There are several farm disaster relief bills in various stages of development on Capitol Hill this week, one being the reauthorization for WHIP+ in 2020 and 2021. Tuesday, the House Agriculture Committee approved that bill and sent it to the full House for consideration. Earlier this month, we ran a story where House Agriculture Committee Chairman David Scott, a Democrat from Georgia, talked …
AFB President Disputes Administration Claims on New Capital Gains Tax
American Farm Bureau President Zippy Duval pushed back against the Biden administration’s stance that most small family farmers will escape a proposed capital gains tax to replace the so-called “stepped-up basis.” Duval disputed the claim that a $2 million per couple exclusion on the gain on farm assets and that passed onto children, will let most off the hook on …
House to Consider Appropriation Bills
In a flurry of activity ahead of the August recess, the House of Representatives will consider appropriation bills this week, including the agriculture spending bill. The process began Monday with the House Rules Committee. The 2022 agriculture spending bill provides discretionary funding of $26.5 billion, an increase of $2.8 billion, or 12 percent above 2021. In total, the bill includes …
Thompson Seeks House Hearing on Senate Climate Bill
The top Republican on the House Ag Committee calls for a hearing on the Senate Growing Climate Solutions Act. In a letter to Chairman David Scott, a Georgia Democrat, Glen GT Thompson of Pennsylvania says, “I write to express concerns with this legislation and request further review by the House Committee on Agriculture.” Thompson has maintained concerns of government involvement …
Animal Ag Organizations Launch Protein PACT
U.S. animal agriculture groups Monday announced the Protein PACT. The coalition is the first joint initiative designed to accelerate momentum and verify progress toward global sustainable development goals across the animal protein sector. The Protein PACT was submitted to the UN Food Systems Summit as a sustainability game changer, and sustainable livestock and poultry production will be featured in a …
Senator Boozman: Working Really Hard to Help Farmers
By Clint Thompson It is never too early start thinking about the next Farm Bill. It was on the mind of peanut producers during this past weekend’s Southern Peanut Growers Conference. It was also discussed by U.S. Senator John Boozman R-Ark., who serves as the Ranking Member of the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee. “We’re working really hard to …
Navigable Waters Protection Rule Challenge Dismissed
Back in May, various environmental groups asked a federal court to vacate the Navigable Waters Protection Rule (NWPR) enacted during the Trump Administration. The motion, filed in a South Carolina U.S. District Court, asked the court to vacate the rule based on what they call undisputed facts, including what they say has been lost protection for U.S. waters. But last …
Clarifying the Product of the USA Label
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently announced a top-to-bottom review of the “Product of the USA” label, which will inform a forthcoming rulemaking on this topic. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said “American consumers depend upon accurate, transparent labels to obtain important information about the food they consume. American farmers and ranchers depend upon those same labels to convey information about …
Gillibrand Planning Dairy Subcommittee Hearing on Pricing
Senator Kirsten Gillibrand this week says she is moving forward with a dairy pricing hearing. The New York Democrat announced permission was granted for a hearing in the U.S. Senate Agriculture Subcommittee she chairs on Dairy, Livestock, Poultry, Local Food Systems, Food Safety and Security. Although a Senate calendar date is not yet confirmed, the hearing is supposed to occur …
Revitalizing the Packers and Stockyards Act
On Friday, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced that USDA will soon propose rulemaking designed to improve fairness and transparency within the Packers and Stockyards Act. Rod Bain has the story. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack discusses the proposed rulemaking, such as specific practices with chicken processors and clarifying the definition of an unfair practice. Sponsored ContentCIR Agriculture Harvester ProductsJuly 1, 2025Nuseed …