Efforts Being Made to Address Rural Veterinary Shortages

Dan Beef, Cattle, Dairy, Equine, Legislative, Livestock, Pork, Poultry, Rabbits, Regulation, Sheep-Goats

Lawmakers have reintroduced the Rural Veterinary Workforce Act, formerly known as the Veterinary Medicine Loan Repayment Program Enhancement Act. Introduced in both the House and Senate, the legislation would expand its reach. The Program helps increase access to food animal veterinary services in rural areas by assisting with the significant obstacle of educational debt. The legislation would end the federal …

Senator Tuberville Pushes for Farm Programs

Dan Agri-Business, Farm Bill, Funding, Legislative, Regulation

While lawmakers continue the back-and-forth on the budget, some are keeping their eye on the Farm Bill. Speaking on the Senate Floor, Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) made a plea for farmers. “The whole purpose of the Farm Bill is supposed to be to help farmers. What an idea. Yet seven out of eight dollars, again, seven out of eight dollars …

Pork Producers Take on D.C. for Fall Fly-in

Dan Farm Bill, Legislative, National Pork Producers Council (NPPC), Regulation

More than 100 pork producers from around the country attended the National Pork Producers Council’s (NPPC) Spring Legislative Action Conference last week in Washington, D.C. The biannual fly-in featured a variety of speakers, a media briefing and NPPC’s widely popular congressional “Baconfest” reception in the Great Hall of the Library of Congress. NPPC President Scott Hays kicked off the event by sharing …

Anti-Checkoff Amendment Filed in the Senate

Dan Beef, Cattle, Legislative, Marketing, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA), Regulation

Back in February of this year, the Opportunities for Fairness in Farming (OFF) Act was introduced in the U.S. Senate. Senators Cory Booker (D-N.J.) and Mike Lee (R-UT) led a bipartisan effort to reform agricultural checkoff programs. The Act would make checkoff programs more responsive to the farmers who are required to contribute to them. Efforts are currently underway to put …

APHIS Finalizes Changes to Import Regulations for Horses

Dan Agri-Business, Equine, Exports/Imports, Legislative, Regulation, This Land of Ours, USDA-APHIS

The United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is finalizing amendments to its import regulations for horses. These amendments will better align our regulations with international standards and allow more flexibility for permitted imports, while continuing to mitigate the risk of bringing equine diseases into the United States. The regulations also provide APHIS with …

Kildee’s Request for Farm Bill Sugar Policy

Dan Farm Bill, Legislative, Regulation, Specialty Crops, Sugar

If it’s not broken, don’t fix it. That’s the resounding message from Michigan Congressman Dan Kildee (D-MI-08) when it comes to the nation’s sugar policy. “We have a system right now that ensures that domestically grown sugar is sold into the markets before we allow for competition to come from offshore. This kind of protection allows American sugar growers to …

NPPC President Not Willing to “Bet the Farm” on Prop 12

Dan Agri-Business, Legislative, Livestock, National Pork Producers Council (NPPC), Pork

Now that California’s Prop 12 is in effect, hog producers around the nation are having to decide if they’re going to change their operations to comply. National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) President Scott Hays says it’s an individual choice, and one his family farm turned down. “If you think about it from a producer perspective, most of the cost is …

Group Wants Candidates to Understand Importance of Trade

Dan Agri-Business, Farm Bill, Funding, Legislative, Trade

Election season is getting underway, and one ag group wants candidates to talk about trade. As election season begins to kick into full gear, the agricultural organization Farmers for Free Trade waits for candidates to share their positions on the issues. Executive Director Brian Kuehl says they’re letting candidates know how important trade is. “We want to see all of …