Congress

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 ...

Last week, Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack announced he was nominating Xochitl Torres Small for the Ag department deputy secretary position that will soon be vacated.   “Under Secretary Torres Small who is currently operating our Rural Development missionary has done a terrific job of communicating the mission of Rural Development and understands and appreciates the important role that Department of Agri

While understanding has grown over recent years between about the Farm Bill and how all pieces of that legislation go together, many in farm country say more needs to be done.  Will Stafford with CHS Inc. says it’s important to stress that the Farm Bill has little chance of clearing Congress as a standalone farm safety net and conservation vehicle; the nutrition title he says must be included.  He

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack is non-committal on supporting a renewed push in Congress for livestock marketing reforms.  Vilsack was careful in recent comments to not to overstep the general support he voiced last year for the Grassley-Fisher bill to boost price discovery and beef industry competition.   “...

We’re roughly three weeks away from a new Congress being sworn in.  But before that happens, Dan Newhouse is hopeful the current Congress will take up the issue of Ag labor.  The Farm Workforce Modernization Act, which has cleared the U.S. House twice, currently...

The top Republican on the House Ag Committee wants a stronger safety net for U.S. farmers.  Pennsylvania Republican Glenn Thompson wants Congress to strengthen crop insurance and farm subsidy programs so producers don’t have to rely on stop-gap federal aid to survive challenges like trade wars, natural disasters, and COVID-19.   “The n...

Only a few weeks remain for the 117th Congress, and the farming community is hopeful the lame duck session will address a few ag needs during that time.  One of the top issues across commodities in ag labor.  Bryan Searle, President of the Idaho Farm Bureau Federation said it’s still very hard to find workers.   “Nobody really w...

Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack said he is grateful for Congress taking swift action to prevent a crippling national rail shutdown.   “A rail strike would have had significant and long-lasting effects on the American economy,” Vilsack said. “U.S. farmers a...

Agriculture groups welcomed President Biden's call on Congress to avert a potential rail worker strike.   Corey Rosenbusch of The Fertilizer Institute praised the action by Biden, adding, “Congress must act now to ensure that fertilizers and other critical materials and goods that U.S. consume...