encourage research funded through state and federal agencies, as well as private associations, to develop economically viable crop protection options, including but not limited to soil fumigants for agricultural producers.

U.S. farmers must not be constrained by regulations that result in a competitive disadvantage.

Any questions or concerns regarding the final ruling can be directed to the Florida Farm Bureau Ag Policy Department.

Members Complete Grassroots Policy Process

November 12, 2024UncategorizedAFBF, Ag Policy, American Farm Bureau Federation, annual meeting, FloridAgriculture eNewsletter, policy, State Advisory CommitteesShelby Martin

November 2024 FloridAgriculture eNewsletter

Delegates from nearly 60 county Farm Bureaus convened at the 83^rd Florida Farm Bureau Federation (FFBF) Annual Meeting Oct. 30 – Nov. 1, 2024, to finalize the public policy of the Federation. Policy amendments and new resolutions rising from the county level through the State Advisory Committees were discussed and ultimately ratified unanimously by the voting delegates.

The strategic priorities of Farm Bureau are Advocacy, Membership, Public Awareness and Profitability of Agriculture, and this member-ratified policy serves as the foundation for all of Farm Bureau’s advocacy efforts. Policies with national implications are forwarded to the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) as resolutions for AFBF policy, and over the past year, policies originating in Florida have spurred legislative engagement in Tallahassee and Washington, D.C., letters from FFBF and AFBF to regulatory agencies such as the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, the U.S. Dept. of Labor and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and support for candidates, grants, initiatives and appointments that will enhance agriculture’s viability.

As we reflect on the conclusion of our state policy development process, FFBF staff will implement the policy changes in the coming year. Each of these implementation opportunities allows staff to present a unified message, collectively as The Voice of Agriculture.

For more information on Farm Bureau’s policy process, please contact the Agricultural Policy Department at 352.374.1543.

Grassroots Members Participate in Annual Policy Development

September 11, 2024UncategorizedAg Policy, annual meeting, FloridAgriculture eNewsletter, Grassroots, grassroots policy development, Jeb Smith, Policy DevelopmentShelby Martin

September 2024 FloridAgriculture eNewsletter

Florida Farm Bureau’s grassroots policy development is in full swing as members from across the state gathered during August to participate in the organization’s commodity and issue based advisory committee fall meetings. These committees meet twice annually to review current Farm Bureau policy and to surface emerging issues that may need heightened focus in the organization’s advocacy efforts.

County Farm Bureaus nominate members to serve on advisory committees and the final selections are made by Florida Farm Bureau Federation President Jeb Smith. In addition to advisory committees, county Farm Bureaus can also submit resolutions for policy directly, as well as the Florida Farm Bureau Federation Board of Directors. Regardless of their method of generation, these new resolutions are reviewed by the oversight committee and then forwarded to the voting delegates to be ratified at the state Annual Meeting.

Member-ratified policy is the backbone of our organization. Without strong policy, we lack clear direction. The grassroots nature of this process is vital to ensure that our policy is truly representative of a broad cross section of our membership. As the state’s largest general agriculture organization, it can be challenging to ensure that policy does not pit subsets of our membership against each other. For this reason, our policy decisions are not made in haste; the process takes a full year to complete.

For more information on Farm Bureau’s policy development process, please contact the Agricultural Policy Department at 352.374.1543.

FFBF to Provide Public Comment on Dicamba Labeling

June 3, 2024UncategorizedAg Policy, dicamba, EPA, FloridAgriculture eNewsletter, herbicides, U.S. Environmental Protection AgencShelby Martin

June 2024 FloridAgriculture eNewsletter

In February 2024, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) vacated the registration for over-the-top (OTT) use of three dicamba herbicides, XtendiMax, Engenia, and Tavium. Immediately following this vacatur, EPA issued an existing stocks order. This stated OTT dicamba products that were already in the United States and were packaged, labeled, and released for shipment prior to February 6, 2024, are approved for use in the manner they were previously labeled and in accordance with the end dates identified by the EPA based on location and crop.

EPA has since opened a public comment period regarding the 2025 Bayer dicamba label for dicamba-tolerant cotton and dicamba-tolerant soybeans. Please note that FFBF is monitoring the Federal Register and is anticipating the 2025 BASF label Notice of Receipt shortly.

To review FFBF’s comments posted for public comment, please click here.

Please contact the Ag Policy Department with any questions or comments.

Tomato Suspension Agreement Update

May 8, 2024UncategorizedAg Policy, DOC, FloridAgriculture e-Newsletter, Jeb Smith, Mexico, tomato dumping, Tomato Suspension Agreement, tomatoes, U.S. Department of CommerceShelby Martin

May 2024 FloridAgriculture e-Newsletter

On April 18th, 2024, the U.S. Court of International Trade remanded a 2019 decision to the U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC), which determined Mexican tomatoes were being dumped in the U.S. market. This decision came as a result of a court case filed by a large Mexican tomato exporter.

The TSA was reached in 1996 by the DOC and signatory producers/exporters of fresh tomatoes grown in Mexico to stop the unfair trade practices of Mexican tomato exporters. An investigation conducted by DOC concluded that Mexican tomatoes are being dumped at an average rate of 20.91%. In response to this, the 2019 TSA was established to close the loopholes of the previous suspension agreements, in exchange for suspension of anti-dumping duties against Mexican exporters. However, since the 2019 TSA became effective, the DOC has documented over 100 cases of Mexican companies that are still in violation of this binding, legal agreement. Furthermore, during the 28 years under this agreement, Mexican tomato imports have increased nearly 400 percent, allowing Mexico to dominate the U.S. tomato industry by controlling over 65 percent of the market.

Florida Farm Bureau Federation is dedicated to advocating for the domestic fresh tomato industry and for the termination of the 2019 TSA.

“Application and effective enforcement of the current trade remedy laws, that are feasible for U.S. producers, is the first step toward the development of much need comprehensive policies,” stated Florida Farm Bureau President, Jeb Smith.

It is important to note that this decision will have no effect on the 2019 iteration of the TSA, as it solely determined the DOC should have used a different timeframe to evaluate dumping levels. We can expect the DOC to re-conduct its 2019 dumping investigation by using data from the original 1996 dumping case, rather than the most recent data.

For further information or questions, please contact Florida Farm Bureau’s Ag Policy Department.

EPA cancels labels for Chlorpyrifos, Diazinon, and Malathion under the Endangered Species Act

May 8, 2024UncategorizedAg Policy, Chlorpyrifos, Diazinon, Endangered Species Act, EPA, FloridAgriculture e-Newsletter, Malathion, Pesticide, U.S. Environmental Protection AgencyShelby Martin

May 2024 FloridAgriculture e-Newsletter

On April 2, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced changes to the pesticide labeling requirements of chlorpyrifos, diazinon, and malathion. Additionally, the EPA committed to issuing Endangered Species Protection Bulletins that set geographic limitations for these organophosphate insecticides, which will be available on Bulletins Live! Two.

Chlorpyrifos, diazinon, and malathion are commonly used to control foliage and soil insect pests. Pesticide products containing chlorpyrifos are registered for use in agricultural crops and on nonfood uses, such as ornamental plants, golf course turf, and as wood treatment. Diazinon is used on a variety of specialty crops and in cattle ear tags to control flies. There are no residential uses of chlorpyrifos or diazinon. Malathion is used in the production of a wide variety of food and feed crops to control many types of insects such as aphids, leafhoppers, and Japanese beetles, by home gardeners for outdoor residential uses, and for controlling mosquitos.

Bulletins for all three pesticides include restrictions on when to apply and restrictions on tank mixing. There are additional restrictions for the chemistries pertaining to run-off and drift, found here. Amended label guidance will be included in the next printing of product labels, with a 12-month existing stock provision. EPA requested and National Marines Fisheries Service (NMFS) granted an extension until August 2024 to implement the biological opinion (BiOp) with updates for labels with food uses. This will allow the EPA time to cancel all food uses except for the 11 food crops specified previously in EPA’s 2020 Chlorpyrifos Proposed Interim Decision (PID) (alfalfa, apple, asparagus, cherry (tart), citrus, cotton, peach, soybean, strawberry, sugar beet, and wheat (spring and winter)).

For further information or questions, please contact Florida Farm Bureau’s Ag Policy Department.

Florida Farm Bureau Provides Comments on Dicamba Solution

March 11, 2024UncategorizedAg Policy, dicamba, Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, FloridAgriculture eNewsletter, Maddie Campbell, pesticidesShelby Martin

March 2024 FloridAgriculture eNewsletter

On February 6, 2024, a federal court in Arizona issued a ruling stating the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) must vacate the 2020 registrations for over-the-top use of three dicamba-based pesticides; XtendiMax, Engenia, and Tavium.

This ruling is a result of a lawsuit (Center for Biological Diversity v. U.S. EPA) that found the EPA in violation of their legal agreements under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) and Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA). This is the second ruling that has ordered EPA to vacate a dicamba registration, following a ruling from the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, which overturned the then-current over-the-top dicamba registration in June 2020. While the decision from the Arizona court relies on different legal arguments than the Ninth Circuit’s 2020 decision, the outcome is the same.

On February 14th, EPA issued an existing stocks order. This order allows farmers to use dicamba directly onto crops during the 2024 growing season, as long as the pesticides were “labeled, packaged, and released for shipment” prior to February 6. After the 2024 season, it is unclear if these three dicamba products will be available for over-the-top use. More than 75% of the cotton acres across the Cotton Belt were planted with dicamba-tolerant traits in the 2023 season.

Florida Farm Bureau Federation is committed to working alongside the EPA to find a more feasible solution that will meet the EPA’s legal obligations to the ESA and FIFRA, while also maintaining access to the necessary tools that producers need. Please reach out to Maddie Campbell with any questions or concerns. More information can be found here.

A Guide to Florida Farm Bureau Policy Development

November 13, 2023UncategorizedAg Policy, FloridAgriculture eNewsletter, GrassrootsShelby Martin

November 2023 FloridAgriculture eNewsletter

As a grassroots organization, Florida Farm Bureau’s policies start with recommendations from members at the county level. This is predominantly accomplished through 16 commodity-based advisory committees, which are comprised of nominated members at the county-level and appointed by the organization’s state president.

Each of the committees are made up of farmers, ranchers and growers, who are voting members on the committee, and industry professionals, who are non-voting technical advisors. These technical advisors serve as expert liaisons to their respective areas and guide Florida Farm Bureau’s policies through education. Technical advisors play a fundamental role in ensuring Florida Farm Bureau members are educated in industry updates to guide decisions that are made in accordance with current and scientifically-sound principles.

Once policy amendments and new resolutions are proposed at advisory committee meetings, they are presented at the organization’s Annual Meeting to be accepted or rejected by the delegate body. If a policy is accepted and deemed of national importance, it is sent on to American Farm Bureau’s Annual Meeting in January for review. Once a policy is accepted on the state level, the Legislative Affairs Division implements FFBF’s policy book on the Hill by advocating and lobbying on behalf of our membership.

In the 2023 policy process, 23 policies were amended, one policy was removed, and eight new resolutions were accepted. These changes represent the current needs of agricultural producers in Florida and will give FFBF staff the direction they need to advocate for farmers and ranchers at the local, state, and national level.