New advisory committee to boost southeastern agriculture competitiveness

May 31, 2024

By Farms.com

The U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) and the Department of Agriculture (USDA) have appointed members to the newly established Seasonal and Perishable Agricultural Products Advisory Committee.

This committee aims to offer advice and recommendations to bolster the competitiveness of producers of seasonal and perishable agricultural products in the Southeastern United States.

Prompted by congressional requests following a Section 301 petition, the committee will focus on understanding and addressing market dynamics impacting producers in the region.

Committee members will bring expertise in various aspects of seasonal and perishable agriculture, contributing to efforts to support Southeastern producers.

The Administration's commitment to supporting specialty crop growers includes initiatives such as the USDA's Specialty Crops Competitiveness Initiative. This initiative aims to equip producers with tools and resources to enhance competitiveness in both domestic and international markets.

USTR and USDA will collaborate with the committee and congressional stakeholders to explore potential administrative actions and legislative measures that can benefit Southeastern producers.

Video: Sow Welfare and Group Housing Systems - Dr. Laya Alves

In this episode of The Swine it Podcast Show Canada, Dr. Laya Alves from the University of São Paulo, in Brazil, discusses how animal welfare regulations are evolving globally and their impact on pig production systems. She explains challenges in group housing, pain management, and euthanasia decisions, while highlighting the role of training and management in improving outcomes and economic sustainability. Listen now on all major platforms!

"Translating welfare requirements into daily farm routines without compromising economic sustainability remains one of the biggest challenges faced by producers globally today."

Meet the guest: Dr. Laya Alves / laya-kannan is a Postdoctoral Researcher at the University of São Paulo, Brazil, focusing on animal welfare in pig production, including pain management, euthanasia, and economic decision making. Her work integrates welfare science with practical farm management and sustainability. She collaborates globally to develop applied tools for producers.