AgNet Weekly: AFBF on EPA’s PFAS Rules

Sabrina Halvorson AgNet Weekly

The Environmental Protection Agency announced its final rule to designate the two most common PFAS chemicals as hazardous materials under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act or CERCLA, and while these chemicals are not used on farms, this rule could have a big financial effect on many farms around the nation. To get more understanding and information, we’re …

milk supply

Gov. Experts Say U. S. Milk Supply Safe Despite Trace Amounts of Inactive Bird Flu

Dan Avian Influenza, Dairy, Livestock, Marketing, This Land of Ours

Government experts say our milk supply remains safe despite an unusual outbreak of bird flu. Testing has revealed trace amounts of the bird flu virus that has affected dairy cows in milk on store shelves, however, experts around the nation agree that the milk supply remains safe for human consumption. The FDA and USDA say that’s because of two reasons: …

race

The Race for Sustainable Aviation Fuel

Dan Biofuels/Energy

The global race is on for existing and prospective sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). Those words from the Oil Price Information Service (OPIS), which held a webinar this week titled Putting a Price on Sustainable Aviation Fuel. OPIS Biofuels Director Jordan Godwin says the conversation around the evolving SAF landscape – so far – involves a lot of promises. “There’s been …

agriculture

Agriculture Greenhouse Gas Emissions Lower

Dan American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF), Environment, Greenhouse Gas, This Land of Ours, USDA-EPA

Agriculture again reduces its greenhouse gas emissions. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. New data released this month from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) shows agriculture decreased its greenhouse gas emissions in 2022. The EPA recently released the Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks: 1990-2022. American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) Economist Danny Munch explains the results. …

Congressional

2024 Congressional Specialty Crop Caucus Formed

Dan Agri-Business, Legislative, Specialty Crops

Specialty crops are once again getting a special focus in congress with the bipartisan 2024 Congressional Specialty Crops Caucus. Co-chairs include Republicans David Valadao of California and David Rouzer of North Carolina, and Democrats Jim Costa of California and Elisa Slotkin of Michigan. Representative Slotkin, a former national security official, says U.S. specialty crops are vital to the nation. “So, …

ag innovators

Farm Bureau Increases Top Prize for Ag Innovators

Dan American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF), This Land of Ours

There’s a bigger prize for top ag innovators. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. The American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF), in partnership with Farm Credit, is doubling the top prize at this year’s Ag Innovation Challenge. Chase Heineman (HY-neh-man), director of industry affairs for AFBF, says Farm Bureau wants to ensure they have the resources to continue that …

AgNet Weekly: Rep. Austin Scott on Legislative Issues

Sabrina Halvorson AgNet Weekly

This week we visit with Congressman Austin Scott (R-GA) who tells us why he thinks there should be separate farm and nutrition bills. He also discusses farm labor and trade with host Sabrina Halvorson.  Each week we highlight essential legislative and policy conversations affecting agriculture nationwide. Host Sabrina Halvorson is a 30-year media veteran known nationally for her award-winning, balanced, …

agriculture

FARMER Act Introduced to Help Agriculture and Beyond

Dan Agri-Business, Crop Insurance, Economy, Funding, Legislative

New legislation aims to improve risk management in agriculture and supporters say it goes beyond the farm. Senator John Hoeven, a senior member of the Senate Agriculture Committee and Ranking Member of the Senate Agriculture Appropriations Committee, this week introduced the Federal Agriculture Risk Management Enhancement and Resilience (FARMER) Act. Hoeven says the legislation will strengthen crop insurance and make …

wic

NMPF, IDFA Concerned with Final WIC Rule Reducing Access to Dairy

Dan Dairy, Economy, International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA), National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF), This Land of Ours

The dairy industry responds to a new WIC final rule. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. The National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) and the International Dairy Foods Association (IDFA) expressed disappointment in Tuesday’s final rule to update the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children, or WIC. The final rule maintains the proposed rule’s cuts to …

Climate Change and Farming

Dan Climate Change

The Medical Society Consortium on Climate and Health (MSCCH) brought together health, climate and food security experts to discuss how to better support food security along with human and planetary health ahead of the upcoming farm policy negotiations. Researcher Dr. Margiana Petersen-Rockney grew up on a dairy farm in California, then farmed on her own before going into research. She …