duarte

Rep. Duarte Doesn’t Expect 2024 Farm Bill

Dan Farm Bill, Legislative

Congress couldn’t pass a farm bill in 2023, but will it happen this year? Congressman John Duarte, a Republican from California, is unsure if we will see it pass in 2024. “Any farm bill that we do this year probably have to go through suspension, meaning we need two-thirds of the entire Congress to vote for it,” Duarte said, “which …

farmworker housing

Florida Bill Could Clear Way for Farmworker Housing

Dan Florida, Labor and Immigration, Legislative

(NSF/TALLAHASSEE, FL/March 18, 2024) — Florida’s agriculture industry hopes a newly passed bill that would limit local regulations on farmworker housing will bolster efforts to bring in more non-immigrant foreign workers. The bill (SB 1082), which lawmakers unanimously passed, would prevent cities and counties from taking steps to “inhibit” construction of housing for farmworkers on agricultural land. The bill has …

label

USDA Finalizes Product of USA Label Rule

Dan Agri-Business, Legislative, Regulation

The USDA finalized a rule to align the voluntary “Product of USA” label claim with consumer understanding of what the claim means. U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced the rule Monday at the National Farmer’s Union annual convention in Scottsdale, Arizona. “We are now on record as being for the utilization of that label only, only, when the animal was …

House Agriculture Committee

House Agriculture Committee Offers Farm Labor Solution

Dan Agri-Business, Labor and Immigration, Legislative

The House Agriculture Committee laid out a roadmap to relieve labor shortages that have seriously impacted America’s farmers and ranchers. The Agriculture Labor Working Group (ALWG) released its final report on how to improve the H-2A guest worker program. It includes more than 20 recommendations to streamline the program and make labor more affordable for farmers. “We’re losing American farms …

lawmakers

Lawmakers Pass Budget, End Session

Dan Florida, Legislative

(NSF/TALLAHASSEE, FL) — After a flurry of last-minute votes on bills, Florida lawmakers Friday passed a $117.46 billion state budget and ended the 2024 legislative session. House Speaker Paul Renner, R-Palm Coast, and Senate President Kathleen Passidomo, R-Naples, gaveled the 60-day session to a close at 2:25 p.m., before going to the rotunda between the House and Senate for a …

expiring

USDA: Expiring Estate Tax Provisions Would Increase Taxes for Farm Estates

Dan Economy, Legislative, Regulation, This Land of Ours, USDA-ERS

An expiring estate tax could be very costly for farm estates. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. The 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act significantly changed federal individual income and estate tax policies, though some were temporary. In 2018, the legislation increased the estate tax exemption amount from $5.49 million to $11.18 million. This increase expires at the …

dicamba

Ag Groups Respond to Dicamba Decision

Dan Agri-Business, Environment, Legislative, Regulation

Agriculture groups around the nation responded to the EPA’s decision to allow farmers to use existing stocks of dicamba for the upcoming planting season. The American Farm Bureau Federation sent a letter to EPA that read, “We are grateful to EPA for hearing farmers’ and ranchers’ concerns and addressing them quickly to ensure we have access to the critical tools …

nfu

NFU Leads Letter to Congress: Uphold Packers and Stockyards Act Progress

Dan Cattle, Legislative, Marketing, National Farmers Union (NFU)

Last week, the National Farmers Union (NFU) sent a letter to Appropriations Committee leadership (.pdf) opposing restrictions that would undo work to revitalize the Packers and Stockyards Act. The letter, signed by national, regional, and state organizations, points out that “opponents of competitive agricultural markets are seeking to roll back the work USDA has already completed, prevent USDA from making …

avma

AVMA Plans Annual Legislative Fly-in

Dan Cattle, Equine, Legislative, Livestock, Livestock News, Pork, Poultry, Rabbits, Sheep-Goats

Veterinarians will visit Capitol Hill next Tuesday to discuss legislative priorities with lawmakers. As part of the American Veterinary Medical Association‘s (AMVA) annual legislative fly-in, advocates will urge congressional offices to support and cosponsor the Rural Veterinary Workforce Act. AVMA President Dr. Rena Carlson says, “We need to do more to attract and retain veterinarians in rural and underserved areas, …

commissioner

Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson, Legislative Leaders Launch Hurricane Idalia Recovery Programs for Florida Farmers

Dan Florida, Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS), Legislative

(FDACS/TALLAHASSEE, FL/January 16, 2024) — Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson and legislative leaders announced the launch of two agricultural disaster recovery programs with over $112 million in funding to help Florida farmers, ranchers, and growers rebuild and recover from Hurricane Idalia. Impacted agricultural producers can now apply for the Agriculture and Aquaculture Producers Natural Disaster Recovery Loan Program and the Silviculture Recovery Program. …