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Transportation Alert: 3 Updates to Know
In these hectic times, there is a constant flood of information and updates. As you work to ensure your products are moving as smoothly as possible, here are three quick transportation alerts for your awareness: FMCSA EXTENDS COVID-19 HOURS-OF-SERVICE EXEMPTIONS TO JUNE 14 On Wednesday, the Federal Motor Carriers Safety Administration (FMCSA) officially extended its ...
Nominees Needed for the National Organic Standards Board
USDA is seeking nominations to fill five open seats on the National Organic Standards Board (NOSB). The deadline is June 1, 2020. First established in 2001, the NOSB considers and makes recommendations on a wide range of issues involving the production, handling, and processing of organic products. The NOSB also has special responsibilities related to ...
China Demanding “COVID-Free” Guarantees on Food Imports
There have been very recent reports that food exporters are being asked by China to guarantee that their products are not contaminated with the novel coronavirus. This has since been confirmed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) office. Thus far, the request is for some type of ‘Letter ...
Emergency Hours-of-Service Exemptions For Produce Truckers Expired
On July 14, 2020, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) emergency exemption from certain HOS requirements expired and was not extended for most agricultural categories. Specifically, the announcement states that Emergency Declaration No. 2020-002 will be extended to August 14, 2020 only for the following circumstances: transport of livestock and livestock feed; transport of…
U.S. House Approves Annual Funding for Agriculture
On Friday, July 24, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 7608, a fiscal year 2021 funding bill that provides for U.S. agriculture and USDA programs, in addition to rural development, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and Department of Interior (DOI) programs. Separate from the recent standalone trade mitigation and coronavirus assistance provided to ...
USDA Adds More Eligible Crops for CFAP, Extends Deadline
On Tuesday, August 11, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced the inclusion of additional eligible crops in the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP). USDA is also extending the deadline to apply for the program to Friday, September 11. The timeframe for eligible losses continues to be January 15 – April 15, 2020. The full announcement ...
Trump Administration Releases Proposal to Address Foreign Imports’ Impact on U.S. Fruits & Vegetables
On Tuesday, September 1, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR), the Department of Agriculture (USDA), and the Department of Commerce (Commerce) released a joint report outlining the Trump Administration’s plan to address foreign produce imports and their impact on American producers of seasonal and perishable fruits and vegetables. The report stems from the Administration’s…
Export Problems Rise at West Coast Ports With No End in Sight
In recent weeks, Western Growers has become aware through direct member communication and media reports that significant exporting issues are arising and impacting agricultural exporters. The current situation is being felt throughout the West Coast, with the Los Angeles and Long Beach ports experiencing the worst of it. Based on current reports, there is a ...
Western Growers, Allies Share Trade Priorities with Biden Transition Team
On Tuesday, January 12, Western Growers and a dozen of its fresh produce allies sent a letter to President-elect Joe Biden, highlighting several international trade matters that are jointly important to the group. Agricultural trade has been a hot button issue in recent years – particularly under the Trump Administration – and it is expected ...
USDA Opens Process for Producers to Adjust CFAP 2 Payments, Ends February 26
Last Friday, USDA announced plans that would help certain producers potentially receive additional Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP) support. Specifically regarding specialty crops, producers with existing approved CFAP 2 applications can amend their eligible 2019 calendar year sales to account for crop insurance indemnities, Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) payments,…
Western Growers, Industry Allies Urge Federal Action on Export Crisis at West Coast Ports
This week, Western Growers and nearly 300 allied agriculture and forest products companies and associations sent a letter to Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg, urging his immediate intervention to support U.S. exporters and ensure their access to overseas markets. Since fall of 2020, U.S. agricultural exporters have faced extreme challenges getting their products onto ships ...
Western Growers Efforts Result in $700 Million from USDA for Worker Protection
On Tuesday, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced a spate of new funding as part of the its ongoing Pandemic Assistance for Producers initiative. The funding includes $700 million dedicated towards Pandemic Response and Safety Grants for Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and other protective measures to help specialty crop growers and others in the ...
Participate in WG Climate/Sustainability Survey
Western Growers is a leading voice on behalf of our industry in the climate/sustainability arena, and we need your feedback to help us inform policymakers and influence legislation and regulation. Which sustainability practices are you currently undertaking? Which would you consider adopting? What proposals should WG focus on? Please let us know by filling out the ...
Western Growers Supports Garamendi-Johnson Bill to Address Ocean Shipping Challenges and Reforms
On Tuesday August 10, U.S. House Representatives John Garamendi (CA) and Dusty Johnson (SD) introduced the Ocean Shipping Reform Act of 2021. In order to support the competitiveness of U.S. businesses that are reliant on maritime shipping transport, the bipartisan bill aims to crack down on unreasonable practices by container shipping lines, bolster U.S. enforcement ...
MRL Compliance is Crucial to Export Success
Due to recent Maximum Residue Limits (MRL) violations on export shipments of various fresh produce commodities, Western Growers reminds its members that while the United States may have established tolerances on a particular crop protection compound other countries’ threshold limits may be lower or non-established. MRL violations can trigger enhanced surveillance or test-and-hold protocols on…
Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach Increase to 24/7 Operations, In Response to Unprecedented Supply Chain Congestion
On Wednesday, the White House announced that the Port of Los Angeles and the Port of Long Beach will both be expanding operations to 24 hours-7 days a week. Historically, neither port has operated at that level, despite other ports around the world doing so. With the addition of new off-peak night time shifts and weekend hours, ...
Western Growers Celebrates U.S. House of Representatives Passage of the Ocean Shipping Reform Act of 2021
The U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 4996, the Ocean Shipping Reform Act of 2021 on December 8 with an impressive 364-60 vote, making clear its support for U.S. farm exporters that are reliant on maritime shipping transport. OSRA aims to crack down on unreasonable practices by container shipping lines, bolster U.S. enforcement against uncompetitive carrier practices, ...
“Containergeddon” Results in $2.1B Loss to California Farmers
The supply chain gridlock and shipping container shortage has resulted in California agriculture losing an estimated $2.1 billion (or 17 percent), according to a recent study released by the University of California, Davis. The report cites that from May to September 2021, the monthly number of containers loaded with agricultural products declined by 18 percent ...
Ocean Shipping Reform Act Gets Bipartisan Vote in U.S. Senate Committee
On March 22, the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science & Transportation passed S. 3580, the Ocean Shipping Reform Act. This bill aims to crack down on unreasonable practices by container shipping lines, bolster U.S. enforcement against uncompetitive carrier practices and improve transparency for exporters. The bill also works to ensure that carriers (e.g. container shipping…
Ag Industry to Biden Administration: Port of Oakland Export Service Must Be Restored
On April 25, Western Growers President and CEO Dave Puglia joined the heads of six agriculture associations in urging federal officials to bring ocean shipping carriers and the industry together to resolve the lack of service at Port of Oakland. In a letter addressed to United States Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, Department of ...