The House version of the 2018 farm bill remains on track for a March unveiling, according to House Agriculture Committee Chair Mike Conaway. The Republican told Politico the committee is waiting for an official 10-year cost estimate from the Congressional Budget Office to ensure “we can afford the proposal.” The committee started working on the House version of the bill …
Lack of Budget Deal Making Farm Bill Efforts Harder
The lack of a budget deal so far to keep the government open, is frustrating efforts to write a new farm bill–and its would-be authors. Farm bills are never easy to write, and some have taken a couple of years or more to enact. And, this is an election year—never an easy time to do any legislating. But, the ongoing …
Native Farm Bill Coalition Formed
More than 30 native American tribes have formed the Native Farm Bill Coalition in an effort to give native American farms a voice at the farm bill table. Minnesota Public Radio reports that the coalition is an outgrowth of programs to improve health and expand access to health food for Native Americans. The coalition says that for decades, Indian Country …
NFU President Johnson: Tax Reform Hurts Farm Bill
The recent tax reform package will hurt farm bill negotiations, according to National Farmers Union (NFU) President Roger Johnson. He says President Trump’s tax package will affect farmers in two ways. Tax Citing PAYGO – a budget rule requiring that tax cuts as well as increases in entitlement and other mandatory spending must be covered by tax increases or cuts …
USDA Wants Farmer Input on Government Regulations
Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue spoke to the crowd at the American Farm Bureau’s annual convention on Monday, just ahead of President Trump. According to a DTN article, Perdue told the crowd that the administration will soon present what it wants to see in the new farm bill. Although Congress actually writes the farm bill, the administration will present some …
AFBF Turns Attention to Farm Bill for 2018
The American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) and all of agriculture will turn its attention to the farm bill this year, but there are other policy issues needing attention, according to AFBF public policy executive director Dale Moore. Policy Speaking at the 99th Annual American Farm Bureau Convention in Nashville, Tennessee, Moore says the farm bill will top the list, more so …
Moran Talks Ag Issues at AFBF Annual Convention
Kansas Republican Senator Jerry Moran addressed the American Farm Bureau Federation’s national convention regarding the development of the 2018 Farm Bill. Moran encouraged Farm Bureau members to work with their representatives as they develop the new legislation. Farm Bill He feels that passing a disaster assistance bill for agriculture will set the stage for the 2018 Farm Bill. Moran is …
Farm Safety Net Should be Called Food Safety Net
American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall suggested a rethinking of what farmers consider the farm bill to be. Opening the 99th Annual American Farm Bureau Federation Convention Sunday, Duvall says it’s time to stop calling the farm bill a safety net for farmers. Farm Bill Duvall calls the farm bill a food security bill for everyone. Food Security AFBF held meetings …
Disaster Assistance Will Set the Stage for Next Farm Bill
Passing a disaster assistance bill for agriculture will set the stage for the next farm bill, Sen. Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) told workshop attendees at the American Farm Bureau Federation’s 2018 Annual Convention & IDEAg Trade Show. Ideally, lawmakers will address contentious issues related to cotton and dairy programs in the disaster bill and “get them out of the way” before …
Congressional Spending Fights Slowing New Farm Bill Progress
Congressional spending fights are slowing the formal start of writing a new farm bill. Farm bill writers are unlikely to move ahead with formal work on a new farm bill until partisan fights over key spending issues are resolved. American Farm Bureau budget adviser R.J. Karney. Fights Once lawmakers can “check the box” on those issues, Karney says it will …