Earlier this week we told you that House Agriculture Committee Chair David Scott had introduced the Small Family Farmer and Rancher Relief Act, H.R 8590. The legislation, designed to help small farmers and ranchers in the cattle industry, would provide financial assistance by strengthening the safety net and create opportunities to increase competition and help small ranchers access new marketing opportunities. While the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) says it’s …
Agriculture Coalition Letter to Senate on Farm Labor
The Agriculture Workforce Coalition is calling on the Senate to pass an agriculture workforce reform bill this Congress. The coalition sent a letter to Senate leaders this week, which was signed by dozens of agricultural organizations including the American Farm Bureau Federation, the International Fresh Produce Association, the National Farmers Union, and several associations from states where ag labor is …
House Ag Chair Scott Introduces Livestock Legislation
Last week, House Agriculture Committee Chair David Scott from Georgia, introduced H.R 8590, the Small Family Farmer and Rancher Relief Act. The legislation is designed to help small farmers and ranchers in the cattle industry. In a statement, Scott said “It’s a crisis in this nation that we’ve lost an average of 17,000 cattle ranchers per year. The drivers of the loss are complex, …
NCBA Backs Food and Energy Security Act
During this week’s Cattle Industry Summer Business meeting, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) announced it does support the Food and Energy Security Act introduced by Senator John Thune of South Dakota. The bill would require federal regulators to disclose how proposed rules would impact food and energy prices. “The Biden administration proposed a massive climate disclosure rule that will …
House Agriculture Subcommittee Hearing on Hemp
The House Agriculture Subcommittee on Biotechnology, Horticulture, and Research held a hearing Thursday to get a closer look at USDA’s Hemp Production Program in preparation for the 2023 Farm Bill. Subcommittee chair Stacey Plaskett explained some of the history of hemp regulations in her opening statement. “Until recently, the hemp industry was outlawed due to restrictions put in place by …
House Agriculture Hearing on Credit for Farmers
The House Agriculture Committee recently held a hearing titled “A 2022 Review of the Farm Bill: The State of Credit for Young, Beginning, and Underserved Producers.” During his opening statement, chairman David Scott of Georgia said those producers face difficulties in obtaining credit that our more seasoned and established producers may not encounter. “Historically, these groups of producers tend to …
House Ag Chair Announces Bill to Support Small Cattle Farmers
U.S. House Agriculture Chairman David Scott, from Georgia, last week announced the intention to introduce a bill to help small family farmers and ranchers and address the national crisis in our nation’s beef supply chain. Scott said, “What has been missing from the conversation is help for the very beginning of our food supply chain, which is our nation’s small …
Florida Agriculture Community to Complete Federal Farm Bill Feedback Survey
(FDACS/Tallahassee, FL/July 15, 2022) — Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried is encouraging Florida’s producers, stakeholders in food and nutrition fields, and consumers to complete the U.S. House Agriculture Committee 2023 Farm Bill online feedback survey. Providing feedback is essential to inform federal representatives of the needs and interests of Florida’s agricultural community as Congress looks to enact major policies that will drive the food and nutrition systems for years to …
Ag Groups Call for Swift Confirmation of New Chief Ag Negotiator
A coalition of almost 100 American food and agriculture organizations called for the prompt confirmation of Doug McKalip as the Chief Agriculture Negotiator in the U.S. Trade Representative’s Office. In the letter to the U.S. Senate’s Finance Committee, the groups highlighted McKalip’s deep knowledge of the food and agriculture industry and his institutional, regulatory, and trade experience. The groups also …
House Ag Leaders Seeking Farm Bill Feedback
An integral part of the oversight and review process for future Farm Bills is getting direct input from producers, stakeholders, and consumers on how various programs are working for them. So, House Agriculture Committee Chairman David Scott and Republican Leader Glenn “GT” Thompson are offering the opportunity for the public to submit feedback and ideas online for the 2023 Farm …