Senate Agriculture Chairman Pat Roberts has indicated he wants to use the farm bill as a way to target fraud in the food stamp program. Bloomberg makes the interpretation from a statement by Roberts addressing quality control problems within the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, which the Chairman said: “any problems will need to be given a hard look” …
National Milk Producers Make Farm Bill Recommendations
The National Milk Producers Federation has released recommended changes to the Margin Protection Program in the next farm bill. The Federation says the proposed changes will ensure an effective safety net for the nation’s dairy farmers.
The Case Against More Farm Bill Funding
Ag groups and farm-state lawmakers are already making the case for more funding in the next farm bill due to the current state of the farm economy. However, groups like the Heritage Foundation, the Environmental Working Group, and Taxpayers for Common Sense gave testimony this week against the idea of more funding.
House Agriculture Subcommittee’s Plan Farm Bill Hearings
The House Agriculture Committee has scheduled two subcommittee hearings on the next farm bill next week. The Subcommittee on Conservation and Forestry will hold a public hearing next Tuesday morning regarding conservation policy in the next farm bill.
AFBF Joins Groups in Support of Farm Bill Funding
Reduced spending under the 2014 farm bill contributed greatly to the nation’s deficit reduction effort. However, additional cuts to the 2018 farm bill would present perils on many fronts, a diverse coalition today told congressional appropriations and budget leaders.
Kansas Senator Says Wheat, Sorghum Also Key Farm Bill Debate Commodities
Kansas Republican U.S. Senator Jerry Moran(more-ran) says wheat and sorghum need attention in the next farm bill, along with other key commodities including cotton and dairy.
House Agriculture Committee Holding Farm Bill Hearing Wednesday
A hearing by the House Agriculture Committee today (Wednesday) focuses on setting the stage for the next farm bill. House Agriculture Chairman Mike Conaway says farmers and ranchers are enduring challenging times. The Texas Republican referred to a recent Department of Agriculture report that shows net farm income fell 45 percent from 2013 to 2016, the largest three-year percentage drop …
Political Winds
Everett Griner talks about a look at the political changes ahead for farmers in today’s Agri View.
State Agriculture Leaders Call Food Safety a Farm Bill Priority
The National Association of State Departments of Agriculture has listed food safety as a 2018 farm bill priority. Specifically, NASDA prioritized the need farmers and ranchers may have for low-cost loans to upgrade infrastructure to comply with the Food Safety Modernization Act.
First Farm Bill Field Hearing in Kansas
U.S. Senate Ag Committee Chair Pat Roberts, a Kansas Republican, and ranking member Debbie Stabenow, a Michigan Democrat, announced the first field hearing on reauthorizing the Farm Bill will be in Manhattan, Kansas.