Senator Roger Marshall and Representative Tracey Mann introduced the Emergency Relief from Duties Act. The bill would create emergency waivers for duties levied on fertilizers by the U.S. International Trade Commission. “Fertilizers and other inputs have been at an all-time high, and the war in Ukraine promises to drive up the price of products even more,” says Chris Edgington, President …
Georgia Lawmakers Preparing for Crossover Day
Week nine of the 2022 Georgia State Legislative Session saw Lawmakers busy working with various bills, as an important day is coming up next week. Georgia Agribusiness Council (GAC) President Will Bentley explains why Crossover Day in the Legislature is so important to the process of getting bills through the session. Crossover Day will be next Tuesday, March 15. To …
Florida Lawmakers Give DeSantis More Appointment Power
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and his successors will have more power over some high-level state appointments under a bill headed to his desk. Without debate, the Florida House on Wednesday voted 77-34, mostly along party lines, to approve a measure (SB 1658) that would increase the governor’s power to appoint the secretary of the Department of Environmental Protection, the commissioner of …
Iowa Senators: Time to Unleash Biofuels
With gas prices hitting all-time highs, Iowa Senators Chuck Grassley and Joni Ernst are asking the president to “unleash biofuels” immediately. They want Biden’s support on their bipartisan plan to replace Russian oil with clean-burning, American-made renewable fuels that are available right now. The new bill is called the Home Front Energy Independence Act and would put the ban on …
Florida Legislative Session Headed to Overtime
(NSF) – With a budget remaining unfinished Tuesday night, the annual Florida legislative session is headed to overtime. Senate President Wilton Simpson, R-Trilby, and House Speaker Chris Sprowls, R-Palm Harbor, issued a memo shortly before 9 p.m. Tuesday that said budget talks would continue Wednesday. Cooling Off Period State law requires a 72-hour “cooling off” period before lawmakers can vote …
Farm Bureau Asks for Increased Domestic Energy Production
American Farm Bureau President Zippy Duvall sent a letter to the Biden Administration asking them to take the necessary steps to address the high energy costs impacting all Americans. Over the past 15 months, oil prices have increased by 130% to more than $120 per barrel. Duvall says, “As Russia’s harmful actions in Ukraine continue and further sanctions get imposed …
Georgia Right to Farm Bill Passes in the House
Week eight of the 2022 Georgia State Legislative Session has been another busy one for lawmakers, but a good one for agriculture. As Georgia Agribusiness Council (GAC) President Will Bentley explains, the Right to Farm Bill did pass in the House. To keep track of any of the bills during the 2022 legislative session, go to the Georgia Agribusiness Council website. Sponsored …
Florida Senate Backs Effort to Expand Broadband?
The Florida Senate on Thursday (Mar. 3, 2022) unanimously passed a proposal that would create a framework to help expand broadband into underserved areas. Linked bills (SB 1800 and SB 1802), sponsored by Sen. Jim Boyd, R-Bradenton, would establish a program to replace poles to help extend broadband. Sen. Loranne Ausley, a Tallahassee Democrat whose district includes sprawling rural areas, …
Florida Lawmakers Hoping to Finalize Budget Issues
As Florida lawmakers continue to finalize many issues in week eight of the Florida Legislative Session, the budget continues to be the major topic of discussion. According to Florida Cattlemen’s Association (FCA) Director of Governmental Affairs Sam Ard, negotiators from both the House and Senate have been working out some of the high profile spending issues in what is being described as a …
Updates on Packers and Stockyards Act Rule Amendments
Last June, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced they were beginning work on proposed rules to support enforcement of the Packers and Stockyards Act, the 100-year old law that was originally designed to protect poultry and hog farmers and cattle ranchers from unfair, deceptive, and anti-competitive practices in the meat markets. This week, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack offered the latest …