President Obama signed two trade bills passed by Congress on Monday, one authorizing Trade Promotion Authority and one renewing Trade Adjustment Assistance. The president pointed out that while the bills will help negotiations move forward on trade agreements such as the Transpacific Partnership (TPP) and the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (T-TIP), they are not the actual agreements. “We still …
Fast Track Makes it to the Finish Line
After lots of drama and much political posturing, Trade Promotion Authority (TPA) finally cleared the final hurdle before being sent to the president’s desk, passing the U.S. Senate Wednesday by a vote of 60-38. “The Senate’s bipartisan passage of Trade Promotion Authority today sends a strong signal to foreign governments that we mean business at the bargaining table and are …
Fast Track Back on Track
The U.S. House passed Trade Promotion Authority Thursday by a vote of 218-208 getting fast track back on track and most agricultural organizations are very pleased. “The House’s bipartisan passage of trade promotion authority legislation brings us a step closer to completing ambitious trade negotiations around the world,” said American Farm Bureau Federation president Bob Stallman. “We must break down …
RIP Former AFBF President Dean Kleckner
Just received word from Iowa Farm Bureau that former American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) president Dean Kleckner, 82, passed away June 15 at his home in Minnesota with his wife of 62 years, Natalie, and family members by his side. Kleckner was best known for his decades-long leadership within the Farm Bureau on the local, state and national level beginning …
Agri-Pulse to Travel Rural Route to White House
“The Rural Route to the White House” is a new series being launched by Agri-Pulse Communications and sponsored by American Farm Bureau Federation to cover the 2016 presidential campaign with a special focus on issues important to agriculture and rural America. “The 60 million hardworking farmers, ranchers and rural Americans who produce and process our food deserve to know how …
Farmfest to Feature Minnesota’s 1st Rural Broadband Day
Underscoring the need for high-speed broadband access for farmers and ranchers, this year’s Farmfest will feature Minnesota’s first Rural Broadband Day. This news release from Farm Bureau says the farm show’s opening on August 4 in Redwood Falls, Minnesota, makes the case to the public that with the rise of precision technology in agriculture, producers need the broadband to increase …
Farm Bureau Releases WOTUS Analysis
The American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) today released its analysis of the EPA’s Waters of the United States (WOTUS) final rule and concluded that it is worse than the proposed rule, according to AFBF president Bob Stallman. “Our analysis shows yet again how unwise, extreme and unlawful this rule is,” American Farm Bureau Federation President Bob Stallman said. “Our public …
Agriculture Reacts to WOTUS Final Rule
Agricultural organizations are analyzing the final Clean Water Act Waters of the U.S. (WOTUS) rule released today to determine whether it answers the concerns they have raised about the impact the regulation would have on farmers and ranchers, but most express reservations. “We are undertaking a thorough analysis of the final WOTUS rule to determine whether the Environmental Protection Agency …
Multi-National Ag Groups Unite for Fair TPP
As negotiations on the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) are being held this week, agricultural and food organizations from four nations have come out united in calling for a “modern trade agreement that includes meaningful and comprehensive market access opportunities for agriculture and agri-food.” The organizations from Canada, the United States, Australia and New Zealand advocating for an ambitious, fair and comprehensive …
“Farm to Cart” Downloadable Game for Kids
The American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture has released a new game for teachers, families, farmers and ranchers working with preschool and early elementary age students. “Farm to Cart” is designed to show the connection between food in the grocery store and products grown and raised on the farm. Through the game, young learners discover how to describe the general …