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Former Ag Secretary and USTR at FPS

Cindy Zimmerman

A former Secretary of Agriculture and US Trade Ambassador believes Mitt Romney would be a better president for agriculture, doubts Congress will get a farm bill done next month, and would advise against waiving the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). That’s a few of the topics Dr. Clayton Yeutter touched on during a brief press appearance at the 2012 Farm Progress …

Audio, Farm Bill, Farm Progress Show, politics

Farm Bill Now Coalition at FPS

Cindy Zimmerman

As the Farm Progress Show kicked off in Boone, Iowa, representatives from several of the more than 45 organizations that make up the Farm Bill Now coalition spoke out to urge Congress to finish work on new agricultural policy legislation as soon as possible. “Agriculture is one of the few bright spots in the American economy,” said National Corn Growers …

AEM, AFBF, ASA, Audio, Corn, Farm Bill, Farm Progress Show, NCGA

Farm Bill Now Coalition Calls for Action by Congress

John Davis

A coalition of 39 farm groups, including the American Farm Bureau Federation, the National Corn Growers Association, and the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, is calling on Congress to pass a new farm bill before the old one expires at the end of September. The group, Farm Bill Now, has an interactive web portal at www.FarmBillNow.com, that lets you connect with …

AFBF, Farm Bill, NCBA, NCGA

FAPRI Looks at Farm Bills’ Differences, Impacts

John Davis

A new analysis of the two Farm Bills out there … the Agriculture Reform, Food and Jobs Act of 2012 that passed the full Senate in June and the House’s Federal Agriculture Reform and Risk Management Act of 2012, which made it out of the House Ag Committee last month … shows some similar impacts of the two bills, especially …

Audio, Corn, Farm Bill, Insurance, Peanuts, Soybean, USDA

House Passes Disaster Bill and Goes Home

Cindy Zimmerman

The August recess begins today for Congress and despite a vote in the House approving disaster relief for livestock producers under an expired provision of the 2008 farm bill, lawmakers are leaving with very little accomplished toward either drought relief or new farm legislation. “I’m going to support this bill, it’s better than nothing but it’s not what we should …

Audio, Farm Bill

U.S. House Enters Can Kicking Event

Cindy Zimmerman

I have to give Kentucky farm broadcaster Jeff Nalley the credit for this one – If “can kicking” were an Olympic sport, we’d have a “gold medal Congress”. The leadership of the U.S. House has apparently decided to kick the farm bill can down the road and not to move forward with a vote on five-year farm legislation before the …

AFBF, Farm Bill, NCGA

House Ag Committee Chair at Peanut Conference

Cindy Zimmerman

Peanut growers are very happy with House Agriculture Committee Chairman Frank Lucas (R-OK) for his work in crafting a farm bill that is very different than the Senate bill in that it addresses the needs of southern farmers. Speaking at the Southern Peanut Growers Conference in Panama City Beach on Saturday, Rep. Lucas (R-OK) went through the process of how …

Audio, Farm Bill, Peanuts, SPGC, Video

Peanut Growers Gather to Work and Play

Cindy Zimmerman

The 14th annual Southern Peanut Growers Conference kicked off Thursday with the usual scoop of southern hospitality at the ice cream registration reception. Georgia Peanut Commission Executive Director Don Koehler is very excited about this year’s meeting of the Alabama, Florida, Georgia and Mississippi peanut producers. “It’s our biggest conference we’ve ever had, largest attendance. We’ve got more sponsors, we’ve …

Audio, Farm Bill, Peanuts, SPGC

Will FARRM Bill Make it to Floor?

Cindy Zimmerman

Agricultural organizations are calling for the House to move the Federal Agriculture Reform and Risk Management (FARRM) Act, but whether that happens before the current bill expires is in question. American Farm Bureau Federation Farm Policy Specialist Mary Kay Thatcher is doubtful a new farm bill will be finished by September 30. “Our best option is probably to have some …

Farm Bill

FARRM Bill Amendments: What Made the Cut

John Davis

More was proposed than adopted, but in the end, the Federal Agriculture Reform and Risk Management Act, better known as the FARRM bill, moved out of the House Agriculture committee with 43 amendments (see a complete list of what was approved, defeated, withdrawn and tabled here from our friends at Agri-Pulse.com). One of the more significant amendments that passed kills …

AFBF, Audio, Farm Bill, GIPSA, USDA