Congress

Partisan gridlock and fallout from the November election could again force Congress to kick key decisions for agriculture into 2025.  It’s not just the Farm Bill, but USDA and other spending bills stuck in months of political gridlock in a narrowly divided Congress that could still be stuck even in a post-election lame duck session.  A $26 billion...

Cattle producers from across the west plan to hold a rally next week to show their opposition to a new government mandate.  An electronic ID ear tag on adult cattle shipped over state lines is unnecessary and too costly for cattle producers, that according to rally organizers.  This up...

Several Northwest lawmakers signed a letter Thursday calling for the reauthorization of a highly effective Farm Bill to be a top priority of the 118th Congress.  The letter, sent to Republican Leadership, calls for a commitment supporting rural America, and investing in critical programs for agriculture.   ...

An American Farm Bureau official says there may be another window for temporary farm aid in a lame-duck Congress, now that this week’s stopgap funding bill failed to include the relief.  Emily Buckman admits December, when this week’s stopgap deal runs out, will be very busy for lawmakers trying to fully fund federal agencies.  And the election ou...

The American Farm Bureau Federation recently went to Congress and told lawmakers that U.S. farmers need reliable, affordable energy to transport crops and livestock, but electric vehicles are not reliable.  AFBF’s Linda Pryor told the House Energy and Climate subcommittee that fuel prices have soared 30% since 2021, while prices for many commodities have fallen.  But Pryor sai...

With Congress now back from its August recess, leaders in both parties are saying they will resume talks to get a Farm Bill passed before the end of the year, even if it happens during a lame duck session. Senate Agriculture chairwoman Debbie Stabenow told Successful Farming she would do “everything in my power to pass a farm bill” this year.   F...

The way things are going, or not going, on Capitol Hill right now, it's going to be very hard to get a new Farm Bill passed, that according to Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack.  While visiting with a group of Farmers Union members Monday, Secretary Vilsack shared what it will take to get a Farm Bill on the books.   “...

The grants are part of the President Biden administration's pledge to create ways to tamper down the sky-high cost of food.

America’s top food and ag organizations representing thousands of farmers, ranchers, producers, and workers sent a letter to Congress recently urging action to improve ag exports.  More than 50 of the most influential food and ag groups urged lawmakers to pass Trade Promotion Authority.  TPA is regula ...

Earlier this month, central Washington’s Dan Newhouse led his House colleagues in the introduction of the Prohibition of Agricultural Land for the People’s Republic of China Act.  The legislation would prohibit the purchase of public or private agricultural land in the United States by foreign nationals associated with the Government of the People’s Republic of China.  The Chair of the Western ...