AgNet Weekly: Representative John Duarte on his H.R. 2 Vote

Sabrina Halvorson AgNet Weekly, Legislative

H.R. 2, the Secure the Border Act, passed in the House this week by a vote of 219 to 213, with all Democrats opposed and all but two Republicans in favor. Those Republicans were Representative Thomas Massie of Kentucky and Representative John Duarte of California.  Representative Duarte joins host Sabrina Halvorson this week to discuss why he voted against the …

alliance

Alliance Wants to Protect Specialty Crop Program

Dan Farm Bill, Legislative, Specialty Crops

Few programs within the farm bill are designed for specialty crops, and even fewer are designed specifically for specialty crops. However, the Technical Assistance for Specialty Crops (TASC) program is just that, and the Specialty Crop Farm Bill Alliance wants to keep the program how it was intended twenty years ago. TASC was first passed in the 2002 farm bill. …

bill

Bill Could Help Black Farmers in Florida Get Pot Licenses

Dan Florida, Hemp, Legislative, Specialty Crops

(NSF/TALLAHASSEE,FL/May 9, 2023) — Black farmers who didn’t make the cut last year could have another opportunity to vie for medical-marijuana licenses, under a bill approved by lawmakers in the final days of the 2023 legislative session. The bill, which awaits a decision by Gov. Ron DeSantis, is part of years-long efforts aimed at giving Black farmers an entry into …

farm bill

SNAP Work Requirements in Farm Bill Discussions

Dan Agri-Business, Farm Bill, Legislative

As lawmakers continue early work on shaping the 2023 farm bill, one of the bill’s biggest programs continues to create a divide. Nutrition programs account for about 80 percent of the farm bill, and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is the largest food assistance program administered by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA). Lawmakers on both sides of the …

AgNet Weekly: Representative Kat Cammack

Sabrina Halvorson AgNet Weekly, Legislative

Representative Kat Cammack (R-FL-03) joins host Sabrina Halvorson this week for a discussion on protecting seasonal and perishable produce growers in trade deals, controlling government regulations with the REINS Act, WOTUS, and more. Each week we highlight essential legislative and policy conversations affecting agriculture nationwide. Host Sabrina Halvorson is a 30-year media veteran known nationally for her award-winning, balanced, and …

Florida lawmakers

Florida Lawmakers Pass $117B Budget, End Session

Dan Florida, Legislative

(NSF/TALLAHASSEE, FL/May 5, 2023) — Florida lawmakers on Friday finalized a $117 billion budget and an accompanying $1.3 billion tax package to end a legislative session that carried out many of Gov. Ron DeSantis’ priorities. After adjourning “sine die” — the traditional declaration that marks the end of the annual 60-day session — just before 11 a.m., House Speaker Paul …