We’re once again hearing talk of a possible government shutdown and one expert says the continued threat is toxic for ag businesses. With the threat of a government shutdown once again looming, Speaker Mike Johnson faces pushback from his own party over a potential spending deal with Democrats. National Cattlemen’s Beef Association Vice President of Government Affairs, Ethan Lane is …
AgNet Weekly: What’s Ahead for Ag in 2024
2023 was an active year for agricultural issues, so what can we expect for 2024? Host Sabrina Halvorson talks with Brian Kuehl, Director of Government and Public Affairs with the ag business consulting and accounting company Pinion. More with Brian Kuehl:Expert Says Ag Trade Needs Improvement RAPP a 2023 ‘Success’ Each week we highlight essential legislative and policy conversations affecting …
AgNet Weekly: USDA Assistance for Distressed Borrowers
The deadline is fast approaching for farmers who have done everything they can and simply remain behind on their loans, and want some help. The Inflation Reduction Act provided more than $3 billion for USDA to provide relief for distressed borrowers with certain Farm Service Agency (FSA) direct and guaranteed loans and to expedite assistance for those whose agricultural operations …
WIC Program at Risk
Millions of people could lose their access to a federal nutrition program. The nation is now two months into fiscal year 2024 and Congress has yet to provide additional funding for nutrition programs including the Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children or WIC. WIC provides nutrition assistance for almost 6.7 million pregnant women, new mothers, babies, and young …
Food Insecurity in U.S. Households with Older Adults
More older adults are facing food insecurity. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. In 2022, 9.1 percent of U.S. households with adults aged 65 and older were food insecure at some time during the year. The prevalence of food insecurity in households with adults aged 65 and older in 2022 was statistically significantly higher than the 7.1 percent …
Lawmakers Discuss Pesticide Regulations
The issue of pesticide regulation came up a few times during the House Agriculture Committee Member Day Hearing last week. Representative Dan Newhouse (R-WA) was the first to give comments at the hearing and the first to broach the subject. He said state pesticide regulations need to fall in line with federal controls. “The ability to produce abundant feed, food, …
Changing Climate Means More Pests for Almonds, Peaches, Walnuts
How a changing climate could mean more pests for some tree crops. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. Department of Agriculture research shows climate change may increase the insect population that poses a threat to the specialty crops industry. Led by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) and the University of California, the research shows populations …
Lawmaker Takes on California’s Prop 12
California’s Prop 12 was once again in the spotlight before the House Agriculture Committee at last week’s “Member Day” hearing. The hearing allowed lawmakers who are not on the ag committee to promote some of their agricultural and nutrition priorities for the next farm bill. Rep. Ashley Hinson, R-Iowa, pointed to the costs for pork producers because of California’s Proposition …
U.S Agriculture “Flips the Script” at U.N. Climate Meeting
U.S. Agriculture’s climate change mitigation efforts were showcased at COP28. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. At last year’s UN climate conference, COP 27, US agriculture, was in some cases on the defensive about its work on climate change. But in this year’s conference- “We flipped the script for American agriculture,” Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, said on the …
No Kitchens in Future Homes?
Will our future homes be built without kitchens? That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. Dining away from home is once again becoming a bigger part of America’s eating habits. Mike North, president of the producer division at Ever.Ag, says we’re consuming a lot of food away from home. “So much that more than 50 percent of the food …