The House Agriculture Committee held its first hearing of the new congressional year, titled “Uncertainty, Inflation, Regulations: Challenges for American Agriculture”. Opening statements from the committee leaders were partisan and politically charged. Committee Chair Glenn “G.T.” Thompson (R-PA) listed several recent problems agriculture has faced, such as the rising costs of fuel and inputs, and the problems caused by the …
Georgia Agribusiness Council Tracking Bills through Legislative Process
Week seven of the Georgia State Legislative Session was an action packed week, according to Georgia Agribusiness Council (GAC) Director of Government Affairs, Jake Tench. He told Southeast AgNet’s Randall Weiseman various bills have been flooding into the committee meetings. To keep track of any of the bills Tench mentioned, or any others that come up during the legislative session, go to the GAC Facebook page
FMI Encourages FDA to Refine Healthy Definition
The Food Industry Association (FMI) recently submitted comments to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regarding the agency’s proposed rule to update the definition of the term “healthy.” The FDA is seeking the update when the term is used as a nutrient content claim in labeling. FMI Chief Public Policy Officer Jennifer Hatcher says. “We are concerned the proposal is …
WOTUS and the 2023 Farm Bill on the Horizon for Producers
Two major policy issues should be on the radar of southeastern cattle producers this year, according to Fred Smith, NCBA Region II Policy Division Vice President. Southeast AgNet’s Will Jordan has more information.
Bills of Interest to Agriculture Moving through Georgia Legislature
During week six of the Georgia State Legislative Session, various bills of interest to agriculture continued moving through the committee process. Georgia Agribusiness Council (GAC) President Will Bentley, explains what bills they have been tracking. More information about the 2023 legislative session is available on the GAC Facebook page.
Funding May be Tight for a New Farm Bill
As efforts to put together a new Farm Bill continue, some are saying funding for the new bill may be tight this time around. Tyron Spearman has more details.
Discussing Safety Nets during Farm Bill Hearings
Hearings concerning a new Farm Bill have been underway, and according to a story from Tyron Spearman, recent discussions have centered around the importance of strong safety nets for farmers.
Senators Reintroduce Cattle Market Reform Bill
A bipartisan group of Senators have introduced the Cattle Price Discovery and Transparency Act of 2023. The group includes Senator Chuck Grassley, along with fellow Republican Deb Fischer, and Democrats Ron Wyden and Jon Tester. The lawmakers say the legislation would restore transparency and accountability in the cattle market by establishing regional cash minimums and equipping producers with more market …
Georgia Lawmakers See Agriculture Visitors During Week Five
Week five of the 2023 Georgia State Legislative Session has basically wrapped up, and according to Georgia Agribusiness Council (GAC) President Will Bentley, it was another busy one. He told Southeast AgNet’s Randall Weiseman there were some visitors this past week. More information about the 2023 legislative session is available on the GAC Facebook page.
Senators Urge USDA to Address Avian Flu Immediately
A group of Senators urges the Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) to take swift action to address the ongoing avian influenza outbreak. The lawmakers asked Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack to quickly use funds provided by Congress in the Fiscal Year 2023 Agriculture Appropriations bill. Led by Senator Tammy Baldwin from Wisconsin, the lawmakers said, “it …