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Cotton Policy Update at #BWCC23

Cindy Zimmerman

Attendees at the Beltwide Cotton Conferences this week in New Orleans were updated on current policy issues relating to cotton by Bart Fischer, Co-Director of the Agricultural and Food Policy Center Texas A&M University. Fischer says one of the big policy issues on the plate this year is the next farm bill. “The 2018 Farm Bill expires on September 30,” …

Audio, Beltwide Cotton, Cotton, Farm Bill

ASTA Witness Testifies on Farm Bill Research Programs

Cindy Zimmerman

*POST UPDATED WITH AUDIO* Members of the Senate Agriculture Committee heard testimony from Dr. Katy Martin Rainey, Associate Professor, Agronomy, Purdue University, on behalf of the American Seed Trade Association (ASTA) during a hearing Tuesday on “Farm Bill 2023: Research Programs.” Rainey spoke to the foundational role of agriculture research in the 2023 Farm Bill in ensuring a secure agricultural …

ASTA, Audio, Farm Bill, Research

Syngenta’s Thatcher Provides Policy Perspective

Cindy Zimmerman

Mary Kay Thatcher has been in policy “since the first Bush administration” when she left Iowa for Washington DC after college, so when she talks about policy, people in agriculture listen. After 30 years with the American Farm Bureau Federation and now Sr. Manager, Federal Government & Industry Relations at Syngenta for almost five years, most everyone knows Mary Kay …

Audio, EPA, Farm Bill, Farm Policy, Syngenta

AFBF Establishes 2023 Farm Bill Priorities

Cindy Zimmerman

American Farm Bureau Federation president Zippy Duvall today outlined the organization’s 2023 Farm Bill priorities. The priorities were identified by a working group of Farm Bureau members and staff from across the country. In general, AFBF supports continuing current farm bill program funding; maintaining a unified farm bill that includes nutrition programs and farm programs together; prioritizing risk management tools …

AFBF, Audio, Farm Bill, Farm Policy

Agri-Pulse Summit Includes Farm Bill Veterans

Cindy Zimmerman

The 2022 Agri-Pulse Food & Ag Policy Summit held Monday at the National Press Club was focused on laying the groundwork for the next farm bill and featured some of the most influential voices in farm policy including leaders of the House and Senate Agriculture Committees, as well as agricultural organizations and companies. It was the first time Agri-Pulse has …

Agri-Pulse, Audio, Farm Bill, Farm Policy

Senate Ag Leaders Ready for Farm Bill

Cindy Zimmerman

The leaders of the Senate Agriculture Committee addressed the 2022 Agri-Pulse Ag & Food Policy Summit live and in-person Monday at the National Press Club, sharing their perspectives on the next farm bill. Senate Ag Committee Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) and Senate Ag Committee Ranking Member John Boozman (R-AR) both spent some time visiting the National Ag Day exhibits on …

Agri-Pulse, Audio, Farm Bill, Farm Policy

Sen. Pat Roberts Bids Farewell

Cindy Zimmerman

Sen. Pat Roberts, the Republican from Kansas who has served as a leader in both the House and Senate Agriculture Committees over his four decade career in Congress, said goodbye to his Senate colleagues Thursday in a farewell floor speech. The outspoken senator who helped to write the past eight farm bills spoke about his background, how he went from …

Audio, Farm Bill, politics

USDA Deputy Provides Farm Bill Update

Cindy Zimmerman

The Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry held a hearing Thursday to hear from USDA Deputy Secretary Stephen Censky regarding implementation of the 2018 Farm Bill. “At the Secretary’s direction, our implementation cadence and priorities corresponded to the conditions testing the resilience of the American farmer,” Censky told the committee. He gave updates on implementation of the Dairy Margin …

Audio, Biofuels, Ethanol, Farm Bill, USDA

USDA Tracking Farm Bill Implementation

Cindy Zimmerman

Now that the federal government is back at work, USDA Deputy Secretary Steve Censky says they are moving as quickly as possible to implement the new farm bill. During a Farm Foundation Forum on the realities of implementing the 2018 farm bill, Censky said USDA is using a “Fitbit” type of approach to tracking goals. “We have our own ‘FBit’ …

AgWired Animal, AgWired Precision, Audio, Farm Bill, Farm Foundation, USDA

President Trump Signs Farm Bill

Cindy Zimmerman

President Donald Trump gave Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue a happy birthday Thursday when he signed the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 with many members of the agricultural community in attendance. “Mr. President, it is a great birthday present not only for me, but for all of agriculture, to give the producers, the ranchers, and farmers across America the peace of …

Audio, Ethanol, Farm Bill, RFA