Since the 2018 Farm Bill was enacted, USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) has been working to implement programs that offers strong support for conservation efforts of America’s farmers and ranchers. One of those is the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP), which helps producers maintain and improve their existing conservation systems and adopt additional conservation activities to address priority resources concerns. Participants earn …
NCBA Statement on Beef Labeling Practices
(NCBA) — National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) Vice President, Government Affairs, Ethan Lane, released the following statement in response to a letter from U.S. Sens. John Thune (S.D.) and Mike Rounds (S.D.) regarding beef labeling practices: “NCBA understands that the practices alleged in the letter from Senator Rounds and Senator Thune are a concern to cattle producers and we share …
Judge Ready to Wade into Water War
(NSF) — Albuquerque is a long way from Apalachicola. But when a federal judge in the New Mexico city hears arguments next week in a long-running water war between Florida and Georgia, the small Panhandle community will be at the center of the case. Senior U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Paul J. Kelly, appointed as a special master by …
NCBA Applauds Introduction of Hours of Service Legislation
(NCBA) — The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) applauded the introduction of bipartisan legislation by U.S. Reps. Angie Craig (D – 2nd Dist., Minn.) and Lloyd Smucker (R – 11th Dist., Penn.) that would provide flexible and common-sense relief from Hours of Service (HOS) rules for agricultural haulers. The Responsible & Efficient Agriculture Destination (TREAD) Act would ensure that the …
Organic Program One of Many Excellent Choices for Producers
The House Agriculture Committee’s Biotechnology, Horticulture, and Research Subcommittee held a hearing to review the state of Organic Agriculture from the perspective of producers. After the hearing, Subcommittee Ranking Member Neal Dunn (FL-2) and Committee Ranking Member K. Michael Conaway (TX-11) released the following remarks: “At today’s hearing, we heard directly from farmers who have chosen to use the organic …
Wayne Farms’ Clint Rivers Installed as Chairman of the National Chicken Council
(NCC) — Clint Rivers, President and Chief Executive Officer of Wayne Farms LLC (Oakwood, Georgia) was installed as 2019-2020 Chairman of the National Chicken Council (NCC) during NCC’s 65h Annual Conference held today in Washington, D.C. Rivers succeeds outgoing chairman Mark Kaminsky, Chief Operating Officer at Koch Foods (Park Ridge, Illinois). Rivers joined Wayne Farms in October 2012 as Vice President and General Manager of the Fresh …
House Agriculture Committee Approves Bipartisan CFTC Reauthorization
The House Agriculture Committee approved H.R. 4895, a bill to reauthorize the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). Ranking Member K. Michael Conaway (TX-11) and Commodity Exchanges, Energy, and Credit Subcommittee Ranking Member Austin Scott (GA-8) released the following remarks upon passage: “This reauthorization provides the CFTC with the tools it needs to successfully regulate the U.S. derivatives market, safeguard consumers, …
U.S. and China on Track to Sign Phase One Agreement
(NAFB) — The U.S. and China are on track to sign the phase one trade agreement next month. President Donald Trump this week stated the negotiations are running “ahead of schedule.” The South China Morning Post reports Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping are set for a November 17 meeting in Chile to sign the interim trade deal. Trump says …
Robust Debate Expected on E-Verify in Florida
(NSF) — Gov. Ron DeSantis will prioritize a controversial proposal that would require Florida businesses to use a federal system to check the immigration status of new hires, but the leader of the Florida Senate said Tuesday he is “cautious” about passing such a plan. “I expect there will be a robust debate, but the case is going to have …
Commissioner Nikki Fried on USDA Federal Hemp Program Rules
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced its long-awaited Domestic Hemp Production Program rules, following the reclassification of hemp as an agricultural commodity in the 2018 federal Farm Bill. Agriculture Commissioner Nicole “Nikki” Fried, who will oversee Florida’s state hemp program through the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, offered the following statement: “The announcement by the USDA is welcome news …