house

House Subcommittee Limits USDA Cuts to 5 Percent

Dan Economy, Industry News Release

The House Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee advanced the fiscal year 2018 spending bill for discretionary programs at USDA and other agencies at just over $20 billion. That’s a $1.1 billion cut from last year’s funding bill and 5.2 percent less than current funding levels. If those numbers hold, USDA would get roughly $876 million less in funding levels compared to the …

perdue task force meeting rural america

Secretary Perdue Hosts Inaugural Rural Prosperity Task Force Meeting

Dan Economy, Industry News Release

Task Force showcases broad interagency support for promoting economic growth and spurring innovation in rural America U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue hosted the inaugural meeting of the Interagency Task Force on Agriculture and Rural Prosperity. Joined by Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Ben Carson, Secretary of Energy Rick Perry, Director of the White House Office of Management and …

Rancher Discusses Death Tax

Dan Cattle, Economy

One of the top issues being discussed in our nation’s capital right now is tax reform, and that, of course, includes the estate tax, or death tax, as many know it. It is something the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, among other groups in agriculture, would like to see repealed. Ed Frank talks with NCBA President-elect and fifth-generation California rancher Kevin …

study

Ag Trade Programs Affected by Proposed Budget Cuts

Dan Economy, Legislative

Many agricultural groups recently responded to the White House’s proposed fiscal year 2018 budget, which slashed a variety of programs that many in agriculture depend on. And Steve Mercer, vice president of communications for U.S. Wheat Associates, explains what two of those programs are. Congress has the proposed USDA budget for next fiscal year, and thus he encourages producers to …

subcommittee

Secretary Perdue to Testify Before Senate Ag Appropriations Subcommittee

Dan Economy, Industry News Release, Trade

Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue will give testimony to the Senate Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee Tuesday. The subcommittee will hold a hearing on President Donald Trump’s proposed budget for the fiscal year 2018. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue, Michel Young, the Department of Agriculture budget officer who is also acting deputy secretary, and Robert Johansson, USDA’s chief economist, are scheduled to testify, according …

farm

Pace of Young, Beginning and Small Farmer Loans Slowing

Dan Economy, Industry News Release

In 2016, the pace of new lending to Young, Beginning and Small Farmers, or YBS loans, remained relatively flat, according to a new report by the Farm Credit Administration. Regarding dollar volume, the pace of these loans slightly exceeded the pace of overall farm lending by Farm Credit System institutions. In terms of loan numbers, the pace of YBS lending …

dike repairs

Scott Gets Dike Money in Economic Development Bill

Dan Economy, Florida, Industry News Release

Jim Turner News Service of Florida Visit Florida will get a boost in marketing dollars from the amount lawmakers approved last month. Gov. Rick Scott will get $85 million to distribute — through a new fund — to help regional infrastructure projects aimed at economic-development. And as part of a bill approved Friday at the end of the three-day special …

Monthly Farm Economy Survey Holds Steady

Dan Economy, Industry News Release

A monthly survey on farmers thoughts regarding the farm economy held steady last month. The latest reading of the Purdue/CME Group Ag Economy Barometer, which is based on a monthly survey of 400 agricultural producers from across the country, was 130. The producer sentiment index has hovered near 130 for five of the last six months and remains considerably stronger …

Vilsack

Ag Lawmakers Discuss Proposed Budget Cuts

Dan Economy, Industry News Release

A recent Senate Agriculture Committee hearing left no doubt where agriculture lawmakers on both sides of the political aisle stand on the administration’s proposed cuts to key programs for rural America. Republican Committee Chair Pat Roberts recited a litany of gloomy ag statistics, warning against more spending cuts on top of cuts in the last farm bill and earlier cuts …