(AFBF) — The following statement may be attributed to American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall: “America’s farmers and ranchers applaud the House passage of the Family Farmer Relief Act. After several consecutive years of a trying farm economy, updating Chapter 12 bankruptcy eligibility to the current scale and credit needs of U.S. agriculture is a necessity. Today’s action will …
Guest-Worker Reforms Essential as Enforcement Increases
(AFBF) — The federal government’s announcement of plans to expand and expedite the deportation of undocumented workers prompted a forceful call for guest-worker reforms by AFBF President Zippy Duvall. “We are a nation of laws and farmers believe our laws must be followed, but our laws also ought to allow for an adequate, legal workforce,” said AFBF President Zippy Duvall. …
Farm Groups to Evaluate H-2A Proposal
(NAFB) — Agriculture groups are evaluating the Department of Labor’s H-2A proposal announced earlier this week. American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall welcomed the proposal, thanking the Trump administration for “recognizing the need to reform” the program. However, noting the rule is lengthy, Duvall says AFBF will “evaluate it closely for its potential to assist growers with their labor …
Farm Bureau Welcomes Progress on Water Rule Changes
(AFBF) — The following statement regarding repeal of the 2015 Waters of the United States rule can be attributed to American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall: “The Administration has moved its effort to repeal the 2015 Waters of the United States rule to the Office of Management and Budget, the last step before formal issuance. This is good news …
Rural Broadband Will Boost Economy, Improve Sustainability and Animal Welfare
(AFBF) — Broadband is no longer a luxury but a necessity for modern agriculture and the quality of life for rural Americans, Missouri Farm Bureau President Blake Hurst told a House subcommittee. “While most Americans take broadband for granted, 26.4% of rural Americans lack access to broadband,” the Missouri farmer told the Agriculture Subcommittee on Commodity Exchanges, Energy and Credit. …
AFBF Trade Official on USMCA
An American Farm Bureau (AFBF) trade official says reopening the US-Mexico-Canada trade agreement (USMCA) could cause new negotiating headaches and ratification delays, but it may be the only way to satisfy House Democrats. Farm Bureau trade advisor Dave Salmonsen says the next few weeks of talks between House Democrats and President Trump’s trade team will determine the way forward on …
July 4th Cookouts Costing About the Same
(AFBF) — A cookout of Americans’ favorite foods for July 4th, including hot dogs, cheeseburgers, pork spare ribs, potato salad, baked beans, lemonade and watermelon, will cost just a few cents more this year, coming in at less than $6 per person, says the American Farm Bureau Federation. Farm Bureau’s informal survey reveals the average cost of a summer cookout …
Farmers Need New Water Rule, Farm Bureau Tells Senate
The EPA’s latest proposal to define which waters can be regulated by the federal government and which by state and local authorities is a vast improvement over previous efforts, Wyoming Farm Bureau President Todd Fornstrom told the Senate Subcommittee on Fisheries, Waters, and Wildlife. Expensive professional services needed to comply with the Clean Water Act, he said, too often make …
Biotech Executive Order Vital for U.S. Agriculture-Industry Reaction
American Farm Bureau Federation The following statement regarding the Administration’s efforts to facilitate the innovation of agricultural biotechnology can be attributed to American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall: “Having an updated, transparent and scientifically sound regulatory system for agricultural biotechnology is critical if American farmers and ranchers are to meet the challenges of today and tomorrow. I applaud President …
Farm Bureau Statement on Trump Immigration Reform Proposal
The following may be attributed to American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall. “Farm Bureau welcomes President Trump’s focus on fixing our nation’s broken immigration system. However, nowhere is reform more critical than in the agricultural sector. Labor shortages now are being felt by farmers and ranchers across the country, in dairy, fruits and vegetables, mushroom, livestock and other sectors. …