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
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 Supports Legislation To Stop States From Dictating Production Practices In Other States
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, …
Rogers Testifies to U.S. Senate Ag Committee that Peanut Provisions in Farm Bill Work
Southern Peanut Farmers Federation Says Peanut Program Works and Must be Preserved Meredith McNair Rogers, a more than a 20-year veteran farmer from Camilla, Georgia, testified before the Senate Agriculture Committee that the peanut provisions included in the 2014 Farm Bill and Price Loss Coverage (PLC) program work for farmers and consumers – and must be preserved in the next …
Senate Committee Blocks E15 Bill
The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee has halted a bill that would have allowed gasoline with 15 percent ethanol to be sold year-round. The bill was co-sponsored by Republican Senators Deb Fischer of Nebraska and Chuck Grassley of Iowa, along with Democratic Senator Joe Donnelly of Indiana. Despite the bipartisan support, the legislation was unable to muster enough support …
Farm Groups Support Clovis Nomination
While some lawmakers have voiced concerns, agriculture groups Monday vocalized support for the nomination of Sam Clovis to a Department of Agriculture position. President Trump announced he would nominate Clovis to serve as the USDA undersecretary for research, education, and economics, which also serves as the departments chief scientist. Senate Agriculture Committee ranking member Debbie Stabenow, Senate Appropriations Committee ranking …
Multiple Rounds of NAFTA Negotiations Expected
A top official from Mexico expects between six to nine rounds of negotiations between the United States, Mexico and Canada on the North America Free Trade Agreement. Mexico’s Economy Minister said last week the NAFTA members were looking at avoiding gaps of more than three weeks between negotiating rounds with a view to making quick progress, according to Reuters. The …
New Sensor System for Improved Peanut Drying
A sensor network developed by Agricultural Research Service (ARS) engineers could make it easier and cheaper for peanut growers and processors to dry their peanuts. In Georgia, farmers bring their peanuts to a buying point for grading and pricing. If the moisture content is too high, the semi-trailer loaded with peanuts is transferred to a drying bay for a drying …
Southwest Cotton Producers to Learn from Georgia Operations
Eleven cotton producers from Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas will see cotton operations in Georgia on July 30-August 4 as part of the National Cotton Council’s 2017 Producer Information Exchange (P.I.E.) program. Sponsored by Bayer via a grant to The Cotton Foundation, the P.I.E. program is now in its 29th year of helping its U.S. cotton producer participants improve yields and …
NACD Urges Congress to Restore EQIP
NACD Encouraged by Technical Assistance funds The National Association of Conservation Districts is encouraged that the Senate Appropriations Committee’s Fiscal Year 2018 bill strongly funds technical assistance at the Agriculture Department, but is concerned with continued cuts to the Environmental Quality Incentives Program. The spending legislation includes an allocation of $874 million for the Conservation Operations account – almost $10 …