Connecticut Democrat Richard Blumenthal and New Mexico Democrat Tom Udall Tuesday introduced a bill in the U.S. Senate to ban chlorpyrifos, a widely used agricultural insecticide. Udall explained that The American Academy of Pediatrics says chlorpyrifos use “puts all children at risk,” adding that “we need to listen to the experts” and ban the pesticide.” The Obama-era Environmental Protection Agency …
Bankers List Goals for New Farm Bill, Ways to Prevent Farm Crisis
The Independent Community Bankers of America is urging Congress to adopt a new long-term farm bill incorporating five broad goals and offered enhancements to USDA programs to prevent a farm credit crisis. Testifying before the Senate Agriculture Committee Tuesday, an ICBA representative advocated for Congress to adopt a dynamic multi-year farm bill to provide continuity and enable agricultural producers and …
Farm Bureau Presents Farm Bill Goals to Congress
Congress must counter a steep, four-year drop in commodity prices that has left farmers and ranchers in worse shape than any time since the farm depression of the 1980s, Kentucky Farm Bureau President Mark Haney told the Senate Agriculture Committee. Haney’s testimony cited growing losses in farm country that increasingly threaten the livelihoods of millions of Americans. “2017 and 2018 …
NMPF Officer, Michigan Cooperative President Highlights Concerns with Dairy Safety Net in Senate Farm Bill Hearing
Congress must revise the dairy safety net program established in the 2014 Farm Bill to provide farmers with effective risk management protection that will increase participation in the program, according to Ken Nobis, president of the Michigan Milk Producers Association (MMPA) and first vice-chair of the National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF), who spoke at a 2018 Farm Bill hearing today. …
Appropriations Bill Could Help Cotton Producers
We told you last week that 135 senators and representatives sent letters to President Trump strongly urging the administration’s support, through USDA, to operate the Cotton Ginning Cost Share Program effective for the 2016 crop year and on an ongoing basis. Georgia Cotton Commission’s Richey Seaton says while work continues to get Title 1 back in the 2018 Farm Bill, …
Senate Agriculture Committee Members Visit Alabama Farms
Autauga County farmer Harold Gaines stood with his sons Dan and Levi as he told leaders of the U.S. Senate Agriculture Committee his priority for the 2018 farm bill Saturday morning. “I want to be able to pass on this farm to the next generation and for them to be successful,” Gaines said as Sens. Luther Strange, R-Alabama, and Pat …
Florida Rep. Roth Recaps his First Year
Rick Roth, West Palm Beach native and vegetable farmer, has completed his first year in the Florida Legislature serving the 85th district. He discusses his first year as a representative and his plans for his second year serving Florida. Roth says he found the legislative process to be very exciting. “It was an information party,” he says. As a vegetable …
American Farm Bureau Lists Farm Bill Goals
With serious economic challenges facing agriculture, underscored by even deeper concerns in some commodity sectors, the American Farm Bureau Federation board of directors outlined the organization’s key objectives for the 2018 farm bill. After its meeting this week in Washington, D.C., the AFBF board sent its goals and recommendations to leadership on the Senate and House agriculture committees in anticipation …
ASTA Testifies before House Ag Committee on Plant Breeding Innovation, Farm Bill
American Seed Trade Association (ASTA) President & CEO Andrew W. LaVigne testified at a U.S. House Agriculture Committee hearing on the Farm Bill and innovation in specialty crops. LaVigne stressed the importance of promoting a climate of innovation through the funding of critical Farm Bill research programs, and the enactment of clear and consistent, science-based policies across the government. “As our …
Swine Veterinarian Fly-In
The National Pork Producers Council and the American Association of Swine Veterinarians are hosting their Washington, D.C. legislative fly-in today and tomorrow, July 11-12. Swine veterinarians from across the country will visit congressional lawmakers, discussing their priority issues. The veterinarians are expected to urge members of Congress to include in the 2018 Farm Bill language establishing a vaccine bank to …