Optimism on Sept. 30 Farm Bill Completion

All of agriculture knows the farm bill conference committee has just a handful of legislative days left to complete and pass a new bill before the current one expires at the end of the month. National Cattlemen’s Beef Association Senior Vice President of Government Affairs Colin Woodall is optimistic that will happen. Optimistic on September 30 Farm Bill Completion Sponsored ContentCIR …

Edible Hedges You Need to Grow

You need to grow something for privacy. Why not combine food and privacy together? Cathy Isom has some ideas about hedges or shrubs you could grow in your yard that offer more than just privacy. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. Edible Hedges You Need to Grow When thinking about how to landscape your yard for privacy, chain …

Gap Remains in Farm Bill Talks Over SNAP

Senate Ag Committee Leaders said the farm bill compromise offered by House Ag Chair Michael Conaway doesn’t go far enough. Politico says Conaway described it as a “significant compromise.” The disagreement has slowed the efforts to reconcile the House and Senate Farm Bills. Senate Ag Ranking Member Debbie Stabenow says the offer isn’t even close to something that the Senate …

Industry Coalition Opposes New China Tariffs

A coalition of more than 150 business groups, including several in agriculture, wrote a letter to U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer this week regarding trade. The Hagstrom Report says the groups fear additional 10 percent or 25 percent tariffs, put in place under Section 301 authority, will backfire. The letter says, “Continuing the tit-for-tat escalation with China only serves to …

OTA Wants Voluntary Checkoff Program

The Organic Trade Association (OTA) announced a plan to move the industry toward a voluntary industry-invested organic research, promotion, and education checkoff program. It will be put together and in place by stakeholders across the organic supply chain. Laura Batcha is CEO of the Organic Trade Association. She says the group recognizes the industry’s demand for coordinated organic research and …

Swine Fever Spreads; FAO Calls Emergency Meeting

China reported another four cases of African Swine Fever. The trade website Meating Place Dot Com says that brings the total number of cases to 13 since the virus was first found in the country last month. The United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization called a three-day emergency meeting of experts to propose responses to halt the spread of the …

Kansas Cattle Traceability Project Moving Forward

The Kansas-based Cattle Trace pilot project is on track to begin testing a purpose-built infrastructure for cattle disease traceability by this fall. Traceability is a top priority for the cattle industry. The Cattle Trace pilot project will help kickstart discussions and development on an enhanced traceability program in Kansas and around the country. Last month, CattleTrace, Inc., was established as …

Agri View: Overhauling Livestock Hauling

Everett Griner talks about laws changing for the over-the-road livestock hauler in today’s Agri View. Overhauling Livestock Hauling It will be very difficult to produce livestock without trucks to haul it. Not many people, besides the truckers themselves and the farmers, realize the tough laws that truckers have to live with. They cannot move a load more than 11 hours …