AFBF

Demand continues growing for farm labor through the H-2A program.  John Walt Boatright, director of government affairs for the American Farm Bureau Federation, said that even though the increase in positions certified was small, it still demonstrates how important the program is.  ...

As Congress returns to D.C. the American people will notice some new faces are taking over leadership on the House and Senate Ag Committees.  Sam Kieffer, Vice President of Public Policy for the American Farm Bureau Federation, said the four leaders of the committees have a wealth of experience.   “...

The Washington Farm Bureau announced last month that two of its members have been appointed to leadership roles within the American Farm Bureau Federation.   Jonathan Quigley, from the Clark-Cowlitz Farm Bureau, has been selected to serve on the AFBF Young Farmers & Ranchers (YF&R) Committee.  Jonathan i...

A New Year is a fresh chance to do what farm leaders hoped for the last two years, and that’s to develop a new Farm Bill.  But how soon that gets done in the new year is a key question.  And how quickly can agriculture recover from the legislative setbacks and uncertainty of a lack of a Farm Bill is another question that remains.  American Farm Bureau’s ...

The American Farm Bureau Federation hopes to build on this month’s farm aid success with new wins for producers next year, especially a new Farm Bill.  Ask the AFBF, and they’ll tell you that $10 billion in farm aid and $21 billion in farm disaster aid was great news for the agriculture community.  But net farm income...

The American Farm Bureau was mounting an 11th-hour pressure campaign to get billions of dollars in economic farm aid in a massive stopgap spending bill to avert a government shutdown this week.   “It is not acceptable for Congress to tie up their business at the end of the year and not recognize the need for, not just disaster assistance but economic assistance,” noted AFBF President Zippy Duvall.

A federal judge issued an injunction against the Biden administration’s expanded protections for farmer workers in the country under the H-2A program.  The injunction, issued by a U.S. District Judge in Kentucky, applies in Ohio, West Virginia, Alabama, and Kentucky.  Plaintiffs in...

American Farm Bureau Federation Director of Government Affairs RJ Layher said he is confident lawmakers will approve some form of farm disaster aid before the 118th Congress adjourns in December.  Layher added lawmakers recognize the need for both economic and natural disaster help in farm country, and the need for sooner rather than later.   “...

According to the American Farm Bureau Federation, the cost of a Thanksgiving dinner serving ten people is down slightly.  Bernt Nelson, AFBF economist, says their volunteer shoppers found the average cost for that dinner for ten will run $58.08, a yea...

Since 2022, the U.S. poultry industry has been battling a particularly persistent strain of H5N1, or avian influenza, and more than 100 million birds have been affected over the past 2.5 years.   “Avian influenza continues to be a problem," said Bernt Nelson,  economist with the American Farm Bureau.  "We've had 3....