Defense bill may be route for limiting foreign farmland ownership
Although two senators identified the farm bill as a potential way to restrict foreign ownership of U.S. farmland, Senate Agriculture Committee chair Debbie Stabenow said on Wednesday that the annual defense authorization act seemed a better bet. Senators added language to the defense bill in July to prohibit China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea from purchasing U.S. farmland and agricultural companies.
‘Everything keeps getting in our way’
The looming government shutdown is an example of the roadblocks facing the new farm bill, Senate Agriculture Committee chair Debbie Stabenow told reporters on Wednesday. “Everything keeps getting in our way,” she said. “It’s an unusual time.”
TODAY’S QUICK HITS
New trade promotion funding: In response to congressional concerns about a downturn in food and ag exports, the USDA will use $1.3 billion from a reserve fund for export promotion programs, said Arkansas Sen. John Boozman. (FERN’s Ag Insider)
USDA releases disaster aid: Producers will receive $1.17 billion in payments under the Emergency Relief Program for crop losses in 2020 and 2021 and $581 million through the Emergency Livestock Relief Program for losses from drought and wildfires in 2021 and 2022. (USDA)
Turkey production up: U.S. growers are forecast to raise 219 million turkeys this year, a 4 percent increase from 2022, when the poultry industry was hit hard by outbreaks of bird flu. (USDA)
Lucas returns to House: Oklahoma Rep. Frank Lucas, the second-ranking Republican on the House Agriculture Committee, resumed work in Washington after recovering from an attack by a bull on his ranch. (Tulsa World)
