Farm BIll

Climate change as an issue in the next farm bill is already causing temperatures to rise in the nation’s capital.  But if there’s anything farm leaders agree on, it’s conservation incentives, not dictates.   “Let the innovators compete, let them go after it and do what they want, it’s not ‘one size fits all,’ it gives them a shot to do it," said former Farm Service Agency chief, Jonathan Copp

According to top lawmakers and inside experts, competing interests and inflation will pose big challenges in writing the 2023 Farm Bill.  The challenge as it is every go-around, is money.  And that’s especially true for next year’s bill.   "There’s going to be a...

Ag Research was the Farm Bill title before the Senate Ag Committee this week, as USDA and other witnesses testified on the need to fund cutting-edge Ag research, the power behind modern, high-tech agriculture.  USDA research chief Chavonda Jacobs-Young told lawmakers research in need of funding has largely been ignored over the past couple of Farm Bills.   “...

Funding will be one of the biggest challenges in writing the next Farm Bill as the new Congress prepares to grapple with that and many other priorities.  The American Farm Bureau said there’s no question, the need is there.  Farm profits have been squeezed for some time, and the AFBF’s Andrew Walmsley says support triggers aren’t high enough.   “I think there’s a recogniti...

The farm bill’s last title is likely one of the least controversial, but based on changing farm demographics, still key for the future of U.S. agriculture.  Title 12, the USDA Operations and Outreach title, is usually overshadowed by debate on the safety net, conservation, nutrition, and other titles.  But Houe Ag s...

The American Farm Bureau Federation is out with its priorities in the 2023 Farm Bill.  AFBF President Zippy Duvall said tops of the list maintaining program funding.   “The farm bill funding is an investment in some of the most fundamental elements of a strong country, one being a strong food supply.   The Farm Bill has...

As lawmakers prepare to focus on the 2023 Farm Bill in the coming months, what impact it could have on the farming community across the Pacific Northwest remains to be seen.  But Michael Parrella, dean of the University of Idaho's College of Agricultural and Life Sciences said this go around could be good news, especially for the Palouse.   “...

As Congress prepares for the next Farm Bill, the National Association of Wheat Growers is out with their priorities for the 2023 edition.  Jake Westlin with NAWG said their top priority remains the protection of crop insurance, making sure the critical risk management tool is available to growers.   “...

With conversations over the 2023 Farm Bill set to begin in earnest in the coming months, many in the farming community are asking if the farm portions of the legislation and nutrition segments be separated.  Todd Nash, President of the Oregon Cattleman’s Association said he doesn’t have an issue with those nutritional elements, such as SNAP and WIC being included in the Farm Bill.   But what he ..

One of the many research projects funded by the 2018 Farm Bill looks to help cherry growers detect little cherry virus.  Washington Farm Bureau member April Clayton said the disease infects cherry trees through insects.   “Basically, once they bite or land on the tree, the pathogens from the bugs transfer to the trees, and then the tree becomes infected. It leaves the fruit...