House Agriculture Committee Chairman Mike Conaway (R-TX), Ranking Member Collin Peterson (D-MN) and members of the committee hosted a farm bill listening session at the Farm Progress Show Thursday in Decatur, Illinois. It was the fifth such session the committee has held so far. “This was a terrific listening session that will benefit us as we write the next farm …
Preview of Agri-Pulse Farm Bill Summit
Prior to National Ag Day Activities in Washington, DC next week, Agri-Pulse will be holding a big Farm Bill Summit, which is part of their on-going Farm Bill Series. Cindy and Jamie Johansen will be attending the big event on Monday. To get a preview of it, I spoke with Sara Wyant of Agri-Pulse. The event is free but by …
Farm Bureau President Speaks at USDA Ag Outlook Forum
The American Farm Bureau Federation’s public policy agenda shares much in common with the Trump administration on issues like regulatory reform and tax reform. But even harder issues such as farm labor and trade should present opportunities to engage with Congress and the White House, alike, AFBF President Zippy Duvall told participants at the USDA’s Agricultural Outlook Forum. Duvall said …
Agri-Pulse Farm Bill Series Debuts
Agri-Pulse has debuted the first in a series of in-depth articles on the next farm bill, “Every Farm Bill is Unique – the last one was a doozy.” “The Seven Things You Should Know Before You Write the Next Farm Bill” series will culminate in a Farm Bill Summit at the National Press Club on March 20. Agri-Pulse Editor Sara …
Policy Forecast at #CIRB2017
Last year at the Crop Insurance and Reinsurance Bureau (CIRB) annual meeting, there were still lots of candidates for president and Informa Economics Senior VP Jim Wiesemeyer talked about what they might mean to the future of agriculture. This year, he only had to focus on the one who actually made it to the White House. “It’s a great time …
#IPPE17 Featured Some Farm Policy Talk
Attendees at the International Production & Processing Expo were able to listen to an outlook on farm policy in this new government administration year. I sat down with Joel Newman, President/CEO, American Feed Industry Association, to get some takeaways from his presentation. As we look at this new administration we see that there are some opportunities there but also some …
AFBF Hosts Webcast On Labor Visa Backlogs
Delays from the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) and the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) in the processing of visas for farm workers are fast approaching crisis proportions, increasing the threat that crops will rot in the field on many farms this year, American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) President Zippy Duvall said in a media conference call this week. …
Policy Priorities for Ag Retailers
The Agricultural Retailers Association is holding its winter board meeting in Washington, DC after a day of visits on Capitol Hill. Before the meeting started I visited with ARA Chairman, Harold Cooper, Premier Ag. We talked about the policy priorities for ARA this year. The first and foremost one he says is the retail exemption to OSHA’s Process Safety Management …
Biodiesel Policy on Track Says NBB’s Steckel
Biodiesel policy is laser-focused right now on two primary issues – the RFS and the tax incentive – two policies that drive growth in the industry. During an address to the membership at the 2016 National Biodiesel Conference, NBB Vice President of Federal Affairs Anne Steckel said they should take credit in the success of getting higher volumes under the …
2015 Issues for National Potato Council
The outgoing President of the National Potato Council is Dan Lake, Ronan, Montana. I visited with him during Potato Expo to learn what the big issues were in 2015 for the organization. Dan says there were four main issues. One is pollinator health and he says farmers are using technology now that is designed to keep bee health in mind. …