American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) President Zippy Duvall sent a letter to Congress late yesterday, urging lawmakers to consider the needs of farmers and ranchers as they debate changes to a key federal funding measure. The measure, known as a Continuing Resolution (CR), would help keep the government running while leaders work on a final budget. The AFBF is calling …
Congress Advances Farm Bill Extension and Aid Package
Congress is working to finalize a year-end government funding package that includes a one-year extension of the farm bill and billions of dollars in economic and disaster assistance. This bipartisan move aims to address challenges in the declining farm economy and support agricultural communities recovering from recent natural disasters. The proposed package, titled the Further Continuing Appropriations and Disaster Relief …
Commodity Groups Advocate for Economic Assistance Amid Farm Bill Delays
Farmers across the United States are facing growing financial pressures, and commodity groups are stepping up their calls for economic assistance as Congress continues to deliberate on a new farm bill. Organizations representing a wide array of crops and livestock have expressed concern over declining farm incomes, rising production costs, and the uncertainty stemming from the expiration of the previous …
Federal Court Blocks Corporate Transparency Act, Offering Relief to Farmers and Ranchers
Farmers and ranchers have received a temporary reprieve from federal reporting requirements under the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA), thanks to a nationwide injunction issued by the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas. The ruling delays enforcement of the Beneficial Ownership Information (BOI) filing requirements, which were set to take effect on January 1, 2025. The CTA mandates …
Farmers Across America Make Thanksgiving Dinner Possible
As families gather for Thanksgiving, many will consider the nationwide effort behind the feast on their tables. Farmers from coast to coast contribute to the holiday meal, as highlighted by the American Farm Bureau Federation’s (AFBF) analysis of Thanksgiving staples and their production origins. The AFBF’s 2024 Thanksgiving dinner cost survey estimates this year’s classic meal for 10 people at …
Farm Groups Respond to Brooke Rollins’ Nomination as Agriculture Secretary
President-elect Donald Trump has nominated Brooke Rollins as the next Secretary of Agriculture, drawing varied reactions from agricultural organizations eager to collaborate on key issues facing rural America. The National Farmers Union (NFU) expressed hope that Rollins’ rural upbringing and agricultural experience would inform her leadership. NFU President Rob Larew emphasized the challenges awaiting her, including high input costs, market …
H5N1 Outbreak Continues to Trouble U.S. Dairy and Poultry Industries
Since 2022, the U.S. poultry industry has been battling a particularly persistent strain of H5N1, or avian influenza, and more than 100 million birds have been affected over the last two and a half years. Bernt Nelson, an economist with the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF), says turkeys and egg layers have been hit the hardest. “Broiler flocks tend to benefit from …
Four Start-ups Advance in 2025 Ag Innovation Challenge
Four start-up companies have advanced to the final round of the 2025 Farm Bureau Ag Innovation Challenge, competing for a top prize of $100,000. The American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF), in partnership with Farm Credit, hosts the annual contest to highlight entrepreneurship in agriculture. “This competition helps entrepreneurs grow their ideas into products that support farmers and ranchers in their …
Farmers Face Jan. 1 Deadline to File Federal Ownership Reports
Thousands of farmers could face severe penalties, including fines and jail time, if they do not meet a new federal reporting deadline. The U.S. Department of Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) requires businesses, including many farms, to submit Beneficial Ownership Information (BOI) by January 1, 2025. A recent analysis from the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) estimates that more …
Farmers Face Uncertainty as 2018 Farm Bill Extension Expires Without Replacement
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 …