May 2005 - Page 3                        

Volume 12 - No. 5

People, Places and Things

Pump meter reporting to the Southwest Florida Water Management District should be resumed. The emergency order allowing growers to forego reporting, which was granted after Hurricane Charley was lifted as of January 1, 2005.  The District will begin enforcing the report requirements.  If you still have been unable to replace or repair damaged equipment, you must notify your local office for an exemption.  Hardee growers should contact Paul Murphy at (800) 492-7862.  All other PRVCGA area growers should contact Scott Laidlaw in the Sarasota office at (800)320-3503.


The Arcadia Canker office has moved!  The new location is 3600 NE Roan Street Arcadia, FL 34266.  The phone number remains the same-(863)491-5389.

The minimum wage in Florida increased May 2nd by $1.00 to $6.15 per hour. You need to make sure your payroll software is updated and your Worker Information - Terms and Conditions of Employment now reflects the new minimum wage. As of this printing, the Florida Agency for Workforce Innovation has stated there is not a new poster to inform the workers of this change nor do they have one planned. The new law also states that each September the Agency for Workforce Innovation will calculate a new minimum wage for the next calendar year based on changes in the consumer price index. Therefore, there is the possibility of a change in Florida’s Minimum Wage each January 1st.  See http://www.floridajobs.org/resources/fl_min_wage.html or Article X, Section 24 of Florida’s Constitution.

Chapp, Inc. reports their field compliance staff has seen an increase in vehicle safety compliance violations - mainly tires on passenger transportation vehicles. Remember, the standard is no less tread than 4/32" for front tires of buses and truck tractors, 2/32" in depth on all other tires. The US Department of Labor and the Florida DBPR continue close scrutiny of all aspects of worker transportation so please be pro-active for your worker’s safety. (29 CFR Part 500.104 (c); 49 CFR Part 393.75)

Another reminder from Chapp Inc. is that OSHA requires new farm tractor driver training (and field-use fork lift trucks) before using the equipment and has an annual training requirement for all employees who drive farm tractors.

This training should be documented in the employee’s file and maintained in case of a tractor related accident. Training handouts are available from Chapp (in both English and Spanish) and they would be happy to assist you in setting up a program. Chapp can be reached at (800)242-7898 or by e-mailing wwurth@chappinc.com .
 

FSA Payments Still Pending

PRVCGA staff continues to work with Farm Service Agency to hasten the citrus disaster payments. As a part of this process, you should have received a phone call from our staff regarding the status of your claim.

We have created a list of growers who need assistance in obtaining their funding. Staff has spent time in the local FSA office trying to better understand the delays in order to communicate the proper information to program officials, legislators, & answer your questions.

FSA staff is doing everything in their power to speed payments. Over 1,700 applications have been taken for the citrus disaster program alone. As of mid-April $66,619,148 has been paid from the Wauchula office.

Every phone call and every distraction decreases the number of files processed and ultimately the number of checks paid. PRVCGA continues to make the payments to our membership its priority. We ask if you have a question of comments to call our office and allow us to work on your behalf.

We have made arrangements with the FSA staff to provide lists of growers needing assistance or updates. We will obtain the information from the FSA staff and provide weekly personal updates to growers. This will free the FSA staff to get the job done.

SWFWMD Appointments

Governor Jeb Bush made the following appointments to the Southwest Florida Water Management District:

Todd Pressman, 47, of Clearwater, president, Pressman and Associates, Inc., to succeed Ronnie Duncan, for a term beginning April 14, 2005 & ending March 1, 2006.

Jennifer Closshey, 51, of Plant City, president, Ideas and Innovations, Inc., succeeding Maggie Dominguez, starting April 14, 2005, ending March 1, 2009.

C. A. "Neil" Combee, Jr., 45, of Lakeland, cattleman & realtor, Century Companies, who succeeds Ron Johnson, for a term beginning April 14, 2005 - March 1, 2009.

Edward W. Chance, 62, of Palmetto, retired, was reappointed for a term of April 14, 2005-March 1, 2009.
Senate confirmation is still required.

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