More than 50 groups representing a wide scope of businesses sent a letter this week to Congress asking for approval of a multi-year extension of a series of expired tax credits. The groups attaching their names to the letter represent energy, agriculture, business, transportation, and real estate. The groups, which include the American Farm Bureau and National Biodiesel Board, say …
Setting Aside Money In Case of NAFTA Failure?
A Politico report shows just how worried some lawmakers are about the potential failure of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) negotiations. Officials began talking on Tuesday about putting together a potential bailout of sorts for farmers. During a conference call Tuesday morning, Iowa Republican Senator Chuck Grassley said he was going to ask U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer …
Christmas Tree Farming Seen Ups and Downs
Christmas tree farming is similar to other types of agriculture in many ways. Tree farming has seen ups-and-downs in production levels and prices. There are currently at least a few Christmas tree farms in every state in the union. Many are small choose-and-cut farms, while all of the country’s farms are run by families. However, Doug Hundley, seasonal spokesperson for …
Tax Bill Passage Means Lower Taxes for Farmers
Congress is providing farmers and ranchers with a last-minute holiday gift: lower tax bills in the future. A tax code overhaul passed by both the House and Senate this week makes many changes to the tax code that will benefit farmers and ranchers. American Farm Bureau Federation tax specialist Pat Wolff says the bill includes lower individual tax rates. Tax …
Citrus Money Passes House but Could Stall in Senate
Federal relief for Florida citrus growers cleared the U.S. House on Thursday, but its fate remained unclear in the Senate, which may not take up the package until January. Before the House vote, leaders separated an $81 billion disaster-relief package that includes citrus money from a short-term funding resolution needed to keep the government open through mid-January. The move drew …
Conaway Applauds House-Passed Hurricane, Wildfire, and Natural Disaster Aid Package
House Agriculture Committee Chairman K. Michael Conaway (TX-11) applauded House passage of a supplemental appropriations bill to address the disaster losses suffered by millions of Americans across the country, including farm and ranch families. Following passage, Chairman Conaway made the below remarks: “The 2017 hurricane season was the most costly and damaging on record. The lasting impacts of Hurricanes Harvey, …
Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture Reflects on Year of Progress
The Forest Service, an agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, highlighted some of the agency’s accomplishments during 2017 to improve the productivity, uses, and sustainability of national forests and grasslands. “Our accomplishments this year demonstrate the Forest Service’s strong commitment to improving the economic health of rural communities; ensuring lands and watersheds are sustainable, healthy and productive; and mitigating …
USDA’s Agricultural Research Service Pays It Forward with Research Achievements
With the year drawing to a close, the U.S. Department of agriculture’s (USDA) Agricultural Research Service (ARS) is preparing for 2018 with renewed vigor, building on its scientific and technological accomplishments to date—from a food nutrient database that consumers can access with the click of a mouse to a natural tire rubber made from guayule, a small flowering shrub native …
Expanding U.S. Commodity Markets Top Priority for USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service
64.5 billion pounds of fruit and vegetables, and 44.4 billion eggs graded/inspected domestically The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) announced the agency facilitated the export of more than $3.8 billion of American produced agricultural products in Fiscal Year 2017 through its Export Verification (EV), grading and classing programs. In a major victory for U.S. beef producers, …
NASS Research, Survey, and Technology Advancements in 2017 Serve U.S. Agriculture
Census of Agriculture is Updated for New Agricultural Trends and Ease of Responding The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) has advanced a number of programs in 2017 to serve U.S. agriculture with customer- and data-driven improvements. Among these enhancements are changes to the every-five-year census of agriculture, which officially launched at the end of November …