Alabama lawmakers have wrapped up the 2019 Legislative session, and various bills of interest to agriculture were passed and sent to the Governor. Executive Director of the Alabama Agribusiness Council, Leigha Cauthen, runs through the list of those bills. And now, Leigha says the Alabama Agribusiness Council is getting ready up for their annual meeting. Sponsored ContentStrong Relationship Exists Between the …
Disaster Relief Blocked Again in Congress
A second congressional Republican, arguing for a vote by the full House, blocked an attempt Tuesday to pass long-stalled federal disaster relief funding that would assist Florida’s hurricane-ravaged Panhandle. The latest move came after a group of Panhandle residents targeted — through a full-page ad in the Austin American-Statesman newspaper — a Texas Republican who initially blocked the bill on …
Rubio, Hyde-Smith, Wicker, Cotton Introduce Bill to Help Private Forest Owners Recover From Disasters
A Third of Forest Land in the U.S. is Held by Family Landowners, Who Find Limited Options Following Loss of Timber to Natural Disasters U.S. Senators Marco Rubio (R-FL), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), Roger Wicker (R-MS), and Tom Cotton (R-AR) introduced the Forest Recovery Act (S.1687), which would amend the U.S. tax code to establish a special rule for losses of uncut timber …
U.S. House Does Not Pass Disaster-Relief Package
It was over 7½ months ago that the Category 5 Hurricane Michael made landfall in the Florida Panhandle before moving through parts of Alabama and Georgia. On Thursday, the U.S. Senate finally passed a $19.1 billion disaster relief package in an 85-8 vote, which would provide disaster-aid funding to various parts of the U.S. not only because of hurricanes, but …
Alabama Lawmakers Nearing End of Session
With Alabama lawmakers working to wrap up the 2019 legislative session, efforts on the budget took place this week. Leigha Cauthen, executive director of the Alabama Agribusiness Council, has an update on the budget and on a bill of interest to rural Alabama. The Alabama Agribusiness Council provides an interactive bill tracker with links to bill text, sponsor information and …
Alabama Cattlemen Pleased with Passage of Bill
The 2019 Alabama legislative session is nearing the end, but this week a bill being tracked closely by the Alabama Cattlemen’s Association (ACA) passed and is headed to the governor’s desk. ACA Executive Vice President Erin Beasley has more information about HB 518. Sponsored ContentStrong Relationship Exists Between the Florida Cattle Enhancement Board and UF-IFASApril 17, 2026Florida Cattle Enhancement Board …
After Tariffs are Removed, What’s Next for USMCA?
The tariffs on Canadian and Mexican steel and aluminum imports are history, removing a key barrier to ratifying the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Trade Agreement (USMCA). However, Democrats are still not close to giving full support to the Trump Administration’s biggest trade victory. Agri-Pulse says Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer says, “There are still many other issues that are outstanding before Democrats would …
Nikki Fried Urges Immediate Action by U.S. Senate on Disaster Relief
Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried urged the U.S. Senate to take immediate action on long-overdue Hurricane Michael relief. With both chambers set to adjourn on Friday until June 3, Fried asked senators to send a bipartisan disaster assistance package to the President’s desk before the end of the week. The U.S. House passed a bipartisan disaster bill on May 10. …
Alabama Lawmakers Moving Ag Bills Along
Alabama lawmakers met again this past week to discuss a variety of bills, including some of interest to agriculture. Executive director of the Alabama Agribusiness Council, Leigha Cauthen, updates where some of those currently stand. Sponsored ContentStrong Relationship Exists Between the Florida Cattle Enhancement Board and UF-IFASApril 17, 2026Florida Cattle Enhancement Board Provides Funding For Quicker Response to Research QuestionsApril …
NRCS Announces Changes to Strengthen Technical Input
Last week, USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) announced they are expanding the technical input in program development and technical services in their program delivery. The 2018 Farm Bill made several changes expanding the membership on the State Technical Committee and expanding the avenues through which technical service providers can be certified. Other changes include the administration of the, Watershed Protection and …