How much of our U.S. ag land should belong to our adversaries? About three percent of agricultural land in the United States is owned by foreign entities. But U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer, a Republican from North Dakota, says even that may be too much. He’s a cosponsor of the Foreign Adversary Risk Management (FARM) Act. Senator Cramer joins host Sabrina …
AgNet Weekly: Sens. Boozman, Cramer, and Hoeven on Farm Bill Issues
This week host Sabrina Halvorson had the opportunity to meet in person with Ranking Member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, John Boozman of Arkansas, along with Ranking Member of the Agriculture Appropriations Committee Senator John Hoeven of North Dakota. It was at a Farm Bill roundtable held in Fargo, and hosted by Senator Kevin Cramer of North Dakota. She got …
AgNet Weekly: Rep John Duarte on the GATES Act
The Growing Access to Environmental Sustainability (GATES) Act seeks to reduce barriers that producers face in accessing agricultural conservation programs. Congressman John Duarte, a farmer from California, is on the coalition behind the act. He says current adjusted gross income (AGI) limitations of $900,000 disproportionately limit producers with high input costs from participating in certain USDA conservation-focused programs. The congressman …
AgNet Weekly: Ethan Lane and Representative Victoria Spartz
This week, Sabrina reported on a proposed amendment to the ag appropriations bill. The amendment states that none of the funds made available by the bill may be used to carry out commodity checkoff programs. Several industry groups came out against the amendment, and she spoke with a representative of one- Vice President of Government Affairs with the National Cattlemen’s …
AgNet Weekly: Curt Blades, AEM, Precision Agriculture Benefits
Many people in farming already know the benefits of precision agriculture but Curt Blades, Senior Vice President of the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) says a new study by the association aims to help the public understand. Blades joins us this week to talk about the benefits of precision agriculture and precision ag in the farm bill. Each week we …
AgNet Weekly: NAFB President Joe Gill on S1669, the AM Radio in Every Vehicle Act
Some car makers have decided to not include AM radio in new vehicles. A number of groups have spent months fighting that decision, including emergency management organizations, former members of FEMA, and the National Association of Farm Broadcasters. NAFB president Joe Gill joins us this week to discuss why the organization believes this is an important issue. Each week we …
AgNet Weekly: Representative Doug LaMalfa on Farm Labor Working Group
Congress is looking into farm labor needs around the nation, but it is a challenging task. The House Agriculture Committee recently announced the creation of the bipartisan Agricultural Labor Working Group, which will focus on the workforce issues faced by agricultural producers around the nation. Congressman and farmer Doug LaMalfa of California joins host Sabrina Halvorson to discuss the group …
AgNet Weekly: Dr. Margaret Worthington on New EPA Regulations for Gene Editing
Fruit and vegetable plant breeders who use gene editing are now facing more regulations from the Environmental Protection Agency. The EPA recently increased oversight of some gene-edited crops and added to the workload and waiting time for those breeders. Dr. Margaret Worthington is an Associate Professor of Horticulture at the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture and she believes …
AgNet Weekly: Rep Dan Kildee on Mexico, GMO Corn, and the USMCA
Congressman Dan Kildee (D-MI-08) says if Mexico’s president wanted to restrict GMO corn from the U.S., the time to do that was more than three years ago, before he agreed to the terms of the US-Mexico-Canada trade agreement. Sabrina Halvorson talks with the congressman to get insight into the trade dispute. Each week we highlight essential legislative and policy conversations …
AgNet Weekly: Rep John Duarte on Dignity Act
We spoke last month with Congressman John Duarte of California when he was one of only two Republicans to vote against H.R. 2, the Secure the Border Act. He has now given his support to the Dignity Act and we catch up with him this week to find out why he feels it is the right approach to immigration. Each …