Leadership, Farm Bill – November 27, 2018

An Aggie moves up in leadership

An Aggie tries to move up in House Democratic leadership Illinois Rep. Cheri Bustos says she knows, from first-hand experience prevailing in a Trump district, how the party can protect its newly won majority in the 2020 elections. Bustos, the only midwesterner in party leadership, is one of four candidates… Continue reading

Cell-Based Meat Oversight – November 19, 2018

Cell-based meat to be regulated

House ag reaches deal, sends farm bill to Senate, reports say House Agriculture Committee Chairman Michael Conaway has backed off dramatic changes to SNAP in the stalled $87 billion farm bill, sealing a deal with ranking Democrat Collin Peterson and sending a version of the bill to the Senate, according… Continue reading

Soybeans and the Trade War – November 5, 2018

Soybeans

Trump’s trade war knocks soybeans out of running for top U.S. crop for a decade The neck-and-neck race between soybeans and corn for the title of No. 1 U.S. crop is over after one lap, with corn the victor and soybeans out of the running due to trade war with… Continue reading

Trump, Fast Food, SNAP – October 29, 2018

Fast Food in CDC report

Trump: ‘We don’t have enough votes’ for stricter SNAP rules Banking on Republican gains in the midterm elections, President Trump said Congress could wait until next year to pass the farm bill because “we don’t have enough votes” now for stricter work requirements for millions of SNAP recipients. In CDC… Continue reading

Will a Blue Wave Hit Farm Country? October 23, 2018

Will A Blue Wave Hit Farm Country

Turnover is in store for House Ag panel; will policy follow? A raft of newcomers will take office in the House in January, regardless of the outcome of the Nov. 6 elections, because nearly 1 in 6 current representatives is retiring or running for another office. The shift could have… Continue reading

Income Weak, Producers Borrow More – October 22, 2018

Income

Income weak, producers borrow more from ag banks Ag bankers report the largest summertime increase in non-real-estate loan volume in 16 years, driven primarily by demand for operating loans to pay day-to-day expenses, said a quarterly Federal Reserve report. Rural mothers are younger, have highest fertility rates Nationwide, women are… Continue reading

USDA to Deliver Spending Cut – October 18, 2018

Spending cut ordered

USDA says it will deliver on Trump request for 5-percent spending cut Under orders from President Trump to cut spending by 5 percent, the USDA may try to slash the taxpayer-subsidized crop insurance program, eliminate a green-payment program, or take an ax to its research agencies, if recent proposals are… Continue reading

Hurricane Michael Wallops Crops – October 15, 2018

Hurricane Michael impacts Georgia

Hurricane Michael wallops Georgia cotton, pecans and poultry For Georgia farmers, Hurricane Michael is “the most widespread and devastating hurricane in recollection,” said state Agriculture Commissioner Gary Black. More than 92 poultry barns, housing more than 2 million birds, were destroyed; cotton growers suffered massive losses; and pecan growers lost… Continue reading

Costly Fire Year Greets New Head of the Forest Service – October 12, 2018

New Forest Service Head

Costly fire year greets new head of the Forest Service Forest Service chief Vicki Christiansen, who took office on Thursday after six months as interim chief, said the USDA agency would spend $2.6 billion on fire suppression “for this historic fire season,” roughly the same as in 2017. North Carolina… Continue reading