(NSF/TALLAHASSEE, FL/May 1, 2023) — After what they called the “smoothest” budget negotiations in years, House and Senate leaders on Monday finished working out details of a spending plan that is expected to top $116 billion. The plan for the fiscal year that will start July 1 would be more than $6 billion larger than the budget for the current …
AgNet Weekly: NCBA Opposition to PRIME Act
The PRIME Act has once again made its way into Congress. Current law exempts custom slaughter of animals from federal inspection regulations, only if the meat is for personal, household, guest, and employee use. So, to sell individual cuts of locally raised meats to consumers, farmers and ranchers must send their animals to a USDA-inspected slaughterhouse. Proponents of the bill …
PLC Discussed During a Farm Bill Listening Session
The Price Loss Coverage (PLC) program was one issue brought up during a recent Farm Bill listening session. Tyron Spearman has more details.
Commissioner Wilton Simpson Applauds Federal Legislation Introduced to Conserve Florida Agricultural Lands
(FDACS/TALLAHASSEE, FL/April 27, 2023) — Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson issued the following statement regarding the Conservation Reserve Program Amendments Act introduced by Senator Marco Rubio, Representative Scott Franklin, and Representative Darren Soto to conserve citrus groves that are at risk of development: “Food security is national security, and we’re working here in Florida to preserve for future generations as much …
Peanut Industry Requests for the Farm Bill
Listening sessions continue across the country to discuss the 2023 Farm Bill. Tyron Spearman has information about what the peanut industry is encouraging lawmakers to include in the new bill.
Farm Bill Listening Session: Farmers Voice Concerns to Legislative Leaders
By Clint Thompson Agricultural leaders and producers in the Southeast voiced their concerns and appreciation to members of the House Committee on Agriculture during a Farm Bill listening session held Monday in Newberry, Florida. The conference room at the University of Florida Food and Agricultural Sciences-Newberry location was standing room only as farmers and industry leaders representing the agricultural sector …
“It’ll Never be Beneficial”- Rep. Cammack on WOTUS
While in Washington D.C. last week, AgNet Media National Correspondent Sabrina Halvorson asked Congresswoman Kat Cammack (R-FL) what can be done to make the Waters of the U.S. regulations better for farmers and how she felt about the failure to overturn the regulations. Listen to her response: Representative Cammack is the author of the REINS act, which would require every …
Florida Lawmakers Working to Finalize the Budget
Florida lawmakers will be working this week to finalize the budget for the upcoming fiscal year. The 60-day legislative session is scheduled to end next week. Florida Cattlemen’s Association (FCA) Director of Governmental Affairs, Sam Ard, explains what should happen this week, and also provides an update on what is known as the Tax Exempt Ag Materials, or TEAM card. The new fiscal …
AgNet Weekly: Congressman Austin Scott
Host Sabrina Halvorson was in Washington D.C. this week, where she spoke with several of the nation’s agricultural leaders and elected officials. She met with Congressman Austin Scott, a Republican from Georgia who is the vice chair of the House Agriculture Committee, serves on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, the House Armed Services Committee, and a number of …
Alabama Peanut Referendum Continues with Strong Approval
Alabama peanut farmers voted to continue the current assessment on peanuts that is collected by the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries (ADAI) and administered by the Alabama Peanut Producers Association (APPA). In a referendum conducted on April 20, 2023, ninety-one percent of those who voted said “yes” to continuing APPA’s programs in education, promotion, and research. For the continuance referendum to …