Posts By: Tracey Chow
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What You Need to Know about Securing Disaster Relief – Join the Webinar
The California Farm Service Agency (FSA) will host a webinar on Tuesday, March 10 for producers to learn more about the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Supplemental Disaster Relief Program (SDRP) Stage 2. The webinar is an important opportunity for producers with 2023 and 2024 disaster losses to ask FSA staff direct questions about the application process and understand its…
WG Survey Seeks Grower Input on USMCA’s Trade Impact
If your company has business in Mexico and/or Canada, or general interest in the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), please respond to this Western Growers Trade Survey by October 20. Why take this Survey? Western Growers advocates for fair market access and standards for our member products. The Trump Administration is requesting public input for its review of USMCA now through…
Congress Examines the State of the U.S. Specialty Crop Industry
On Tuesday, the U.S. House Committee on Agriculture held a full committee hearing, “An Examination of the State of the Specialty Crop Industry.” In his opening statement, Chairman Glenn G.T. Thompson (R-PA) shared that specialty crops “play a crucial, and often underappreciated, role in the success of U.S. agriculture,” but that “the very diversity that defines this industry can also…
Commercial Drivers and English Language Proficiency: What You Need to Know
Under federal law, all commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers must be able to “read and speak the English language sufficiently to converse with the general public, understand highway traffic signs and signals, respond to official inquiries, and make entries on reports and records.” In 2023, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) estimated that 3.8 percent of the U.S. interstate…
President Trump Revokes California’s Clean Air Waivers
On Thursday, President Trump signed three resolutions that collectively revoke federal Clean Air Act waivers that had previously been granted to California. The federal Clean Air Act gives California the unique ability to set its own air emissions standards, provided it receives a waiver of preemption from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). In recent years, the California Air…
What the East and Gulf Coast Ports Strike Means for Growers
On Oct. 1, 2024, thousands of dockworkers went on strike at dozens of East and Gulf Coast ports. This occurs as contract negotiations have broken down between the dockworkers’ union, the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) and the U.S. Maritime Alliance (USMX) that represents the port employers. Regarding the impact on agriculture nationally, initial reports estimate that the…
CARB Drops Request for Federal Approval of EV Truck Rules
This week the California Air Resources Board (CARB) withdrew its outstanding request for federal approval to fully implement its Advanced Clean Fleets (ACF) rule, which mandates the transition from diesel to zero-emission trucks and other vehicles. To have moved forward with the full ACF rollout, CARB would have needed a waiver of preemption from EPA under the federal Clean Air Act, which…
U.S. House Ag Committee Chair Visits California, WG Shares Farm Bill Priorities
Last week, Rep. Glenn ‘GT’ Thompson (R-PA) visited with farmers and local officials in central and northern California to better understand the industry’s biggest challenges and opportunities in the state. As the current Chairman of the U.S. House Committee on Agriculture, Rep. Thompson will lead the Committee’s efforts to reauthorize the Farm Bill, which will expire this year. To…
Congress Acts to Avert Rail Strike
This week, President Biden officially called on Congress to pass legislation adopting a tentative labor agreement between railroads and the workers without any modifications or delay. On Wednesday, the House approved a bill doing just that, as well as separately approving an amendment to add seven days of paid sick leave to the agreement. Today, ...
AMS Releases 2019 User-Fee Rates for Voluntary Fruit, Vegetable and Specialty Crop Services
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) has released the 2019 rates for voluntary fruits, vegetables and specialty crop services. The rates include pricing for voluntary grading, inspection, certification, verification and laboratory services for a variety of agricultural commodities. These services ensure the quality and availability of produce for…
US-Mexico Tomato Suspension Agreement Terminated, Imports to Face 17.5% Duties
On May 7, the U.S. Department of Commerce announced the termination of the U.S.-Mexico tomato suspension agreement. This follows its initial notice of intent to withdraw from the agreement back on February 6, 2019. In response to a petition requesting an antidumping investigation of Mexican tomato imports, an agreement was reached in 1996 between the ...
India Increases Tariffs on Almonds, Walnuts, and Apples
On June 16, 2019, India officially imposed tariff increases on dozens of U.S. products, including almonds, walnuts and apples. New tariff amounts: Almonds, shelled – 20% increase; new effective rate is INR120/kg Almonds, in-shell – 20% increase; new effective rate is INR42/kg Walnuts, shelled – 20% increase; new effective rate is 50.9% Walnuts, in-shell – ...
U.S. Celery Export Violations Found in Japan
Western Growers has been informed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) that some recent shipments of U.S. celery to Japan have exceeded the country’s maximum residue level (MRL) tolerances on multiple separate incidents related to acephate and methamidophos. Per current policy of Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare (MHLW), the violations have triggered a ...
Analysis on What Trade Issues Mean for WG Members
As we head towards the end of the summer season, the world of international trade continues to be a volatile one. Western Growers is actively working on several fronts to ensure our members’ existing or prospective markets remain open to their products. Here are some updates for your awareness: CHINA What to Know: Progress towards ...
U.S. Set to Impose 25% Tariff on E.U. Ag Products
On Wednesday October 2, the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) announced that the U.S. received approval from the World Trade Organization (WTO) to impose tariffs on $7.5 billion of selected EU products, as result of its win in a long-running case against illegal EU aircraft subsidies. Effective October 18, 2019 USTR will ...
Western Growers & Industry Allies to USTR: We Need China Tariff Relief
On Thursday, November 21, Western Growers and nearly 15 of its specialty crop allies sent a letter to the U.S. Trade Representative, urging Ambassador Robert Lighthizer to secure the elimination of China’s retaliatory tariffs on fresh fruit, vegetables, and tree nuts. The letter was also sent to U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) trade officials, as ...
Hong Kong Suspends Romaine Lettuce from Salinas
The Hong Kong government has suspended the import and sale of Salinas-originated romaine lettuce, due to the most recent E.coli outbreak. According to the USDA-Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS), the ban has been effective since November 23, 2019, and applies to any and all forms, including head and salad mixes. Per this latest notice, Hong Kong’s ...
Organic Grower Information Needed for USDA Survey
Starting this month, USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) will be reaching out to U.S. organic producers for its five-year update on the organic industry. This update is arguably the most comprehensive source of data on organic farming in the United States, with both governmental and non-governmental decision-making being heavily influenced by its findings and ...
The Phase One U.S.-China Deal: What’s In It for Ag?
On Wednesday, January 15, 2020, representatives of the United States and China signed a phase one trade agreement that represents a positive step towards ending the nearly two-year-long trade war. Western Growers Board Chairman Ryan Talley of Talley Farms attended the White House signing ceremony on behalf of our membership. WG’s official press release on ...
Emergency Hours-of-Service Relief Declared for Truck Drivers
On Friday, March 13, 2020, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) published an emergency declaration that provides relief from its hours-of-service (HOS) rules to truck drivers engaged in emergency coronavirus, or COVID-19, relief efforts. The declaration is in response to the ongoing COVID-19 outbreaks and the need for increased transportation to move immediate supplies,…