Congress will be back at work next week, and according to Tyron Spearman, soon after that they will be continuing efforts on a new Farm Bill. Congress to Soon Take Up New Farm Bill Sponsored ContentFlorida Cattle Enhancement Board Awarded Researcher Discusses New World Screwworm OverviewJune 19, 2026Verdant Robotics Offers Growers Targeted Application of Herbicides or Beneficials through SharpShooter™June 16, …
Another Year of Tight Budgets in Washington
2018 will be another year of tight budgets in Washington, especially after the passage of a sweeping tax overhaul bill. That will also likely mean less money to write a new farm bill. The 2014 farm bill was tough enough to write but the 2018 bill could be tougher. And it’s not just automatic budget cuts begun in 2011, but a …
War Between Ethanol Backers – Oil Supporters in Congress Heating Up
The war between Ethanol backers and Oil supporters in Congress is heating up. But, one Midwest lawmaker claims the other side has already lost “leverage” due to timing. Ag Senator Chuck Grassley admits Texas oil-patch Senator Ted Cruz will get his meeting with President Trump to discuss overhauling the Renewable Fuel Standard. Cruz was blocking Senate confirmation of Iowa Ag …
Busy Week Ahead for Congress
It will be a busy week in Congress with two big issues that will be addressed. Mary Kay Thatcher, senior director of congressional relations with the American Farm Bureau Federation spoke to Kansas Farm Bureau members at their annual meeting in Manhattan Monday morning. We’ll learn soon the conferees for the conference committee that will try and put the House …
W. H. and GOP Leaders Considering Ditching Estate Tax Repeal
The White House and GOP Congressional leaders are considering ditching estate tax repeal and other tax breaks that Democrats charge, favor the wealthy. The idea is to pick up Democratic votes by shaping tax reform more toward the middle-class. Democrats argue estate tax repeal would benefit only the wealthy, those who die with more than $5.5 million in their estates, …
Congress to Work on Budget
Congress returns next month and immediately faces huge spending and debt ceiling challenges, before other politically important measures like tax reform and the farm bill. Trouble is, the fiscal year ends September 30th, leaving little time to pass the spending bills, which reject big cuts proposed by the president in both the House and Senate. Thus, Congress is expected to …
Congress Returns Next Month Facing Challenges
Congress returns next month and immediately faces huge spending and debt ceiling challenges, before other politically important measures like tax reform and the farm bill. House and Senate appropriators have both sent USDA spending bills to the full House and Senate, though neither has acted yet, and the two bills that both reject big cuts proposed by the president would …
Farmers Worried about the Future of Health Care
It may not be front and center in agriculture like the farm bill discussion is, but farmers have a lot to worry about as Congress debates the future of health care. Politico’s Morning Ag Report says farmers have been struggling for some time with low commodity prices and a sharp drop in farm income. In turn, that’s led to a …
New Spending Bill’s Impact on Agriculture
Congress put together a spending package on Sunday night that would keep the government running through the rest of fiscal year 2017. Politico’s Morning Agriculture Report says the bottom line for agriculture is Congress appropriated $153.4 billion in mandatory and discretionary spending levels at the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Food and Drug Administration. That number is almost $13 …
Agri View: 2018 Farm Bill Debate
Everett Griner talks about the debate beginning on the 2018 Farm Bill in today’s Agri View. Well Congress is working on the next Farm Bill. It is due next year. That doesn’t mean much though. Because most farm bills are never finished when they are supposed to be. Anyway, there has been little indication as to what will …