Cattlemen Keep Up Pressure for Farm Bill

Dan Beef, Cattle, Farm Bill, General, Legislative, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA)

Cattlemen across the country are keeping up the pressure on lawmakers to get a Farm Bill done this year, despite what seem like impossible odds. A past president of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA), Kevin Kester from southern Monterey County, California, was on Capitol Hill recently and explains why. During a recent NCBA Beltway Beef podcast, he talked about some of …

NPPC Asks to Intervene in CAFO Rule Court Case

Dan Legislative, National Pork Producers Council (NPPC), Pork, Regulation

The National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) has teamed up with the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF), the U.S. Poultry and Egg Association, and the United Egg Producers (UEP) requesting the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit to allow their intervention in a lawsuit filed by environmental and animal rights extremists against the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) over …

Group of House Republicans against EATS Act

Dan Agri-Business, Legislative

Sixteen members of the House of Representatives pushed back against the Ending Agriculture Trade Suppression Act (EATS Act). The group sent a letter to House Ag Chair Glenn Thompson (R-PA) and Ranking Member David Scott (D-GA). Groups backing the letter included the Organization for Competitive Markets, Competitive Markets Action, National Dairy Producers Organization, and others. “We applaud the representatives for …

Search for Speaker Another Delay for Farm Bill

Dan Agri-Business, Farm Bill, Funding, Legislative

Another delay for the farm bill, as the House must now spend time electing another Speaker after the ousting of Representative Kevin McCarthy of California. During an address on student loan forgiveness, President Biden broached the subject of the former speaker and urged lawmakers to move forward quickly. “The House will now reorganize and select a new speaker. I know …

Conditions “Too Good” for Fast Farm Bill

Dan Farm Bill, Legislative

An ag economics expert says this year’s farm bill battle is a repeat of bills gone by. Dr. Joe Outlaw is a Regents Fellow, Professor, and Extension Economist in the Department of Agricultural Economics at Texas A&M University.  In addition, he is the Co-Director of the Agricultural and Food Policy Center (AFPC) at Texas A&M University. During a recent Farm …

Spartz Anti-Checkoff Amendment Fails

Sabrina Halvorson Legislative

The controversial anti-checkoff amendment to the Ag Appropriations Bill failed before the full House late Wednesday. The amendment proposal was led by Representative Victoria Spartz (R-IN), who defended it on the House Floor late Tuesday night. “So if you want to force farmers to pay some money, I think part of what farmers need to know where the money goes. …

Efforts Being Made to Address Rural Veterinary Shortages

Dan Beef, Cattle, Dairy, Equine, Legislative, Livestock, Pork, Poultry, Regulation, Sheep-Goats

Lawmakers have reintroduced the Rural Veterinary Workforce Act, formerly known as the Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program Enhancement Act. Introduced in both the House and Senate, the legislation would expand its reach. The Program helps increase access to food animal veterinary services in rural areas by assisting with the significant obstacle of educational debt. The legislation would end the federal …

Senator Tuberville Pushes for Farm Programs

Dan Agri-Business, Farm Bill, Funding, Legislative, Regulation

While lawmakers continue the back-and-forth on the budget, some are keeping their eye on the Farm Bill. Speaking on the Senate Floor, Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) made a plea for farmers. “The whole purpose of the Farm Bill is supposed to be to help farmers. What an idea. Yet seven out of eight dollars, again, seven out of eight dollars …

Pork Producers Take on D.C. for Fall Fly-in

Dan Farm Bill, Legislative, National Pork Producers Council (NPPC), Regulation

More than 100 pork producers from around the country attended the National Pork Producers Council’s (NPPC) Spring Legislative Action Conference last week in Washington, D.C. The biannual fly-in featured a variety of speakers, a media briefing and NPPC’s widely popular congressional “Baconfest” reception in the Great Hall of the Library of Congress. NPPC President Scott Hays kicked off the event by sharing …