With the expiration of the extension of the 2018 Farm Bill, U.S. farmers and ranchers could already be feeling the impact. Key programs supporting agriculture have been disrupted, and uncertainty looms over the industry. Sam Kieffer, vice president of public policy for the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF), highlighted some of the immediate consequences. “Most impacts won’t be felt until …
Video: Robert Bonnie Message for Farmers Affected by Hurricane Helene
USDA Undersecretary Robert Bonnie discusses the support and aid available from the USDA for agricultural communities affected by Hurricane Helene. Bonnie emphasizes the USDA’s commitment to assisting farmers through streamlined procedures and increased flexibility in programs like crop insurance and conservation efforts. There is a focus on reducing paperwork requirements, enhancing loss documentation processes, and providing emergency provisions. Additionally, the …
Hurricane Helene Causes Significant Agricultural Damage
Hurricane Helene, which made landfall on the eastern coast late last week, has left a trail of destruction across several agricultural regions. Farmers in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, and Virginia reported extensive crop losses, particularly in corn, soybean, and cotton fields, as heavy winds and torrential rains battered the area. Several poultry operations faced significant losses as well. Cotton crops …
Assistant Attorney General Jonathan Kanter Addresses Agricultural Consolidation in Webinar
During a recent webinar hosted by Farm Action, Assistant Attorney General Jonathan Kanter discussed the U.S. Department of Justice’s (DOJ) approach to addressing the concentration and corporate consolidation impacting the agricultural sector. Speaking to an audience of farmers and industry advocates, Kanter emphasized that agricultural competition has been a priority for the DOJ’s Antitrust Division since he took office. Kanter …
New Scorecard Aims to Support Family Farmers
A new initiative called the Limited Government Agriculture Scorecard has been launched to help family farmers and ranchers in the United States. This scorecard is created by Competitive Markets Action, the Institute for Legislative Analysis, and the Organization for Competitive Markets. Its main goal is to fight against cronyism in agriculture and hold lawmakers accountable for their actions. The agriculture …
Potential Changes from Overturning the Chevron Doctrine
At the 2024 Annual Meeting, the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) invited experts from the National Agricultural Law Center to discuss the possible impacts of the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to overturn the Chevron doctrine. This important legal principle, established in 1984, has guided how courts defer to federal agencies in interpreting laws for nearly four decades. …
McKalip on Agricultural Recovery Following Hurricane Helene
While the total extent of damage may not be known for days or weeks, in response to the damage caused by Hurricane Helene, the Biden-Harris Administration is bolstering recovery efforts across the agricultural sector. Chief Agricultural Negotiator Doug McKalip reinforced this during an interview Monday morning with Southeast AgNet. “I just wanted to take a second to, acknowledge, the hurricane …
USDA Invests in Global Food Security
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is taking big steps to improve food security around the world. At the recent Clinton Global Initiative 2024 meeting, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced a substantial investment of $466.5 million for two important programs: the McGovern-Dole International Food for Education and Child Nutrition Program and Food for Progress. The McGovern-Dole program will receive $248 …
USDA Offers $58 Million for Organic Dairy Producers
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has announced the Organic Dairy Marketing Assistance Program (ODMAP) 2024, providing $58 million in marketing assistance to certified organic dairy producers. This program aims to help farmers expand their markets and boost the consumption of organic dairy products. Zach Ducheneaux, Farm Service Agency (FSA) Administrator, highlighted the USDA’s commitment to supporting organic dairies during …
FDACS Announces Approval of First Loan for Hurricane Debby Impacted Florida Farmers
First loan approval comes just 15 days after Hurricane Debby made landfall in Florida (FDACS/TALLAHASSEE, FL/Sept. 27, 2024) — Today, Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson announced the approval of the first Hurricane Debby recovery loan through the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ (FDACS) Agriculture and Aquaculture Producers Natural Disaster Recovery Loan Program. Commissioner Simpson announced the launch of the …










