By Jaci Schreckengost Discussion about the possible effects of the 2018 farm bill on organic growers was one of the topics at the recent Florida Organic Food & Farming Summit. With the farm bill expiring in September 2018, many are eager to speak their minds to let those writing the new farm bill know what has and has not worked …
House Agriculture Working on 2018 Farm Bill
The House Agriculture Committee is drafting the next farm bill and could bring the bill up for consideration by the full House of Representatives yet this year. House Agriculture Committee Chairman Mike Conaway commented last week on the timeframe of getting the 2018 Farm Bill through the House and Senate. Conaway says the Committee and staff are putting “pencil to …
Rep. Jake Raburn Comments on NAFTA
Trade representatives from the United States, Canada and Mexico have recently finished the third round of North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) renegotiations in Ottawa. While the officials try to work something out that can benefit all three countries, U.S. specialty crop growers are anxiously waiting to see if they will be helped by the new agreement. Regarding U.S. agriculture, …
Farm Bill Opposition Groups Discuss Strategy
Agri-Pulse is reporting that groups covering all points on the political spectrum are getting together to discuss ways to attack the upcoming Farm Bill when the development process begins in Congress. Roughly two-dozen different groups sent representatives to Washington this week to hear a presentation from an economist and then discuss different messages they can take to Congress regarding changes …
Secretary Perdue Statement on Ibach & Northey Senate Committee Hearing
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue commended Greg Ibach and Bill Northey, two nominees for key posts at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), for their joint appearance before the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. President Donald J. Trump nominated Ibach to serve as Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs (MRP) and selected Northey for Under Secretary …
Organic Growers Give Input for 2018 Farm Bill
By Jaci Schreckengost As the 2018 farm bill discussion continues, many growers are pressing to get their voices heard by those writing the bill. At the inaugural Florida Organic Food & Farming Summit in Gainesville, a workshop on September 18 allowed growers to discuss their concerns and suggestions for the farm bill. Sarah Hackney, grassroots director at the National Sustainable …
House Member Outlines Need for Farm Bill
Kansas Republican Representative Roger Marshall says families across the U.S. need the next farm bill. As part of a House Agriculture Committee video series, Marshall says there is “no single piece of legislation more important” to his district than the farm bill. Marshal represents District One of Kansas, one of the largest agricultural-driven districts in the nation. He says the …
Environmental Working Group Keeps Eye on Farm Bill Development
The Environmental Working Group is paying close attention to the process of developing the new Farm Bill. Craig Cox, Senior Vice President for Agriculture and Natural Resources, says the conservation provisions of the Farm Bill represent a big opportunity to help farmers deal with the more serious issues they’re going to face regarding the quality of life. The EW G …
Rep. Carter Discusses H-2A with Secretary of Labor Acosta
Georgia Rep. Buddy Carter and other members of Congress met with Secretary of Labor Alexander Acosta to discuss recommended changes to regulations regarding the H-2A. The officials outlined seven key areas where they wanted to see regulation reform. Those areas are: Streamline the application process and improve operating efficiencies. Refine domestic recruitment requirement Improve housing availability Changes to program eligibility …
Farm Bill Discussed at Florida Organic Growers Summit
By Jaci Schreckengost With 2018 farm bill provisions being discussed, many growers are interested in telling their stories about how certain portions of the bill have either helped or hurt them in the past. At the inaugural Florida Organic Growers (FOG) Florida Organic Food & Farming Summit in Gainesville, a workshop was held to discuss what is currently in the …