The Agriculture Workforce Coalition is calling on the Senate to pass an agriculture workforce reform bill this Congress. The coalition sent a letter to Senate leaders this week, which was signed by dozens of agricultural organizations including the American Farm Bureau Federation, the International Fresh Produce Association, the National Farmers Union, and several associations from states where ag labor is …
House Ag Chair Scott Introduces Livestock Legislation
Last week, House Agriculture Committee Chair David Scott from Georgia, introduced H.R 8590, the Small Family Farmer and Rancher Relief Act. The legislation is designed to help small farmers and ranchers in the cattle industry. In a statement, Scott said “It’s a crisis in this nation that we’ve lost an average of 17,000 cattle ranchers per year. The drivers of the loss are complex, …
NCBA Backs Food and Energy Security Act
During this week’s Cattle Industry Summer Business meeting, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) announced it does support the Food and Energy Security Act introduced by Senator John Thune of South Dakota. The bill would require federal regulators to disclose how proposed rules would impact food and energy prices. “The Biden administration proposed a massive climate disclosure rule that will …
Sales Tax Exemptions for Florida Ranchers
The Florida Cattlemen’s Association (FCA) wants to remind ranchers in the state that after lobbying for several years to remove the sales tax on fence, FCA members were finally able to secure this exemption during the 2022 legislative session, and that officially began the first of this month. Florida tax code requires a sales tax to be applied to all things sold. …
US Hopeful for a Free Trade Agreement with UK
USDA Deputy Secretary Jewel Bronaugh, just off a major trade mission to the UK, sees that effort as setting the stage for a later free trade deal with Great Britain. Bronaugh says the trade mission resulted in both direct ag sales and talks on trade barriers that could lead to more formal US-UK negotiations. “I think we’re all very hopeful …
Survey Says Shoppers Want Clearer Meat Labels
The National Chicken Council (NCC) released findings from a recent national survey of Americans regarding consumer attitudes about chicken and plant-based ‘chicken’ alternatives. Survey participants included individuals who consume meat and animal products, along with flexitarians, vegetarians and vegans. The results indicate the majority of Americans want clearer product labeling and separate shopping sections for plant-based products. One in five …
Forcing Compliance on Trade Policies
Making Canada Stick to Dairy Trade Policies. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. Last month, the U.S. Trade Representative’s office initiated the second U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement dispute regarding Canadian dairy tariff-rate quota policies. The U.S. is requesting dispute settlement consultations regarding Canada’s dairy tariff-rate quota, or TRQ allocation measures. The TRQs deny allocation access to eligible applicants, including retailers, …
Bill Would Ban US Foes From Owning Farmland
Russia, China, North Korea, and Iran would be banned from owning U.S. agricultural land under legislation just advanced by a House panel. It was the second try for House appropriators after they failed last year to get the Senate to agree to a ban on foreign ownership of U.S. ag land for the key U.S. foes in the annual USDA …
Keep Kids Fed Act Passed in Both Chambers of Congress
A bill to help keep kids fed moves forward. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. The House and Senate each passed the Keep Kids Fed Act this month, but the bill had to return to the House because the Senate version was slightly different. The Hagstrom Report says the House passed the Senate’s version of the bill that …
House Agriculture Committee Discusses Dairy Farm Bill Programs
The House Agriculture Committee met Wednesday to discuss dairy provisions in the Farm Bill. House Agriculture Committee Chairman David Scott (D-GA) says while the creation of the Dairy Margin Coverage program in the last farm bill has provided beneficial improvements, lawmakers must continue to ensure the dairy industry has a safety net that works. “This program provides more comprehensive coverage …