Each week, the editorial team at Greenhouse Grower and Meister Media Worldwide will bring you the latest updates from the Trump administration’s policies and their impact on floriculture, from labor to the farm bill to funding for anything from federal loans to research and Extension. We also want to hear from you. What questions do you have about immigration enforcement, tariffs, or other topics? Let us know, and we’ll do our best to get you answers.
Here’s our update for Feb. 20.
Canadian Peat Status
The Canadian Sphagnum Peat Moss Association (CSPMA), an association of horticultural peat moss producers and businesses devoted to promoting the sustainable management of both the industry and the Canadian peatlands, has been tracking the potential implications of U.S. tariffs placed on Canada. CSPMA President Asha Hingorani recently issued the following statement on behalf of the association: “The Canadian horticultural peat industry is concerned by the impact that potential tariff implementation could have on its U.S. grower and retail customers. The industry is thus working closely with federal and provincial governments to ensure customers are least affected and that they maintain a continuous supply critical to them. Canadian peat is a unique natural resource serving as a significant contributor to America’s food security and well-being and is the substrate of choice used to grow and produce fruits and vegetables, mushrooms, soil amendments, cannabis, flowers, and reforestation seedlings.”
Canadian Sentiments
Speaking of Canada, the editorial team at CEAg World, a sister brand to Greenhouse Grower covering the controlled environment agriculture industry, recently held a roundtable conversation on the future of vertical farming, which will be covered in an upcoming Vertical Farming Industry Report.
During that discussion Andy O’Brien, CEO of GoodLeaf Farms in Ontario, weighed in on the U.S.-Canada relationship from a consumer perspective: “I’d say there’s a cultural sentiment of Canadians going on that I’ve never seen. I’ve been on both sides of the border for my career. Canadians can be pretty passive, for the most part. They’re not passive right now if you look at what’s going on on social media up here. It’s not normal for Canadians to be saying they’re going to boycott anything that’s American. But right now, that’s what’s happening. I’m not sure how long it’s going to last, but hopefully cooler heads prevail and we get back to normal business.”
CEA in the Trump Era
And speaking of CEAg World, the team asked that roundtable of CEA professionals for their views on how the new administration will affect U.S. farming. While acknowledging the difficulty of prognostication in the current environment, the group did pinpoint major areas of concern, as well as potential opportunities. You can learn more in the CEAg Talks video, moderated by Kristin Zeit, Content Lead for CEAg World, here.
AmericanHort and H-2B Workforce Coalition Advocate for Seasonal Labor Reforms with Trump Administration
AmericanHort and the H-2B Workforce Coalition emphasized the critical role of the H-2B visa program in supporting seasonal businesses and preserving U.S. jobs in a letter to the Trump Administration. The letter highlights the extensive efforts made to recruit American workers before turning to temporary foreign labor and underscores the need to update the outdated 66,000 annual visa cap. The Coalition urges the administration to extend authority for supplemental visas and work toward long-term reform to ensure businesses can meet their labor needs while sustaining economic growth. You can find the letter here.
Other Headlines
- Navigating New Labor Policies to Obtain a Sustainable Workforce: AmericanHort’s Matt Mika talks about securing practical labor solutions while navigating new tariff policies out of the Trump administration. Learn more here.
- Brooke Rollins Confirmed as New U.S. Secretary of Agriculture: Having held multiple positions in the first Trump administration, Brooke Rollins succeeds Tom Vilsack as the next Secretary of Agriculture. Learn more here.
