The Senate Agriculture Committee will hold a hearing on nominees to the Department of Agriculture next week. Committee leaders, Chairman Pat Roberts, and ranking minority member Debbie Stabenow announced plans to hold the hearing for Ted McKinney and Stephen Censky Tuesday, September 19th. Censky, CEO of the American Soybean Association, was nominated by President Trump to serve as Deputy Secretary …
Roberts Wants Farm Bill to Target SNAP Fraud
Senate Agriculture Chairman Pat Roberts has indicated he wants to use the farm bill as a way to target fraud in the food stamp program. Bloomberg makes the interpretation from a statement by Roberts addressing quality control problems within the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, which the Chairman said: “any problems will need to be given a hard look” …
Florida Farm Bureau: Farm Families Slowly Recovering
The resilience of Florida’s farmers and ranchers is on full display in the aftermath of Hurricane Irma. They are working to restore food and fiber production for this state and the nation, despite the widespread destruction of crops, buildings, fencing, and other property lost to wind and water damage. Like many other Floridians, farm families are contending with significant failures …
NRCS Programs Help with Hurricane Irma Recovery Efforts
For those affected by Hurricane Irma, USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) has programs that provide assistance in the wake of disasters. For declared natural disasters that lead to imminent threats to life and property, NRCS can assist local government sponsors with the cost of implementing recovery efforts like debris removal and streambank stabilization to address natural resource concerns and …
NPPC Seeking ELD Waiver
The National Pork Producers Council Tuesday petitioned the Department of Transportation for a waiver and exemption for livestock haulers from regulations that NPPC says could harm animal well-being. The petition was filed on behalf of the pork industry and other livestock sectors and requests the waiver and exemption because of concerns about the Electronic Logging Device Rule. The petition also …
Head of USDA Organic Program Stepping Down
The leader of the Department of Agriculture’s National Organic Program will step down at the end of the month. Miles McEvoy will vacate the position overseeing the program and return to his home state of Washington. McEvoy led the program that oversees organic regulations and the USDA organic seal for eight years. McEvoy told Fern’s Ag Insider that his original …
South Korea Wants Step by Step Approach to KORUS
Trade leaders from South Korea are asking for a step by step approach to the U.S.-Korea Free Trade Agreement. Following last week’s discussion on terminating the agreement by President Donald Trump, Korea says: “Let’s go step by step, rather than just jumping the gun.” It is possible Trump could seek to renegotiate the trade deal, like his move regarding the …
USDA Providing Recovery Efforts after Hurricane Irma
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) wants to remind farmers and ranchers and those who reside in rural communities impacted Hurricane Irma, they have programs that provide assistance in the wake of disasters. Ag Secretary Sonny Perdue said, “In recent weeks, millions of Americans have been affected by Hurricanes Harvey and Irma.” He said, “USDA employees have been working tirelessly …
Trump Renewed Call for Full Repeal of Estate Tax
President Trump’s renewed call on a North Dakota visit for full repeal of the estate tax is being praised by the American Farm Bureau. But ‘death tax’ repeal faces more hurdles as tax reform advances this fall. AFBF tax adviser Pat Wolff suggests the President’s comments that the estate tax is a “tremendous burden” on family farmers can only help …
NAFTA Renegotiation Could Send Avocado Prices Soaring
Avocado prices have reached a record high and a new North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) could have U.S. consumers paying even more for the fruit. A group of avocado companies recently wrote the U.S. Trade Representative’s Office predicting prices could rise, depending on whether the Trump administration, in renegotiating NAFTA, changes rules on anti-dumping and countervailing duties. The letter …