Fourth of July Safety in Florida and Funding for Rural Internet
From the Ag Information Network, I’m Bob Larson with your Agribusiness Update.
**With the Fourth of July upon us, Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson and the Florida Forest Service are encouraging everyone to use caution.
www.morningagclips.com reports, this year alone, 1,889 wildfires have burned more than 85,000 acres throughout Florida.
Simpson says, as we gather with friends and family, he’s urging all Floridians to use fire and fireworks responsibly to keep our communities and first responders safe from wildfire.
www.morningagclips.com/fdacs-florida-forest-service-provide-fire-safety-tips-for-fourth-of-july-celebrations/
**Members of the House Ag Committee have formed a bipartisan
Ag Labor Working Group to address ag labor shortages and other workforce issues, including reforming the H-2A visa program.
In recent years the number of foreign nationals brought in to fill temporary, seasonal farm jobs has been insufficient to meet the year-round needs of livestock farmers.
The National Pork Producers Council supports expanding and reforming the H-2A program.
**The Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration announced allocated funding for reliable high-speed internet.
States, D.C., and territories will use funding from the $42.45 billion Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment program to administer grant programs within their borders.
Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo says, “What this announcement means for people across the country is that if you don’t have access to quality, affordable high-speed Internet service now – you will.”
To view state-by-state funding across the Biden Administration's high-speed Internet portfolio, visit InternetforAll.gov.
