The 2023 Alabama Legislative Session continues this week, and a bill to protect livestock owners from overly restrictive municipal ordinances and a bill to exempt livestock fencing materials from Alabama’s sales and use tax are closely being tracked by the Alabama Cattlemen’s Association (ACA). Erin Beasley, ACA executive vice president, explains where things stand with these bills.
Efforts to Restrict Drone Surveillance of Livestock Facilities
In the state of Iowa, the House of Representatives passed a bill last week that restricts drone surveillance of livestock facilities without permission from the property owner. If Iowa House File 572 becomes law, remotely piloted aircraft couldn’t fly within 400 feet of homesteads or other areas where animals are kept. People caught in violation would face a simple misdemeanor …
AgNet Weekly: Opportunities for Fairness in Farming Act
The Opportunities for Fairness in Farming Act was introduced this session by a group of Senators looking to make changes to agricultural checkoff programs. Vice President of Government Affairs with the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, Ethan Lane says there’s more to it than that. He joins us on the AgNet Weekly podcast. Each week we highlight essential legislative and policy …
Farm Bill Listening Session Coming to Florida
A Farm Bill listening session will soon be held in Florida. Tyron Spearman has more information about that, along with other news of interest to farmers across the Southeast.
NCBA Continues to Work on Various Issues
The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) continues working on various issues, including traceability. Southeast AgNet’s Will Jordan recently talked with Buck Wehrbein, NCBA vice president who gave us a quick update on some of those.
NCBA Highlights Federal Injunction Stopping WOTUS Rule in 24 States
Today, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) praised the decision by a judge in the U.S. District Court for the District of North Dakota to grant a preliminary injunction stopping the Biden administration’s “Waters of the U.S.” (WOTUS) rule from taking effect in 24 states. Combined with a previous ruling in the Southern District of Texas, 26 states across the …
Florida Lawmakers Working on the Budget
Florida lawmakers last Wednesday reached the halfway point in this year’s 60-day legislative session. Both the House and Senate approved their individual budget proposals, which now sets the stage for negotiations on a final spending plan. The Senate proposal is $113.7 billion, while the House proposal totals $113 billion. Florida Cattlemen’s Association (FCA) Director of Governmental Affairs, Sam Ard, looks at …
Biden Issues Second Veto of Presidency: Broad WOTUS Definition Persists
By Will Jordan President Biden issued the second veto of his presidency on Thursday when House Joint Resolution 27 hit his desk. The resolution, sponsored by Congressman Sam Graves (R-MO) and Congressman David Rouzer (R-NC) would have nullified the Biden Administration’s Revised Definition of “Waters of the United States” submitted by the EPA and Army Corps of Engineers in January. Passing in …
Death Tax Repeal Act Introduced in U.S. Senate
Something we’ve talked many times about over the years is the Estate Tax, or as many know it as, the Death Tax. It has been a top issue for agriculture groups and has been discussed in our nation’s capital various times. And, it’s being discussed again, as last week Senator John Thune (R-SD) and 40 colleagues reintroduced legislation to permanently repeal …
Latest Efforts in Meat and Poultry Labeling
USDA’s announcement of clearer definitions of Product of USA labels for meat, poultry, and egg products is the latest in a series of attempts to create and define such a labeling class. Rod Bain reports.