The Senate Agriculture Committee Wednesday advanced to the full senate the nomination of Xochitl Torres Small to be Deputy Secretary of Agriculture. Committee Chair Debbie Stabenow, a Michigan Democrat, says, ” Ms. Torres Small has a proven track record and a wide-ranging background that make her an ideal candidate to help lead the nearly 100,000 public servants at USDA.” Ranking …
Livestock Producers Give Opinions on EPA Regulations
Representatives from livestock industries gave passionate responses when asked about Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations during a House Agriculture subcommittee hearing, Wednesday. “Can you speak to the detrimental effects these types of onerous rules have on livestock producers and how uncertainty in compliance costs trickle down to the American consumer,” asked Congressman Scott DesJarlais (R-TN-04). The first response was from …
Expert Speaks on Specialty Crops in the Farm Bill
There are extra considerations for specialty crops when creating farm bill priorities. It wasn’t until 2008 that Specialty Crops were specifically included in the Farm Bill with the introduction of the Horticulture Title. However, Jacqlyn Schneider, FGS Global partner for food and agriculture, and a former top aide to Senate Ag Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow, explains specialty crops have had other …
Duarte Says H.R. 2 E-Verify Program “Devastating” for Farmers
A Republican congressman says the GOP’s border bill doesn’t work for farmers or farm workers. H.R.2, the Secure the Border Act passed in the House last week with a vote of 219 to 213. All Democrats were opposed and all but two Republicans were in favor. One of those two Republicans was John Duarte of California. In an interview with …
AgNet Weekly: Representative John Duarte on his H.R. 2 Vote
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 Wants to Protect Specialty Crop Program
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 Could Help Black Farmers in Florida Get Pot Licenses
(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 …
SNAP Work Requirements in Farm Bill Discussions
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
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 Pass $117B Budget, End Session
(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 …