At the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) annual meeting this week, Agri-Pulse announced a new partnership with multiple agricultural organizations for an in-depth editorial series on the next farm bill and a Farm Bill Summit to be held at the National Press Club on March 20. Agri-Pulse Editor Sara Wyant says the series will be called “The Seven Things You …
Farm Foundation Forum on New Farm Bill
The current Farm Bill may not expire for two years yet but the process of making a new one is already starting to get in motion. The “Next Farm Bill: What are the Agendas?” will be the topic for the Farm Foundation® Forum this Wednesday, November 30. Invited to present perspectives from their respective stakeholder groups are: • Chuck Conner, …
#Peanut Growers Already Preparing for 2018 Farm Bill
It may seem like the last farm bill process just ended, because it did only two years ago, but already farm state legislators and agricultural organizations are looking ahead to starting the 2018 Farm Bill negotiations. Bob Redding of The Redding Group, who represents peanut farmers on Capitol Hill, talked about the preparations for 2018 at the 2016 Southern Peanut …
House Ag Chairman Addresses #2016SPGC
Rep. Mike Conaway (R-TX) told farmers at the 2016 Southern Peanut Growers Conference this past weekend in Miramar Beach, Florida that preparations will start next year for the 2018 Farm Bill. “My goal is, as is the goal of every ag chairman, is to get it done before the current one expires, not have to have short term extensions and …
Farm Bill Survey Helps Shape NFU Policy
The National Farmers Union (NFU) is offering growers a chance to have their opinions heard regarding the next Farm Bill by offering a survey for farm and ranch families across the U.S. The survey is in addition to multiple member listening sessions being held that also offer a chance for feedback. “As a farmer-led organization, we work closely with our …
AFBF Outlines the Struggle for Crop Insurance
The American Farm Bureau Federation had the opportunity to address the 2016 Crop Insurance and Reinsurance Bureau Annual Meeting with Congressional Relations and Senior Director, Mary Kay Thatcher. We’ll have to be on our toes this year, she said to Chuck Zimmermann about funding for crop insurance and other ag programs. There has been talk about going back to regular order, …
Coalition Urges Congress to Maintain Farm Safety Net
Nearly 50 organizations representing agricultural interests sent a letter last week to Congressional leaders urging them not cut crop insurance or other farm programs through the omnibus appropriations act. “The crop insurance program is the lynchpin of the farm safety net and is crucial to the economic security of rural America,” reads the coalition’s letter to Congress. “The crop insurance …
Ag Lawmakers Oppose Crop Insurance Cuts
While many are praising a budget deal that averts a government shutdown and the prospect of one until after next year’s elections, the deal isn’t being welcomed by many agricultural state lawmakers. Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Pat Roberts (R-KS) announced he will vote against the budget deal negotiated behind closed doors because of its raid on crop insurance funding. “I …
The Passing of the 2014 Farm Bill
Here’s an interesting mini documentary of the passing of the Agricultural Act of 2014. It features the work of Rep. Frank Lucas, Agricultural Committee Chairman. Every few years a farm bill must be passed to ensure the state of American agriculture. Farmers like Danny Davis of Oklahoma rely on the provisions granted in the legislation to maintain their farms, and …
Coalition Tells Congress to Reject Farm Bill Cuts
A coalition of nearly 400 organizations, including the National Farmers Union (NFU), is calling for Congress to reject efforts to make additional cuts to the 2014 Farm Bill. The NFU and the coalition of groups, representing family farmers and ranchers, agribusiness, food banks, environmental and faith-based organizations, sent a letter to U.S. Senate and House leaders asking them to stop …