The National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) sent a letter to the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate members assigned to the 2018 Farm Bill conference committee. The letter outlines the organization’s legislative priorities for the 2018 Farm Bill. NACD supports a final bill that includes level funding for the Conservation Title, retains the current conservation delivery system within the Regional Conservation …
Restoring and Protecting Longleaf Pine Forests
In June of 2017, USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) released a two-year implementation strategy to help private landowners restore and protect 400,000 acres of longleaf pine forests. Through the strategy, NRCS furthers its ongoing effort to use existing Farm Bill programs and other resources to increase the abundance and improve the health of longleaf pine forests in nine Southeast states, including Alabama, Florida …
Senate Names Farm Bill Conference Committee Members
The Senate Wednesday named members to the farm bill conference committee following action a day earlier to move forward with the conference process. Majority Leader Mitch McConnell named himself to the committee, along with Senate Agriculture Chairman Pat Roberts, and fellow Republicans John Boozman of Arkansas, John Hoeven of North Dakota and Joni Ernst of Iowa. Meanwhile, Minority Leader Chuck …
U.S., China Reportedly Trying to Re-engage in Trade Talks
The U.S. and China are trying to restart trade talks as the two nations square off in a trade war. The attempt comes as the Trump administration readies a new round of tariffs against China. Bloomberg reports representatives of U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and China’s Vice Premier are having private conversations as they look for ways to re-engage in …
Poll Shows Voters Narrowly Support Aid for Farmers
A poll by Morning Consult and Politico shows nearly six in ten voters favor President Trump’s $12 billion plan to provide aid to farmers suffering from his trade policy. Nearly 2,000 registered voters were surveyed, and 57 percent either somewhat or strongly support the farmer aid package that was announced a week ago. Support came primarily from Republicans, with nearly …
American Soybean Association Joins Farmers for Free Trade
The American Soybean Association this week announced it will join Farmers for Free Trade. Representing soybean farmers across the nation, ASA is joining the bipartisan campaign self-described as “amplifying the voices of American farmers, ranchers and agricultural businesses that support free trade.” ASA CEO Ryan Findlay says agriculture needs “strong like-minded allies” in advocating for new trade agreements and expanding …
Roundtable to Discuss Nuisance Lawsuits
Agriculture leadership and lawmakers will come together Friday to discuss the threat that nuisance lawsuits pose to the U.S. agriculture industry, rural America, and farm families. North Carolina U.S. Representative David Rouzer, and Senator Thom Tillis, along with House Agriculture Committee Chair Mike Conaway, and North Carolina Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler, will convene the National Agriculture Leaders Roundtable, which will …
Senate Approves Roberts’ Efforts to Improve Access to New Drugs for Animals
Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Pat Roberts applauded Senate approval of legislation to speed access to new animal drugs for veterinarians. The provision by Roberts was approved earlier this week that would allow access to new animal drugs through conditional approval by the Food and Drug Administration. Roberts’ provision on conditional approval was included in the Animal Drug and Animal Generic …
Farmers Benefiting from Trump Tax Cuts
Farm families are reaping the benefits of the Tax Cuts & Jobs Act (TCJA) signed by President Donald J. Trump in December, according to a U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) report. The Economic Research Service (ERS) studied 2016 Internal Revenue Service and USDA data and released findings last month showing the effective tax rate for farmers is 3 to 6 percent …
Green Leaf Grill Wins Bama’s Best Catfish Contest
Four finalists; three judges; two days; and one winner. That set the table for judging Bama’s Best Catfish July 26-27. The Green Leaf Grill in Mentone took top honors in the competition sponsored by the Alabama Catfish Producers, a division of the Alabama Farmers Federation. The contest carried judges from Mentone, in the northeast corner of the st, south to …