senate

Chlorpyrifos Ban Introduced in U.S. Senate

Dan Environment, Industry News Release, Legislative

Connecticut Democrat Richard Blumenthal and New Mexico Democrat Tom Udall Tuesday introduced a bill in the U.S. Senate to ban chlorpyrifos, a widely used agricultural insecticide. Udall explained that The American Academy of Pediatrics says chlorpyrifos use “puts all children at risk,” adding that “we need to listen to the experts” and ban the pesticide.” The Obama-era Environmental Protection Agency …

community bankers

Bankers List Goals for New Farm Bill, Ways to Prevent Farm Crisis

Dan Farm Bill, Industry News Release

The Independent Community Bankers of America is urging Congress to adopt a new long-term farm bill incorporating five broad goals and offered enhancements to USDA programs to prevent a farm credit crisis. Testifying before the Senate Agriculture Committee Tuesday, an ICBA representative advocated for Congress to adopt a dynamic multi-year farm bill to provide continuity and enable agricultural producers and …

perdue crop insurance

Crop Insurance Comments Could Jeopardize Clovis Nomination

Dan Industry News Release

Comments made by Senate Agriculture Committee leaders suggest that Sam Clovis’s position on crop insurance could jeopardize his nomination for a top post at the Department of Agriculture. Senate Agriculture Ranking Democrat Debbie Stabenow and Chairman Pat Roberts both eluded to the nominee’s statements on crop insurance. Clovis has previously questioned the constitutionality of crop insurance. Stabenow said: “It is …

first

U.K. and U.S. Taking First Steps to Trade Deal

Dan Industry News Release, Trade

British International Trade Secretary Liam Fox and U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer have taken the first steps towards a U.S.-U.K. free trade agreement. The duo recently met to create a working group that will “lay the groundwork” for a bilateral trade deal, according to Politico. However, official negotiations cannot begin until the United Kingdom formally leaves the European Union around …

Readout on Principals Meeting on Agriculture and Rural Prosperity Task Force

Dan Industry News Release

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue hosted a 90-minute working breakfast meeting involving principals who are members of the Agriculture and Rural Prosperity Task Force.  The Task Force was created by President Trump’s Executive Order of April 25, 2017, with Secretary Perdue serving as chairman. “We’re synchronizing departments and agencies across the federal government so that citizens can truly believe that …

plant-based

NMPF Urges FDA: Enforce U.S. Standards for Dairy Food Labeling

Dan Dairy, Industry News Release

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) long absence of enforcement of its own food standards has allowed the marketing of hundreds of deceptively labeled dairy imitators – a situation requiring immediate action by the federal government, National Milk Producers Federation officials told the agency during a high-level meeting in Maryland. Food policy staff from the National Milk Producers Federation …

afbf

Farm Bureau Presents Farm Bill Goals to Congress

Dan Farm Bill, Industry News Release

Congress must counter a steep, four-year drop in commodity prices that has left farmers and ranchers in worse shape than any time since the farm depression of the 1980s, Kentucky Farm Bureau President Mark Haney told the Senate Agriculture Committee. Haney’s testimony cited growing losses in farm country that increasingly threaten the livelihoods of millions of Americans. “2017 and 2018 …

NMPF Officer, Michigan Cooperative President Highlights Concerns with Dairy Safety Net in Senate Farm Bill Hearing

Dan Dairy, Farm Bill, Industry News Release

Congress must revise the dairy safety net program established in the 2014 Farm Bill to provide farmers with effective risk management protection that will increase participation in the program, according to Ken Nobis, president of the Michigan Milk Producers Association (MMPA) and first vice-chair of the National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF), who spoke at a 2018 Farm Bill hearing today. …

NCC: Bring Cotton Back Into Title I Commodity Policy

Dan Cotton, Industry News Release

The National Cotton Council believes it is imperative that cotton is included in the next farm bill’s Title I programs so cotton producers can access the same complement of risk management tools available to other crops. That was the key message of Nick McMichen, a Centre, Ala., cotton producer, at today’s Senate Agriculture, Nutrition & Forestry Committee hearing, “Commodities, Credit, …

nppc

NPPC Supports Legislation To Stop States From Dictating Production Practices In Other States

Dan Industry News Release, Pork

Stating that “pork producers, not animal-right activists, lawmakers or regulators, should make the decisions about what production practices are best for their animals and for producing safe food,” Neil Dierks, CEO of the National Pork Producers Council, in congressional testimony pledged the organization’s support for legislation that would prohibit a state from imposing tax or regulatory burdens on businesses, including pork operations, …