Things are heating up over the EATS Act. Supporters of the bill say the Ending Agricultural Trade Suppression (EATS) Act would prevent states from regulating farmers and ranchers nationwide. But opponents turned up the fire this week when a bipartisan group of more than 150 lawmakers sent a letter to House Agriculture Committee Chair G.T. Thompson (R-PA) and ranking member …
More Senators Support AM in Every Vehicle Act
More than a quarter of the Senate has now signed on to a bill to protect AM radio. The Senate’s AM in Every Vehicle Act, S1669, continues to gain momentum with an additional eight senators signing on as cosponsors before the August break. That brings it to 27 cosponsors, including 14 Republicans, 12 Democrats, and one Independent. Senator Kevin Cramer …
USDA Publishes Child Nutrition Program Integrity Final Rule
Ensuring the integrity of child nutrition programs. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. U. S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) Wednesday published a final rule on program integrity to ensure that child nutrition programs are properly operated and managed to protect federal funds and taxpayer dollars. The final rule impacts the National School Lunch …
California Continues to Lead U.S. Peach Harvest
What state is the leader in peach production? The answer may surprise you. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. While Georgia is on many consumers’ minds when it comes to fresh, juicy peaches, California is by far the largest peach-producing state in the United States. USDA’s Economic Research Service (ERS) reports that last year, California’s harvest yielded 475,000 …
Worm Farm Conference Dates Set
It’s an ag conference like no other. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. The date is set for the 2024 U.S. Worm Farm Conference. More than 50 worm farms from all over the world will meet in Phoenix, AZ next January 11 and 12 at the Arizona Worm Farm for the third annual US Worm Business Conference. The …
Cammack Expects Tough Battle for Farm Bill
There’s just over a month until the current farm bill expires, and some lawmakers are gearing up for a tough fight. Florida Congresswoman Kat Cammack (R-FL) spoke at the Sweetener Symposium in California last week and said she’s expecting a battle over the farm bill. In an interview with us on Monday, she explained some of the issues she expects. …
USDA Proposal to Strengthen Horse Protection Act
A proposed rule to strengthen horse protection. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) seeks public input on a proposed rule to strengthen Horse Protection Act (HPA) requirements. Announced last week, the proposed changes aim to eliminate horse soring, a practice that gives horse owners and trainers an unfair advantage in …
FARM Act Would Guard U.S. Ag Land from Foreign Control
About three percent of agricultural land in the United States is owned by foreign entities. But U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer, a Republican from North Dakota, thinks even that may be too much. “One would think that’s not a very high percentage, but it’s obviously a lot of acres. And what’s more, probably somewhat alarming is how quickly in recent years …
Ag Lenders Donate to Hawaii Relief Efforts
The ag lending industry is sending help to Hawaii. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours. Farm Credit Association, American AgCredit, rural banking partner CoBank, and The Federal Agricultural Mortgage Corporation, also known as Farmer Mac, are donating $40,000 to Maui Food Bank to help aid during the devastating wildfires that are wreaking havoc in Hawaii. AgCredit CEO Curt …
AgNet Weekly: Senator Cramer on Foreign Ownership of U.S. Ag Land
How much of our U.S. ag land should belong to our adversaries? About three percent of agricultural land in the United States is owned by foreign entities. But U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer, a Republican from North Dakota, says even that may be too much. He’s a cosponsor of the Foreign Adversary Risk Management (FARM) Act. Senator Cramer joins host Sabrina …