The “big four” farm bill leaders met Thursday in an effort to advance negotiations of the conference committee. Senators Pat Roberts and Debbie Stabenow, along with Representatives Mike Conaway and Collin Peterson, met Thursday in Washington to advance the farm bill talks, even though the House of Representatives is on recess until after the midterm elections. It’s the first face-to-face …
Congress Could Press for NAFTA Vote This Year
Republicans could push for a swift vote on the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement if Congressional power swings to Democrats in the November elections. Some Republicans in the Senate are pushing to approve the new trade deal this year, if the party loses majority in the House. The USMCA will replace the North American Free Trade Agreement, and if one of the chambers …
Agriculture Awaits New Farm Bill as 2014 Bill Expires
While Monday was a good day for trade, it also marked the first day without a farm bill. Lawmakers failed to gain a consensus in the farm bill conference committee before the Sept. 30 deadline, as the previous farm bill expired. House Agriculture Committee Chairman Mike Conaway says he is willing to stay in negotiations this month, even though the …
Secretary Perdue Statement on United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue issued the following statement regarding the announcement of a United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA): “The great news of a new USMCA deal is important for our economy as a whole, including the agricultural sector, which counts Canada and Mexico in our top three trading partners. I have long said that I believe our country is …
No Farm Bill Yet
Tyron Spearman looks at some of the issues as to why the 2018 Farm Bill was not completed by the September 30 deadline. No Farm Bill Yet Sponsored ContentFlorida Cattle Enhancement Board Provides Production ResearchMay 8, 2026Florida Cattle Enhancement Board Provides Opportunities to Develop Preliminary Data For Future Grant ProjectsMay 1, 2026Florida Cattle Enhancement Board Provides Critical Funding To Enhance …
Frustrated with Farm Bill Process
September 30th has come and gone, and no new farm bill. House Agriculture Committee Chairman, Mike Conaway, notes the frustration that he and his colleagues have in being unable to get the bill done on time. Frustrated with Farm Bill Process But Conaway did note his commitment to completing a farm bill before the end of the year. Sponsored ContentFlorida …
Roberts Offers Hope for Temporary Farm Bill Program Funding
Senate Ag Committee Chair Pat Roberts says he’s working on getting the U.S. Ag Department to extend a “lifeline” to programs that will lack funding if a farm bill doesn’t pass by the Sunday deadline. The current farm bill runs out over the weekend and funding for a lot of smaller initiatives will be in limbo. Politico says there are …
Lame-Duck Session a Risk for Farm Bill Passage
The current farm bill is set to expire on Sunday. Top lawmakers now admit they will likely have to finish putting together a new farm bill after the November 6th midterm election. Politico says the timing isn’t surprising to most observers. There’s been a lot more sniping between House and Senate negotiators than there have been signs of progress over …
House to Recess Without Final Vote on Farm Bill
House and Senate farm bill negotiators say they are close to a compromise on a final bill, but they won’t seal the deal before the current legislation expires on Sept. 30 and the House recesses for an extended break in the run-up to the midterm elections in November. In a recent Zipline column, American Farm Bureau President Zippy Duvall explained …
AFBF: Environmental Litigation Reform Needed
Restoring balance to environmental litigation is vital to America’s farmers and ranchers. America’s farmers and ranchers embrace an ethic of resource conservation while producing food and fiber. But they are frustrated by inequity and lack of transparency in environmental activist groups’ misuse of litigation fee-shifting laws, according to the American Farm Bureau Federation. In such cases, Commercial Litigation Experts can …