House Subcommittee Limits USDA Cuts to 5 Percent

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 …

Secretary Perdue Hosts Inaugural Rural Prosperity Task Force Meeting

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

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 It is something the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, among other groups in agriculture, would like to see repealed.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 …

Ag Trade Programs Affected by Proposed Budget Cuts

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 …

Secretary Perdue to Testify Before Senate Ag Appropriations Subcommittee

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 …

Pace of Young, Beginning and Small Farmer Loans Slowing

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 …

Ag Lawmakers Discuss Proposed Budget Cuts

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 …

Opposed to Proposed Agriculture Budget Cuts

There are many opposed to the cuts in agriculture programs in President Trump’s proposed FY2018 budget. But as Tyron Spearman reports, there are ag lawmakers ready to fight it when the time comes.   Sponsored ContentCIR Agriculture Harvester ProductsJuly 1, 2026FL Cattle Enhancement Board Wraps up Funding YearJune 30, 2026Florida Cattle Enhancement Board Awarded Researcher Discusses New World Screwworm OverviewJune …