Lawmakers in the House this week introduced legislation to provide farmers with stress assistance programs. The Stemming the Tide of Rural Economic Stress and Suicide, or STRESS Act, seeks to make mental health treatment more available for farmers, ranchers and agricultural workers. The legislation was introduced by Minnesota Representative Tom Emmer, along with lawmakers from Wisconsin, Iowa and Illinois, and …
Delay on Farm Bill Debate
It was announced this week that plans to debate the new Farm Bill have been delayed. Tyron Spearman has the details. Delay on Farm Bill Debate Sponsored ContentStrong Relationship Exists Between the Florida Cattle Enhancement Board and UF-IFASApril 17, 2026Florida Cattle Enhancement Board Provides Funding For Quicker Response to Research QuestionsApril 10, 2026Florida Cattle Enhancement Board Provides Opportunities That Spark …
Barrasso Introduces Catch-all Farm Regulation Reduction Bill
Senator John Barrasso introduced a bill Tuesday that incorporates several measures designed to ease the regulatory burden on farmers and ranchers. Barrasso, a Wyoming Republican who chairs the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, says the bill “would help defend agricultural industries from punishing federal rules and reporting requirements,” according to Politico. Known as the ACRE Act, the legislation includes …
Peterson: House Ag Plans Farm Bill Mark-up Soon
Ranking House Agriculture Committee Democrat Collin Peterson says the committee plans to mark up the farm bill on March 20th, but a revolt over food stamp provisions could stop the bill from moving forward. The Hagstrom Report says Peterson and Committee Chairman Mike Conaway had “hit an impasse” regarding the nutrition title, and a spokesperson for Conaway could not confirm …
Tax Breaks Approved for Florida Farmers
In a rare Sunday conclusion to the legislative session, the Florida House and Senate approved a tax package that provides relief for farmers impacted by Hurricane Irma, while also offering sales-tax breaks at the start of the school year and hurricane season. According to a story from the News Service of Florida, Senate Finance and Tax Appropriations Chairwoman Kelli Stargel …
Farmers, Back-to-School Shoppers to Get Tax Breaks
A tax package that provides relief for farmers and property owners impacted by Hurricane Irma, while offering sales-tax breaks at the start of the school year and hurricane season, was approved by the House and Senate in a rare Sunday conclusion to the legislative session. Gov. Rick Scott’s office didn’t indicate Sunday if he would sign the package, which totals …
Lawmakers Funnel $100 Million to Florida Forever
Neglected for nearly a decade, the Florida Forever conservation program would get $100.8 million in a proposed $88.7 billion budget that lawmakers are expected to approve Sunday. Rep. Ben Albritton, a Wauchula Republican who chairs the House Agriculture & Natural Resources Appropriations Subcommittee, said most of the money would go for land preservation. “We started at a much lower number …
Roberts: Senate Farm Bill Work Scheduled Next Month
Senate Agriculture Committee Chair Pat Roberts hopes to begin Senate farm bill work next month. This week, Roberts said that he wants to mark up the bill in April, adding that his staff and the staff of the committee’s ranking Democrat, Debbie Stabenow, have begun work on the bill. The key to the bill, Roberts told the Hagstrom Report, is …
Final Week of Florida Legislative Session
Today kicks off the final week of the 2018 Florida Legislative Session, which is scheduled to end this Friday, March 9. But the budget has to be finalized by tomorrow, March 6 for the session to end as scheduled. That is because a legally required 72-hour “cooling off” period must take place after the budget is finalized before a final …
Alabama Legislative Session Reaches Halfway Point
Alabama Legislators have reached the halfway point of the 2018 Legislative Session in Montgomery. And according to the Executive Director of the Alabama Agribusiness Council, Leigha Cauthen, a couple of bills of interest to agriculture continues to see movement. Alabama Legislative Session Reaches Halfway Point Sponsored ContentStrong Relationship Exists Between the Florida Cattle Enhancement Board and UF-IFASApril 17, 2026Florida Cattle …