2023 Farm Bill

A debt crisis faceoff and a Farm Bill deadline are two linked challenges facing U.S. agriculture this year with predictions by one Washington D.C. Ag lobbyist that Congress will meet both challenges.  Randy Russell with food and ag policy Russell Group predicts there will be no avoiding open debate this year on the debt crisis now that the Treasury has run out of borrowing authority.   “... Read M

America’s dairy producers and processors are closely watching discussions about the next Farm Bill and looking for reforms to Federal Milk Marketing Orders.  CoBank said the industry feels that current FMMOs don’t reflect today’s market environment, and the consequences could be drastic.   Make allowances ar...

Earlier this week, the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture announced the organization’s primary policy focus for 2023.  NASDA members, the state commissioners, secretaries and directors of agriculture, hand-selected seven issues to focus on.   The is...

After a quite 2022 policy wise, many in the farming community are prepared for a busy 12 months ahead.  Mary Kay Thatcher, Senior Manager Federal Government Industry Relations For Syngenta, says much of the past year in Washington D.C. was sp...

According to Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack, when it comes to crafting the new Farm Bill, the USDA’s role is one of advisory and providing information.  But that doesn’t mean he doesn’t have a wish list of his own.  First, he said it will be important all sides work together to get a Farm Bill done on time.    “It will be important and n...

With debate over the 2023 Farm Bill set to pick up in the coming months, commodity groups have been building their wish lists and letting lawmakers know what they would like to see in this year’s legislation.   Representative Dan Newhouse, a central Washington farmer, said for him, he wants a Farm Bill that encourages and promotes research and development.  He said ...

Senate Ag Committee Chair Debbie Stabenow of Michigan announced recently she won’t be running for reelection in 2024.   “Inspired by a new generation of leaders, I’ve decided to pass the torch in the U.S. Senate,” Stabenow said in a statement. “I’m incredibly grateful fo...

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said recently it’s premature to ask if billions of dollars in Inflation Reduction Act conservation funds can be transferred to the upcoming Farm Bill, even though the need will likely exist.  The decision will be up to Congress, but Vilsack and the administration will have a say in whether to use some of the Inflation Reduction Act’s $16 billion for programs like

Ad hoc disaster aid as a farm safety net has always been unpredictable, unreliable, and slow in arriving.  So, the American Farm Bureau says better risk management tools must be part of the 2023 Farm Bill.  The Farm Bureau says inefficient and costly disaster relief has made up nearly 80% of federal help to producers since 2018.  So, the AFBF’s Em...

One of the top points of discussion at this year’s American Bankers Association Ag Bankers Conference was the 2023 Farm Bill.  You may ask yourself, why do bankers care about the farm bill.  Ed Elfmann, Senior Vice President for Ag and Rural Banking Policy at the ABA says despite what many think, a large portion of the banking industry is connected to rural America, and the Farm Bill has a direct