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 …
Sales Tax Exemptions for Florida Ranchers
The Florida Cattlemen’s Association (FCA) wants to remind ranchers in the state that after lobbying for several years to remove the sales tax on fence, FCA members were finally able to secure this exemption during the 2022 legislative session, and that officially began the first of this month. Florida tax code requires a sales tax to be applied to all things sold. …
Wheat Growers List 2023 Farm Bill Priorities
The National Association of Wheat Growers shared their priorities for the 2023 Farm Bill. As lawmakers continue putting the next farm bill together, wheat growers will be advocating for these priorities on Capitol Hill. The priorities include: Protecting crop insurance to ensure growers have a strong and reliable safety net assists wheat growers when it’s needed during disasters. They also …
US Hopeful for a Free Trade Agreement with UK
USDA Deputy Secretary Jewel Bronaugh, just off a major trade mission to the UK, sees that effort as setting the stage for a later free trade deal with Great Britain. Bronaugh says the trade mission resulted in both direct ag sales and talks on trade barriers that could lead to more formal US-UK negotiations. “I think we’re all very hopeful …
Survey Says Shoppers Want Clearer Meat Labels
The National Chicken Council (NCC) released findings from a recent national survey of Americans regarding consumer attitudes about chicken and plant-based ‘chicken’ alternatives. Survey participants included individuals who consume meat and animal products, along with flexitarians, vegetarians and vegans. The results indicate the majority of Americans want clearer product labeling and separate shopping sections for plant-based products. One in five …
Forcing Compliance on Trade Policies
Making Canada Stick to Dairy Trade Policies. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. Last month, the U.S. Trade Representative’s office initiated the second U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement dispute regarding Canadian dairy tariff-rate quota policies. The U.S. is requesting dispute settlement consultations regarding Canada’s dairy tariff-rate quota, or TRQ allocation measures. The TRQs deny allocation access to eligible applicants, including retailers, …
Florida Attorney/Farmer Shares Thoughts on WOTUS
We continue our series on the Southeast Region WOTUS Roundtable, which was hosted by the North Carolina Farm Bureau. Kate English, who is a farmer and an attorney who is also a part of the Florida Farm Bureau, was one of the speakers. She said states like Florida already have similar water regulations. “In many instances, Clean Water Act regulations …
Bill Would Ban US Foes From Owning Farmland
Russia, China, North Korea, and Iran would be banned from owning U.S. agricultural land under legislation just advanced by a House panel. It was the second try for House appropriators after they failed last year to get the Senate to agree to a ban on foreign ownership of U.S. ag land for the key U.S. foes in the annual USDA …
Keep Kids Fed Act Passed in Both Chambers of Congress
A bill to help keep kids fed moves forward. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. The House and Senate each passed the Keep Kids Fed Act this month, but the bill had to return to the House because the Senate version was slightly different. The Hagstrom Report says the House passed the Senate’s version of the bill that …