by Sabrina Halvorson Six representatives from the broadband and satellite industries testified at a House Agriculture Committee hearing Wednesday on the digital divide, or the lack of some digital services in rural America. Committee Ranking Member, Representative David Scott of Georgia, asked the witnesses if USDA was the right agency to handle the issue of rural broadband. “They know rural …
Farm Bill Issues Discussed at USA Peanut Congress
Farm Bill issues were discussed at last week’s USA Peanut Congress, Tyron Spearman was there and has this report. Sponsored ContentFlorida Cattle Enhancement Board Plays Major Role In Applied Beef Cattle ResearchOctober 17, 2025FCEB Recurring Funding Provides Opportunity for Longer Term Research ProjectsOctober 10, 2025Florida Cattle Enhancement Board Advances Forage ResearchOctober 3, 2025
Senate Bill Will Address Prop 12
Kansas Senator Roger Marshall will introduce a bill designed to address California’s Prop 12, which was recently upheld by the Supreme Court. The Hagstrom Report says Marshall’s bill would stop states from enacting laws that affect agricultural production in other states. The Ending Agricultural Trade Suppression (EATS) Act will preserve the right of states and local governments to regulate agriculture …
Farmers Take Their Message to Washington D.C.
Farmers take their message to Washington D.C. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. Farmers from around the nation were recently in Washington D.C. to meet with lawmakers and discuss priorities for the 2023 farm bill. The American Farm Bureau Federation Advocacy Fly-In was attended by more than 150 farmers and ranchers. Agriculture Committee leaders spoke before the group …
DeSantis Axes $510 Million from Florida Record State Budget
(NSF/TALLAHASSEE, FL/June 15, 2023) — Gov. Ron DeSantis trimmed $510.9 million from a record-high state spending plan signed Thursday, with nearly one-fifth of the cuts coming from a single program designed to keep swaths of rural property from commercial and residential development. While DeSantis didn’t give any explanation for projects he slashed for the fiscal year that begins July 1, …
Farmer/Congressman Supports Dignity Act for Immigrants
by Sabrina Halvorson As a longtime farmer, John Duarte of California has paid close attention to immigration bills and now as a first-term congressman, he has the opportunity to support one. Congressman Duarte (R-CA) is a co-sponsor of the updated Dignity Act, which was recently reintroduced by a bipartisan group of representatives led by Reps. María Elvira Salazar (R-FL) and …
Congressman Says Mexico is Too Late to Change USMCA Terms
by Sabrina Halvorson If Mexico’s president wanted to restrict GMO corn from the U.S., the time to do that was more than three years ago, before he agreed to the terms of the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). That’s the sentiment of Congressman Dan Kildee of Michigan (D-MI-08). “Our view is there’s nothing in the USMCA that gives him the authority to …
Efforts Continue to Write a New Farm Bill
Congressional members in the Agriculture Committee’s continue efforts to write a new Farm Bill. Tyron Spearman updates where things currently stand. Sponsored ContentFlorida Cattle Enhancement Board Plays Major Role In Applied Beef Cattle ResearchOctober 17, 2025FCEB Recurring Funding Provides Opportunity for Longer Term Research ProjectsOctober 10, 2025Florida Cattle Enhancement Board Advances Forage ResearchOctober 3, 2025
President Testifies Before Congress on State of the Livestock Industry
Last month, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) President Todd Wilkinson testified before the House Agriculture Committee Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry. The second-generation cattle producer from South Dakota, highlighted stronger market conditions in the cattle industry and discussed new challenges facing farmers and ranchers from burdensome regulations and inflation. “Many of you have said it before, and I wholeheartedly agree, food …
IFPA Wants Equity in Farm Bill
by Sabrina Halvorson The International Fresh Produce Association (IFPA) wants to see more funding for specialty crops in the farm bill. In an interview, IFPA Vice President of U.S. Government Relations, Rebeckah Adcock pointed out the differences in funding for things like fresh produce versus row crops. “All parts of agriculture are important. But since USDA says fruits and vegetables …