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 …
Agriculture Secretary on Improving Ag Transportation Infrastructure
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack is emphasizing the importance of broad rural infrastructure improvements in efforts to build up rural communities and their commodities. He explains the competitive price advantage U.S. farmers and ranchers have as a result of our nation’s transportation system. But, he explains why the upgrade to our agricultural transportation network and infrastructure is needed. Vilsack notes the …
House Agriculture Committee Approves WHIP+ Reauthorization
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 …