Washington, D.C., – (USDA) — U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue today announced an update on the implementation status of the 2018 Farm Bill. President Trump signed this Farm Bill into law on December 20, 2018, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) promptly began implementing key programs. In addition, USDA held several listening sessions with stakeholders and the public specific to …
Summer Passage of USMCA Looking Doubtful
(NAFB) — Key lawmakers in Washington, D.C. cast significant doubt on the possibility of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Trade Agreement (USMCA) getting passed through Congress yet this summer. This comes in spite of the fact that political pressure is ramping up. Congress has a long summer recess rapidly approaching. Politico says it’s looking like Democrats are sticking to their ideas that the …
Senate Finance Plans USMCA Hearing
Senator Chuck Grassley this week announced a planned hearing regarding the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). Grassley, chair of the Senate Finance Committee, says the committee will hear testimony from U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer. The committee will hold the hearing, “The President’s 2019 Trade Policy Agenda and the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement,” next Tuesday morning. Grassley told reporters earlier this week, following …
Very Productive Legislative Session for Alabama Cattlemen
The 2019 Alabama legislative session came to an end late last week.Alabama Cattlemen’s Association Executive Vice President Erin Beasley called it a very productive session for cattle producers across the state. Sponsored ContentFlorida Cattle Enhancement Board Provides Critical Funding To Enhance Brahman GeneticsApril 24, 2026Strong Relationship Exists Between the Florida Cattle Enhancement Board and UF-IFASApril 17, 2026Florida Cattle Enhancement Board …
Alabama Lawmakers Send Ag Bills to Governor
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 ContentFlorida Cattle Enhancement Board Provides …
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 ContentFlorida Cattle Enhancement Board Provides Critical Funding To Enhance Brahman GeneticsApril 24, 2026Strong Relationship Exists Between …