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
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
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
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
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
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 …
More Senators Support AM in Every Vehicle Act
More than a quarter of the Senate has now signed on to a bill to protect AM radio. The Senate’s AM in Every Vehicle Act, S1669, continues to gain momentum with an additional eight senators signing on as cosponsors before the August break. That brings it to 27 cosponsors, including 14 Republicans, 12 Democrats, and one Independent. Senator Kevin Cramer …
USDA Publishes Child Nutrition Program Integrity Final Rule
Ensuring the integrity of child nutrition programs. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. U. S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) Wednesday published a final rule on program integrity to ensure that child nutrition programs are properly operated and managed to protect federal funds and taxpayer dollars. The final rule impacts the National School Lunch …
Two Sides of the EATS Act
Things are heating up over the EATS Act. Supporters of the bill say the Ending Agricultural Trade Suppression (EATS) Act would prevent states from regulating farmers and ranchers nationwide. “The EATS Act does two things. First, it prohibits the states, like California, from passing a law that would impact production practices in other states. And then in the event that …
USDA Proposal to Strengthen Horse Protection Act
A proposed rule to strengthen horse protection. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) seeks public input on a proposed rule to strengthen Horse Protection Act (HPA) requirements. Announced last week, the proposed changes aim to eliminate horse soring, a practice that gives horse owners and trainers an unfair advantage in …