Senate

President Trump’s pick for USDA Rural Development Undersecretary Glen Smith testified at his Senate confirmation hearing this week.

Farm country nationwide continues to share the story of rising input costs creating burdens for producers, and perhaps lawmakers are taking notice.

Last week, the Senate confirmed three nominees for positions at USDA. These nominees were included as part of a package of 48 subcabinet level nominees, all of whom received bipartisan support.

It takes a lot of work to grow your crop and it can take just as much work to get that commodity where it needs to go. And that means farm country needs good rail service.

Data shows that American farmers and ranchers are getting older.  American Farm Bureau President Zippy Duvall discussed this issue, as well as ways to address the problem, with the Senate Special Committee on Aging.   “According to the latest USDA Census of Agriculture, nearly 40% of all farmers are now beyond the retirement age, yet only 8% of farmers are under the age of 35," Duvall told la

The National Association of Conservation Districts wrote to leaders of the House and Senate Appropriations Committees, urging robust support for USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service’s operations budget.  With the support of more than 120 conservation and agriculture groups, NACD requested $1.2 billion in FY 2026 ...

Last week, Idaho senators passed House Joint Memorial 4 which asks the federal government to remove the grizzly bear from the Endangered Species List.  The Memorial, which already cleared the House, says grizzly bears have reached recovery goals in Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming, and those elevated population numbers have led to conflicts between bears and both humans and other animals alike.     Fol

The Congressional Budget Office released a second cost analysis for the revised AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act of 2024.  Radio Ink says the scoring still bodes well for radio.   The estimated budgetary effects of the Senate and House bills are similar.  The CBO esti...

Front and Center for the Senate Appropriations Committee Wednesday, disaster assistance and what a federal package should include.  A variety of federal officials testified before senators Wednesday, including Deputy Ag Secretary Xochitl Torres Small.   “...

Farm Bill challenges will not go away in 2025 if Congress has to punt again on the top farming legislation; that, from a top American Farm Bureau official.  AFBF Director of Government Affairs Joe Gilson said there will be many challenges next year, since there will be a new Congress, new representatives, new senators, and a debt selling issue to address.  All of ...