There was strong debate at the House Appropriations Committee on Wednesday, as the full committee marked up the bill for fiscal year 2025 funding for the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education. “The bill puts workers first by ensuring businesses can stay open. We protect farmers from a Labor Department determined to close small family-owned farms across …
Despite Progress, Farm Bill Passage Still Unlikely
There’s been recent progress toward a 2024 Farm Bill, but is it fast enough? Farm Policy News from the University of Illinois says lawmakers have hinted that passage of a full farm bill this year is growing more unlikely. Another extension of the 2018 Farm Bill remains the most likely outcome before the end of the current extension in September. …
Judge Blocks Disaster Program Special Funding to Minority Farmers
A Texas federal judge has temporarily blocked a USDA disaster relief program from giving preferential funding to women and minority farmers. The judge sided with a group of plaintiffs who claimed the program illegally discriminates against white male farmers. The judge’s order ruled the program likely violated the plaintiffs’ constitutional rights to equal protection under the law. Agriculture Dive says …
Year-End Farm Bill Last Hope for 118th Congress?
A year-end farm bill seems to be the last best hope for producers before lawmakers have to face the reality they’ll have to punt the effort into a new year and a new Congress. Both parties have put their farm bill cards on the table, and House Ag advanced its bill, but no further action is scheduled yet on either …
Farm Bill Priorities Discussed at World Pork Expo
The 2024 World Pork Expo kicked off today in Des Moines, Iowa, and one of the events this morning was a policy panel discussion hosted by the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC). Producer-leaders and experts discussed the need to work with both sides of the aisle to support America’s pork producers as the farm bill is being discussed. Preparing for and preventing foreign animal diseases, navigating …
House Subcommittee Advances AM for Every Vehicle Act
Lawmakers recently advanced the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act out of a subcommittee. The House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Innovation, Data and Commerce marked up and passed the legislation for full committee consideration. The action follows a subcommittee hearing on April 30, and mirrors the draft legislative language that was the focus of hearing. Representatives from the National …
Farm Bill Advances After House Ag Approval
The proposed farm bill is moving forward in the House. The House Agriculture Committee approved its version of the farm bill, H.R. 8467 Farm, Food and National Security Act of 2024, after several hours of debate that began Thursday morning. Agricultural groups are applauding several of the items included in the bill. Listen to the story: Ag Groups Respond to …
Nation Watches Anti-Ag Activists in CA
A California farmers’ alliance is asking for help from farmers around the nation in battling animal rights activists. “They are not wrong to be concerned, depending on what happens here. We feel very confidently that this is a steppingstone, that they are seeking out to throw something against the wall and see what sticks. Because if they can make it …
House Passes FIT21 Act
The U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 4763, the “Financial Innovation and Technology for the 21st Century Act”, known as FIT21. It establishes federal requirements over digital asset markets and provides the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) with new jurisdiction over digital commodities. It also clarifies the Securities and Exchange Commission’s jurisdiction over digital assets that are offered as part …
Many Praise Work Done on 2024 Farm Bill
After the recent introduction of the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2024 (2024 Farm Bill), various industry and stakeholder groups from across the country have come out in support of the legislation. Here are just a few of the quotes offering praise and support for the bill. “The National Cotton Council applauds House Agriculture Committee Chairman Glenn “G.T.” Thompson …