Arizona Republican Jeff Flake has put a hold on the confirmation of Greg Doud, President Trump’s nominee to be the U.S. Trade Representative’s Chief Agricultural Negotiator. Politico says the hold involves concerns surrounding a controversial produce proposal that the United States has introduced into the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) Negotiations. The seasonal produce proposal is aimed at protecting …
Josie Tomkow Hopes to Replace Rep. Combee in Florida House
Rep. Neal Combee announced last week that he will be giving up his seat in the Florida House of Representatives after taking a job with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Now, Polk City native Josie Tomkow is hoping to take over Combee’s seat as a State Representative for District 39. Tomkow is an active member of the Florida Farm Bureau …
National Milk Producers Federation Talks Issues at Annual Meeting
The dairy industry gathered recently in California at the 101st Annual Meeting of the National Milk Producers Federation in Anaheim. For the last 20 years, the meeting has been held in conjunction with the National Dairy Checkoff. Chris Galen with the National Milk Producers Federation says there are many topics on the table for the dairy industry. In regard to …
Lawmaker Combee Named to Federal Farm Post
State Rep. Neil Combee, R-Auburndale, will leave the Legislature after he was appointed Friday as federal Farm Service Agency and Rural Development state director. It was not immediately clear when Combee will leave the House. “Would like to stay until the end of Session unless it is an absolute requirement. Know for sure in a few days,” Combee tweeted Sunday. …
Lawmakers Seek to Change Livestock Disaster Aid
Two bills introduced in Congress seek to make changes to livestock programs, specifically changing the way help to ranchers is administered during a disaster. The legislation includes four bills to make changes to the Department of Agriculture’s Farm Service Agency’s Livestock Indemnity Program and Emergency Conservation Program. Republican Senator Jerry Moran of Kansas introduced the legislation in the Senate, while …
Veteran State Senator Honored as Legislator of the Year by Florida Farm Bureau
Gainesville, Fla. –Sen. Denise Grimsley was recognized as a Florida Farm Bureau 2017 Legislator of the Year, a distinction earned for her outstanding leadership during the 2017 legislative session. Representing a district that includes eight counties and extends from Lee County north to Polk County, Grimsley helped to pass key policy measures that support farm enterprise and she spearheaded action …
Cruz Outlines Hold on Northey Nomination, Wants RFS Meeting
Texas Republican Senator Ted Cruz wants the Trump administration to organize a meeting on the Renewable Fuel Standard and is holding up the Bill Northey nomination until the meeting is planned. Cruz has placed a hold on Northey’s nomination as the Department of Agriculture undersecretary for farm production and conservation. Eight other Senators are also seeking a compromise on the …
NMPF Building Support in Congress to Approve DAIRY PRIDE Act
Force FDA to Take Action on Mislabeled Dairy Imitators Efforts to expose the deceptive labeling and marketing of plant-based products that exploit the nutritional halo of real dairy products continues to gain traction and “has these fake food marketers worried,” attendees here at the National Milk Producers Federation’s annual meeting heard this week by the organization’s leadership. NMPF President and …
Farm Bill Near Ready Status
A lobbyist close to the farm bill effort told the Hagstrom Report this week that the House Agriculture Committee staff is close to being done preparing the bill for consideration. However, the lobbyist says Chairman Mike Conaway will likely keep the bill “under lock and key” until House leadership guarantees floor time for the legislation. That points to the bill …
Farm Bureau Supports Proposed Safety Net Fix
Legislation introduced by Senators Heidi Heitkamp and Joni Ernst would make changes to the Agricultural Risk Coverage program. American Farm Bureau Federation and other farm groups penned a letter to the Senators this week expressing support for the bill. AFBF congressional relations director Mary Kay Thatcher says the bill would change the program to better serve farmer’s needs. The bill …