The 2018 Farm Bill is set to expire in 2023, so preparations are underway to craft the behemoth legislation into law sometime next year. However, it is common for negotiations to extend into the following year. Whether the new farm bill is passed in 2023 or 2024, there’s a lot of work ahead. The farm bill was the focus of …
Florida Lawmakers Talk Broadband and Immigration
Lawmakers Look to Boost Broadband in Rural Areas (NSF/TALLAHASSEE/January 24, 2022) — Florida lawmakers are looking to use at least $400 million in federal stimulus money to to help broadband providers expand services to mostly rural, underserved areas. But don’t expect to see the money reduce rates for customers. The Senate Commerce and Tourism Committee on Monday unanimously supported measures …
Vilsack Already Thinking about Next Farm Bill
Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack spoke before the House Agriculture Committee last week and brought up the next farm bill. The Hagstrom Report says he wants the committee to use the next bill to help him move rural America from an “extractive economy” to a “circular economy.” He says a circular economy is one where the wealth stays as the opportunity …
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg Talks with AgNet Media on Funding for Bridge Repairs
President Joe Biden recently announced a new initiative to fund repairs of the nation’s bridges, to the tune of $26.5 billion. A lot of the public focus on this has been on bridges in big cities, so AgNet Media National Correspondent Sabrina Halvorson talked to Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg to find out how this will help people outside of …
Georgia Lawmakers Busy Talking Budget
Week two of the 2022 Georgia State Legislative Session has seen lawmakers involved in discussing the budget for the next fiscal year. Georgia Agribusiness Council (GAC) Director of Government Affairs, Jake Tench, explains what took place this week. He also reminds everyone about their Legislative Breakfast which is just around the corner. To learn more about the GAC’s Legislative Breakfast, …
Florida Senate Passes Scaled-Back Emergency Fund
The Florida Senate on Wednesday cut in half the amount of money it would put into a new emergency fund that critics called a “blank check” for Gov. Ron DeSantis. According to the News Service of Florida, the Senate overwhelmingly approved two bills (SB 96 and SB 98) that would shift $500 million of general revenue into the pot of …
National Cotton Council Focusing on Two Regulatory Issues
The National Cotton Council (NCC) is starting off 2022 with a focus on regulatory issues that will impact not only U.S. cotton farmers, but agriculture as a whole. NCC Vice President of Washington Operations, Reece Langley, says they have been doing a lot of work on two key issues. Sponsored ContentWhat Sets Provysol® Fungicide ApartJuly 8, 2025CIR Agriculture Harvester ProductsJuly 1, 2025Nuseed …
NCBA Backs WOTUS Recommendations from Advisory Committee
The Environmental Protection Agency’s Farm, Ranch, and Rural Communities Advisory Committee (FRRCC) has issued their report on the Waters of the U.S (WOTUS) rule. The FRRCC’s recommendations include: Ensuring EPA compliance with the Clean Water Act and Supreme Court precedent limiting federal jurisdiction over bodies of water. Developing a clear definition of WOTUS that is easily interpreted by farmers and ranchers. Protecting WOTUS exemptions …
Alabama Farmers Federation Outlines Legislative Priorities
The 2022 Alabama State Legislative session kicked off this past Tuesday as lawmakers are focused on developing plans to spend federal infrastructure and COVID-19 stimulus money, and handle gambling propositions. The Alabama Farmers Federation noted their legislative priorities this year include preserving state funding for agriculture, forestry, and career and technical education. The Federation also is working to clarify tax laws related to …
Georgia Legislative Session is Underway
The 2022 Georgia State Legislative Session kicked off this week, as lawmakers saw a bit of a different start in Atlanta. Georgia Agribusiness Council (GAC) President Will Bentley told Southeast AgNet’s Randall Weiseman, the National Championship game played Monday night did cause a bit of a slow start for this year’s session. The 2022 Georgia State Legislative session is scheduled to run through …