Webinar: Expansion of Climate-Smart Agriculture and Forestry Mitigation Activities and other FY24 Conservation Opportunities

Dan Climate Change, Conservation, Economy, Environment, Farm Bill, Forestry, USDA-NRCS

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will hold a public webinar Wednesday, October 25 at 2 pm eastern that will cover the newly expanded list of Climate-Smart Agriculture and Forestry Mitigation activities available for Inflation Reduction Act funding. This is all through conservation programs offered by USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). The webinar will also cover available Inflation Reduction Act and …

Battle over Tomato Suspension Agreement

Dan Agri-Business, Fruits, Regulation, Specialty Crops, Vegetables

Should the U.S. terminate the Tomato Suspension Agreement with Mexico? The agreement is intended to keep Mexico from flooding the U.S. market with underpriced tomatoes by suspending duties, however, some industry leaders say it’s not working, and the agreement needs to be terminated so Mexico can be held accountable. Others worry that terminating the agreement and making Mexico pay duties …

Cattlemen Keep Up Pressure for Farm Bill

Dan Beef, Cattle, Farm Bill, General, Legislative, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA)

Cattlemen across the country are keeping up the pressure on lawmakers to get a Farm Bill done this year, despite what seem like impossible odds. A past president of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA), Kevin Kester from southern Monterey County, California, was on Capitol Hill recently and explains why. During a recent NCBA Beltway Beef podcast, he talked about some of …

NPPC Asks to Intervene in CAFO Rule Court Case

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

The National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) has teamed up with the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF), the U.S. Poultry and Egg Association, and the United Egg Producers (UEP) requesting the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit to allow their intervention in a lawsuit filed by environmental and animal rights extremists against the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) over …

Group of House Republicans against EATS Act

Dan Agri-Business, EATS Act, Legislative

Sixteen members of the House of Representatives pushed back against the Ending Agriculture Trade Suppression Act (EATS Act). The group sent a letter to House Ag Chair Glenn Thompson (R-PA) and Ranking Member David Scott (D-GA). Groups backing the letter included the Organization for Competitive Markets, Competitive Markets Action, National Dairy Producers Organization, and others. “We applaud the representatives for …

Search for Speaker Another Delay for Farm Bill

Dan Agri-Business, Farm Bill, Funding, Legislative

Another delay for the farm bill, as the House must now spend time electing another Speaker after the ousting of Representative Kevin McCarthy of California. During an address on student loan forgiveness, President Biden broached the subject of the former speaker and urged lawmakers to move forward quickly. “The House will now reorganize and select a new speaker. I know …

Conditions “Too Good” for Fast Farm Bill

Dan Farm Bill, Legislative

An ag economics expert says this year’s farm bill battle is a repeat of bills gone by. Dr. Joe Outlaw is a Regents Fellow, Professor, and Extension Economist in the Department of Agricultural Economics at Texas A&M University.  In addition, he is the Co-Director of the Agricultural and Food Policy Center (AFPC) at Texas A&M University. During a recent Farm …

Spartz Anti-Checkoff Amendment Fails

Sabrina Halvorson Legislative

The controversial anti-checkoff amendment to the Ag Appropriations Bill failed before the full House late Wednesday. The amendment proposal was led by Representative Victoria Spartz (R-IN), who defended it on the House Floor late Tuesday night. “So if you want to force farmers to pay some money, I think part of what farmers need to know where the money goes. …

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 …