Broadband: U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue applauded the robust investment of $600 million in rural broadband for the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), which was included in the FY 2018 Omnibus Spending Package. The funding comes at a time when President Donald J. Trump is pursuing an ambitious agenda to rebuild America’s infrastructure, including a special emphasis on rural …
Omnibus Spending Bill Also Contains Livestock “Fixes”
The U.S. Cattlemen’s Association was pleased to see that the omnibus appropriations spending bill released on Wednesday night has what it called “two common-sense solutions to regulatory overreach in the Fiscal Year 2018.” The spending bill includes a one-year delay of the Electronic Logging Devices mandate for livestock haulers. It also excludes livestock producers from the reporting requirements of the …
Appropriations Bill Agreed Upon by Congress, Contains Section 199A “Fix”
The Hagstrom Report says congressional leaders have agreed on an omnibus appropriations bill to fund the government through September 30. It passed a House vote, 256-167, and is expected to pass in the Senate before the weekend. There may still need to be a short-term continuing resolution if any senators object to the bill. The bill does contain a fix …
Trump: China Tariffs Will Total $50 Billion
President Donald Trump announced an estimated $50 billion in tariffs against Chinese imports today. Bloomberg says it’s a retaliatory move against intellectual property violations. The move will take effect on more than 100 different types of Chinese products. The overall value of the tariffs was based on economic estimates of the damage caused by those intellectual property violations. Last year, …
Perdue Comments Regarding Omnibus Spending Bill
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue issued the following statement regarding the omnibus spending bill released by Congressional leaders: “The omnibus spending plan released last night contains a number of our priorities at USDA. Fixing the so-called ‘grain glitch’ 199A problem is simply an issue of fairness. We should not be picking winners and losers through the federal tax code …
NFU Concerned About Harmful Modifications to Section 199A
Congressional appropriators revealed an omnibus appropriations bill that includes significant and harmful modifications to an important tax break for farmers and agricultural cooperatives. The break is known as Section 199A, was included in last year’s tax overhaul, as a means of leveling the playing field between ag cooperatives and corporations who received a sizeable tax break in the legislation. The …
Deadline Looming for Federal Spending Bill
Farmers and others involved in agriculture have more than one reason to follow the progress of a government spending bill and the ever-shrinking amount of time to get that bill passed. Gary Crawford has the story. Deadline Looming for Federal Spending Bill Sponsored ContentCIR Agriculture Harvester ProductsJuly 1, 2026FL Cattle Enhancement Board Wraps up Funding YearJune 30, 2026Florida Cattle Enhancement …
SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loans Available in Alabama Following Secretary of Agriculture Disaster Declaration
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced that federal Economic Injury Disaster Loans are available to small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, small businesses engaged in aquaculture and most private nonprofit organizations located in Alabama as a result of the drought that began on Jan. 30, 2018. The SBA’s disaster declaration includes the following counties: Bibb, Blount, Calhoun, Chilton, Coosa, Cullman, …
Rural Mainstreet Index Remains Positive
Dodd-Frank Limits Lending for Most Rural Banks March Survey Results at a Glance: * For a second straight month the overall index rose above growth neutral. * Approximately 16.8 percent of grain farmers are expected to suffer negative cash flow for 2018. This is down slightly from 12 months earlier. * The percent of farmland purchases for cash (not financed) declined …
Farm Bureau Compares Crop Insurance to Ad Hoc Disaster
As Congress continues preparation for the 2018 Farm Bill, rural America continues to voice its support for maintaining a strong crop insurance system. One of the loudest voices in that chorus belongs to the country’s largest farm organization, the American Farm Bureau Federation. An active member of the crop insurance coalition, Farm Bureau is working hard to dispel myths about …