Last month, the U.S. House Agriculture Committee unanimously advanced a bipartisan bill that authorizes $43 billion to expand rural broadband service nationwide. The Broadband Internet Connections for Rural America Act would authorize $4.5 billion in annual funding, starting in fiscal year 2022. This has been a priority for Rep. David Scott (GA-13), Chairman of the House Agriculture Committee. He talks about the rural divide we …
Vilsack, Tai, Meet with Ag Policy Advisory Committee
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai released a statement following a meeting with the Agricultural Policy Advisory Committee last week. Ambassador Tai detailed how the Biden-Harris Administration’s trade agenda aligns with the objectives of the agricultural sector. The Ambassador discussed how USTR is working to support the ability of U.S. agricultural producers to expand access to …
Legislation Designed to Improve Livestock Assistance
North Dakota Republican John Hoeven and Montana Democrat Jon Tester introduced bipartisan legislation in the Senate to improve livestock disaster assistance. The Hagstrom Report says the bill is designed to accomplish several things, including aligning coverage between the Livestock Forage Program (LFP) and Emergency Livestock Assistance Program (ELAP). It will also increase producer assistance under LFP to compensate them more …
Agriculture Pleased with Senate Passage of Infrastructure Package
Many in agriculture announced their pleasure with the U.S. Senate passed this morning of the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). The bill includes investments of importance to many areas agriculture. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack on the Bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (WASHINGTON, August 10, 2021) — Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack released the following statement following Senate passage of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs …
Various Issues Being Discussed at Cattle Industry Convention
Cattle producers from across the country are in Nashville, Tennessee this week for the 2021 Cattle Industry Convention and NCBA Trade Show. It’s all taking place at the Gaylord Opryland. Various issues affecting producers are being discussed, and National Cattlemen’s Beef Association Executive Director of Natural Resources, Kaitlynn Glover, notes one of those is natural resources. President Biden did sign an executive order …
ICYMI: Commissioner Nikki Fried Announces FDACS Clean Water Initiative
(Tallahassee, Fla./August 6, 2021) — Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried held a series of events across Florida announcing the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) Office of Agricultural Water Policy Clean Water Initiative, updating and strengthening the Department’s water policies to better protect the state’s natural resources. At stops in Fort Myers, Sarasota, Tampa, St. Pete, and Stuart, Commissioner Fried met with scientists, environmental advocates, and local elected officials to roll …
AFBF, Senators Concerned with Possible Water Rule Roll Back
The fight over the Biden EPA’s move to roll back the Trump EPA’s Navigable Waters Protection Rule that reversed WOTUS is heating up. At least 30 GOP farm-state senators are behind a bill to make permanent last year’s Navigable Waters Protection Rule that reversed Obama WOTUS and its wetlands permit requirements. The issue is a major concern for the American …
EPA and Army Corps Announce Next Steps on Writing WOTUS
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Army Corps announced plans for community engagements to let people know about their efforts to revise the definition of “WOTUS,” or the Waters of the U.S rule. The goal of the rewrite is to better ensure clean and safe water for everyone. The EPA and the Army Corps say they are committed to …
Florida Rep. Kat Cammack Discusses Importance of Ports
A variety of agricultural goods in Florida are shipped out via one of the state’s many ports each year. But according to a report released by the Florida Seaport Transportation and Economic Development Council, while cargo trade has rebounded, waterborne trade fell 14.1-billion-dollars at Florida seaports last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic slowing consumer and business demand and supply chain problems. Florida Rep. Kat …
House Agriculture Hearing Echoes NCBA Push for More Hook Space
The U.S. House Agriculture Subcommittee on Livestock and Foreign Agriculture held a hearing Wednesday to examine urgent challenges within the beef supply chain. After hearing testimony from agriculture economists, land-grant university faculty, and cattle industry stakeholders, many members of Congress echoed the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association‘s (NCBA) longstanding call to expand processing capacity. Members also noted the need for greater transparency in …