Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue applauded the Senate’s long-awaited confirmation of Bill Northey to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Northey will serve as Under Secretary for Farm and Foreign Agricultural Service (FFAS)*. Perdue issued the following statement: “I applaud Bill Northey’s patience over these many months, which demonstrates what a strong leader he …
Farm Leaders Pressing for Action on Immigration Reform
While immigration reform bills failed in the Senate last week, farm leaders are pressing for House action to include agricultural workers. The American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) is urging lawmakers to get behind a bid by House Judiciary Chair Bob Goodlatte to include the AG Act in his broader immigration reform bill. Farm Leaders Pressing for Action on Immigration Reform …
Farm Bureau Statement on AG Act Workforce Legislation
The American Farm Bureau Federation is calling on all members of Congress to support House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte in his goal of including the AG Act in the Securing America’s Future Act. “We are at a crisis point in agriculture,” American Farm Bureau President Zippy Duvall said. “Chairman Bob Goodlatte wants to address our problem and has included …
Seeking Ag Exemption to Emissions Reporting
Livestock producers are pleased to know a bill has been introduced that would exempt them from reporting manure emissions. The legislation known the FARM Act, the Fair Agricultural Reporting Method Act, is cosponsored by 20-senators. Livestock groups and the American Farm Bureau asked lawmakers for help last week, and the bipartisan response was quick. American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) President …
Feeding Minds Press Will Focus on Accurate Agriculture Books for Children
Bringing children accurate knowledge about how their food is grown is the goal of Feeding Minds Press, a new children’s book publishing venture from the American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture. The new publisher’s first book will be “Right This Very Minute,” written by award-winning author Lisl Detlefsen. It is scheduled for release in January 2019. “‘Right This Very Minute’ …
President’s Infrastructure Plan Paves Way for Boosting Rural Economy, Farm Bureau Says
The following statement may be attributed to American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall: “President Trump’s ‘Building a Stronger America’ plan promises to bring long overdue improvements to the country roads, bridges and broader infrastructure that farmers and ranchers depend on to reach customers at home and abroad. While past infrastructure plans have left rural America in the dust, this …
Farm Bureau Asks Court to Block Obama WOTUS Rule
The American Farm Bureau Federation, the Texas Farm Bureau and other members of a broad industry and agricultural coalition have asked a federal district court in Texas to issue a nationwide stay blocking the Obama administration’s illegal 2015 “Waters of the U.S.” rule from taking effect on farms and ranches across the nation. The race to the courthouse follows the …
Two-year Budget Deal Key for Agriculture
The two-year budget deal passed by Congressional leaders is key for agriculture, including farm program fixes, disaster aid and tax break extenders. American Farm Bureau budget adviser, RJ Karney, looks at some of the key program fixes needed to write the next farm bill. Two-year Budget Deal Key for Agriculture-1 Karney says AFBF and Ag Committee leaders were also behind …
Groups Want Injunction Against WOTUS Rule
The National Pork Producers Council and a diverse coalition of agricultural and business groups late Wednesday (2/7/2018) – in the case American Farm Bureau Federation, et. al. vs. the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency – filed a request in federal court for a nationwide preliminary injunction against enforcement of the Obama administration’s Waters of the United States (WOTUS) Rule. The Clean …
Trump Offers Shared Goals with Agriculture for 2018
President Donald Trump and farmers and ranchers have many shared priorities for 2018, following the State of the Union address earlier this week. American Farm Bureau Federation director of advocacy and political affairs, Cody Lyon says President Trump touched on many topics important to farmers and ranchers. Goals He says infrastructure provides a critical role for agriculture, and repairs are …