asi

ASI Endorses Animal Health Legislation

Dan American Sheep Industry Association (ASI), Legislative, Livestock, Regulation, Sheep-Goats

Livestock producer trade groups, including the American Sheep Industry Association (ASI), recently offered their support for the Foreign Animal Disease Prevention, Surveillance and Rapid Response Act of 2023 (H.R. 3419 and S. 1666). The bipartisan and bicameral legislation would continue making critical investments in foreign animal disease response programs currently overseen by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. ASI President Brad Boner of Wyoming said, …

ruling

Agricultural Groups Pleased with WOTUS Ruling

Dan Agri-Business, Beef, Cattle, Dairy, Legislative, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA), Regulation, WOTUS Act

Agricultural groups across the country continue to applaud the U.S. Supreme Court for their ruling in the Sackett v. EPA case, including the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA). The Court stated that the wetland under the jurisdiction of the Clean Water Act must have ‘a continuous surface connection with that water,’ making it difficult to determine where the water ends and the wetland begins. NCBA Chief Counsel …

climate

Many Agricultural Groups Commend SCOTUS Ruling on WOTUS

Dan Agri-Business, American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF), Beef, Cattle, Corn, Dairy, Environment, Field Crops, Georgia Department of Agriculture (GDA), Legislative, Livestock, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA), National Corn Growers Association (NCGA), National Pork Producers Council (NPPC), Pork, Regulation, Water, WOTUS Act

Many agricultural groups are applauding the U.S. Supreme Court for their ruling in the Sackett v. EPA case. The Agricultural Retailers Association (ARA) President and CEO Daren Coppock issued the following statement: “All of agriculture has been waiting for this ruling on defining Waters of the United States (WOTUS). The Court stated that the wetland under the jurisdiction of the Clean Water Act (CWA) must have ‘a continuous …

bill

Bill Incentivizes Use of Cover Crops

Dan Cover Crops, Legislative, Regulation, This Land of Ours

A new bill would give farmers more incentive to use cover crops. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and several state representatives introduced bipartisan legislation to incentivize farmers to plant cover crops to help boost environmental conservation. The Conservation Opportunity and Voluntary Environment Resilience Program (COVER) Act would provide farmers who plant cover crops …

forest

Nation’s Forests Topic of House Ag Subcommittee Hearing

Dan Forestry, Legislative

The nation’s forest systems, wood industries, and wildfires were the topic of a hearing last week in the House Agriculture Subcommittee on Forestry with Chief of the U.S. Forest Service Randy Moore. The hearing largely focused on wildfire management and prevention. “We have a number of forests across the US that are really maximizing their opportunities to use the tools …

off act

NCBA Endorses Legislation Protecting Animal Health

Dan Beef, Cattle, Legislative, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA), Regulation

The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) announced its support of the Foreign Animal Disease Prevention, Surveillance, and Rapid Response Act of 2023. The bipartisan legislation would continue making critical investments in foreign animal disease response programs currently overseen by USDA. “The threat of a foreign animal disease outbreak in the U.S. represents an existential threat to every cattle producer,” says …

senate

Senate Ag Committee Advances Torres Small Nomination

Dan Legislative

The Senate Agriculture Committee Wednesday advanced to the full senate the nomination of Xochitl Torres Small to be Deputy Secretary of Agriculture. Committee Chair Debbie Stabenow, a Michigan Democrat, says, ” Ms. Torres Small has a proven track record and a wide-ranging background that make her an ideal candidate to help lead the nearly 100,000 public servants at USDA.” Ranking …

ncba

Livestock Producers Give Opinions on EPA Regulations

Dan Cattle, Environment, Legislative, Livestock, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA), National Pork Producers Council (NPPC), Pork, Regulation, U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF), WOTUS Act

Representatives from livestock industries gave passionate responses when asked about Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations during a House Agriculture subcommittee hearing, Wednesday. “Can you speak to the detrimental effects these types of onerous rules have on livestock producers and how uncertainty in compliance costs trickle down to the American consumer,” asked Congressman Scott DesJarlais (R-TN-04). The first response was from …

Specialty crops

Expert Speaks on Specialty Crops in the Farm Bill

Dan Farm Bill, Legislative, Specialty Crops

There are extra considerations for specialty crops when creating farm bill priorities. It wasn’t until 2008 that Specialty Crops were specifically included in the Farm Bill with the introduction of the Horticulture Title. However, Jacqlyn Schneider, FGS Global partner for food and agriculture, and a former top aide to Senate Ag Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow, explains specialty crops have had other …

immigration

Duarte Says H.R. 2 E-Verify Program “Devastating” for Farmers

Sabrina Halvorson Labor and Immigration, Legislative

A Republican congressman says the GOP’s border bill doesn’t work for farmers or farm workers. H.R.2, the Secure the Border Act passed in the House last week with a vote of 219 to 213. All Democrats were opposed and all but two Republicans were in favor. One of those two Republicans was John Duarte of California. In an interview with …