The U.S. Senate and House moved quickly Friday to pass a budget deal that includes assistance for cotton and dairy farmers, following a brief government shutdown. President Donald J. Trump signed the bill into law this morning. The Alabama Farmers Federation’s Mitt Walker said the bill will provide a cushion for producers, which is critical because of dim market outlooks. …
NCC: New Cotton Policy Gives Much Needed Boost
The National Cotton Council (NCC) greatly appreciates Congress’ passage of a supplemental disaster bill that includes critically needed policy that restores eligibility for cotton in the Title I Agriculture Risk Coverage and Price Loss Coverage programs of the farm bill. The legislation also includes important agricultural disaster assistance, as well as additional support to dairy producers. “This measure will provide …
Lobbyist Suggest Cotton, Dairy Fixes in Disaster Bill
Industry lobbyist for cotton and dairy say safety-net fixes are nearing. Key industry lobbyist told the Hagstrom Report they believe there will be fixes to the problems in the cotton and dairy programs in the package of appropriations and disaster funding that Senate leaders are working on. An unnamed source said: “This would be a big win for agriculture going …
Conaway Wants Cotton and Dairy Fix on Any Must-Pass Bill
House Agriculture Chairman Mike Conaway says Congress should attach provisions to help cotton and dairy farmers to any must-pass bill before the farm bill comes up. Speaking at the Crop Insurance Industry Annual Convention Monday in Phoenix, Arizona, Conaway signaled that he is no longer focused on just convincing the Senate to include the aid in the disaster bill, according …
Dairy Industry Emphasizing Unity
International Dairy Foods Association President and CEO Michael Dykes gave his annual state-of-the-industry speech to the Dairy Forum in California. One of his highlights focused on the unity between dairy producers and processors. The Hagstrom Report says that unity that has led to joint positions on the upcoming farm bill, as well as the Trump Administration’s strong advocacy for dairy …
CURD Act Would Codify Formal Definition of Natural Cheese
Bipartisan Senators from Wisconsin have introduced the CURD Act, or the Codifying Useful Regulatory Definitions Act. Senator Ron Johnson, a Republican from Wisconsin, says the bill would codify a formal definition of “natural cheese”, a term commonly used on food packaging that currently has no official definition. Need Under the CURD Act, “natural cheese” would be defined as cheese that …
Dairy Production Forecast Up, Price Forecast Down for 2018
USDA’s latest look at dairy shows trends of more production and lower prices for the next 12 months. Rod Bain has more information. Dairy Production Forecast Up, Price Forecast Down for 2018 Sponsored ContentFlorida Cattle Enhancement Board Provides Critical Funding To Enhance Brahman GeneticsApril 24, 2026Strong Relationship Exists Between the Florida Cattle Enhancement Board and UF-IFASApril 17, 2026Florida Cattle Enhancement …
Canada Says No NAFTA Dairy Negotiating Room with TPP 11 Agreement
With an agreement on the Trans-Pacific Partnership in place, Canada says there is now no room to negotiate it’s dairy pricing scheme through the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). TPP-11, as it’s called, will be signed in March by the 11 remaining member countries. The agreement was reached a day shy of a year after President Trump removed the …
Analyst to Dairy: Speak Up Now on Immigration
CNN political analyst and Republican strategist Ann Navarro told dairy farmers it’s time to make sure lawmakers “hear your voice” on immigration. Speaking to dairy farmers at the annual Dairy Strong Conference last week, she says farmers understand the immigration issue and urged them to keep pushing their representatives in Washington to act. Immigration is a key issue for dairy …
Dairy States Need Strong NAFTA
Trade, and improving trade, is critically important for the U.S. dairy industry, especially in Wisconsin. U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin, a democrat from Wisconsin, says trade is vitally important to all sectors of the U.S. economy, including dairy, but the U.S. needs fair trade agreements. Baldwin says the Trump administration needs to double down its efforts to renegotiate the North American …