As the Agriculture Department moves forward with Highly Erodible Land and Wetland Conservation regulations, the department must ensure its new Interim Rule balances the benefits for both farmland and wetland, as Congress intended, according to the American Farm Bureau Federation. As it was written, the Interim Rule makes program participation much more difficult and fails to give famers the opportunity …
Challenges after Shutdown
Federal agencies that serve farmers and many others are back in business this week, but the challenges in getting services back up to speed after the longest shutdown ever will be daunting. USDA, USTR, EPA, the IRS and other agencies will take weeks or months to recover from the 35-day partial government shutdown as they deal with mountains of backlogged …
Farmers, Ranchers Need USMCA
The following statement can be attributed to American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall: “Farmers need the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), and the sooner the better. U.S. agriculture needs strong trade agreements to access customers around the world and grow our farm economy. We are grateful for the Administration’s work to move this agreement forward. We urge Congress to finish …
Shutdown Costly for USDA
The record-long partial government shutdown is likely to cost billions and has already hamstrung the nation’s 2-million or so farming operations. Everyone knows how tough it is to get back to work after a long absence. But if you’re USDA, with a huge backlog of farm program and other applications, implementing a farm bill, paying furloughed workers, and more, it’s daunting. …
Florida Couple Wins National Award
Jake and Melissa Raburn of Hinton Farms Produce in Hillsborough County won the Excellence in Agriculture Award at the American Farm Bureau Federation Annual Convention in New Orleans on Jan. 14, 2019. The couple placed first in the nation for their impressive agricultural careers and community service. The Raburns will receive a new Ford truck, courtesy of Ford. They will also receive …
Farmers Under Fire: Trial Lawyers’ Attack on Agriculture
Agriculture is in the crosshairs as class-action lawsuits seek huge monetary awards against agricultural producers, said a panel of experts at a workshop at the American Farm Bureau Federation’s 100th Annual Convention. Panelists Andy Curliss, CEO of the North Carolina Pork Council; Harrison Pittman, director of the National Agriculture Law Center and Blake Hurst, president of the Missouri Farm Bureau …
Farmers and Ranchers Digest Information on Alternative Protein Sources
Whether it is called fake meat or clean meat, products containing alternative sources of protein have been appearing in supermarkets and restaurants around the country, and are competing with traditionally raised animal agriculture products. Farmers and ranchers at the American Farm Bureau Federation’s 100th Annual Convention engaged with experts on what alternative sources of protein are, who backs them and …
More Women Returning to the Farm in Management Roles
Knowing that women approach business with different priorities can help farm and ranch families maximize their effectiveness in management roles. This was the theme of the “Making Room for Women Managing Family Business” workshop, presented by Jeanne Bernick, principal and market strategist with KCoe Isom, at the American Farm Bureau Federation’s 100th Annual Convention. “We’re seeing more and more women …
Plenty of Agriculture Trade Opportunities for U.S. and Europe
There continues to be abundant opportunities for farm trade between the United States and the European Union despite the omission of agriculture in the European list of negotiating areas on a potential free trade agreement, European agricultural leaders said during a workshop at the American Farm Bureau Federation’s 100th Annual Convention. U.S. farmers and farm state lawmakers have pushed hard …
Farm Bureau Welcomes President Trump Back to Address Annual Convention
Donald J. Trump, the 45th president of the United States, will address farm and ranch families from across the nation Monday at the American Farm Bureau Federation’s 100th Annual Convention. This address will mark the second time in as many years that the president has appeared at Farm Bureau’s Annual Convention. This year’s gathering takes place Jan. 11-16 in New …