138 Articles:
JUN 3, 2013 —Lawmakers advance pathway for immigration reform
The bill would create a “blue card” visa program for experienced farm workers, and new versions of the current agricultural worker visa program. “The bill establishes a new ‘blue card’ program for legal status and a pathway to citizenship for current undocumented farm workers and creates two new agricultural visa programs to ensure farmers can legally hire future workers when local workers are unavailable,” Feinstein said. Under the proposal, the new agricultural worker program would ... [Read More]
MAY 20, 2013 —Why the rural vote still matters in key Senate races
Senate Democrats, along with their key stakeholders, recently huddled in a Senate office building to send a strong message to rural America: We’ve got your back. The Rural Summit, sponsored by the Democratic Steering and Outreach Committee, was a half-day event that focused on a number of rural issues, ranging from the farm bill to infrastructure and education. For his part, Pryor emphasized the importance of passing a workable farm bill for all regions and reducing regulatory burdens in ... [Read More]
MAY 6, 2013 —Horse slaughter debate draws strong opinions
But that doesn’t mean some tribes don’t embrace horse slaughter as a responsible solution to the thousands of horses overpopulating their rangeland, polluting their streams and running roughshod over their cultural practices. While noting, “no other president has done more to include Indian tribes in his priorities,” he expressed “serious disappointment” with recent statements coming from representatives of the Agriculture Department on the issue of horse slaughter and the processing of ... [Read More]
APR 22, 2013 —Agriculture stakeholders reach crucial deal on immigration reform
“Agricultural immigration issues are extraordinarily complicated,” said Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-UT, who worked on the farm worker provisions. But Hatch and Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-CA, also helped broker the deal between agricultural employers and farm workers. The new farm worker program would replace the current H-2A program and provide a long-term path to legal status for undocumented workers. [Read More]
APR 8, 2013 —OIG report shines light on improper payments at USDA
“These noncompliances continue to illustrate the risks of improper payments affecting taxpayers, as USDA could have avoided approximately $74 million (of the $5.5 billion) in improper payments by meeting established reduction targets,” OIG wrote in its report. The FNS’s National School Lunch program and School Breakfast program reported estimated improper payment percentages of 15.53 and 25.18, respectively. For the FNS’s Child and Adult Care Food Program the department reported only a ... [Read More]
MAR 25, 2013 —New USDA 'rural' definition stirs up controversy
In an opinion piece for the Daily Yonder, Aleta Botts, a former Agriculture Committee staffer for Rep. Collin Peterson, D-MN, pointed out that the proposal "means additional seats at the table for programs distributing ever smaller pots of money." While Botts conceded that multiple definitions across RD programs were confusing, she wondered "which small-town mayors are more troubled by multiple definitions of rural than by efforts to allow larger, more developed neighboring communities to ... [Read More]
FEB 25, 2013 —As farm safety net battle wages on, will crop insurance need to change?
Willis told participants at a recent crop insurance industry convention to be ever vigilant about program integrity--clamping down on waste, fraud and abuse in the program--warning that crop insurance can't afford any negative publicity. The concern about potential budget cuts was echoed by a panel of farm organization lobbyists who participated in the crop insurance industry program. [Read More]
FEB 11, 2013 —Are direct payments here to stay in 2013?
House Agriculture Committee Chairman Frank Lucas, R-OK, has seemingly gone out of his way to assure producers that they can count on receiving direct payments in October. Mitchell Harris, CEO of Ag Texas in Lubbock, says he is including direct payments in his projections for 2013 and encouraging customers to sign up early for the 2013 farm program. "The reality of low cotton prices and no direct or counter-cyclical program payments will not produce positive results. [Read More]
JAN 28, 2013 —Will states continue push for more renewable energy?
Almost 300 shiny new wind turbines, part of the Flat Ridge 2 Wind Farm, are now generating clean, renewable energy on a 66,000-acre site across four counties in southern Kansas. The wind farm is jointly owned by BP Wind Energy and Sempra U.S. Gas & Power. But wind and other forms of renewable energy have also been bolstered by state-based Renewable Portfolio Standards. [Read More]
JAN 14, 2013 —Another year, another attempt to pass a new farm bill
DEC 31, 2012 —Time to rethink the relevance of rural America?
DEC 17, 2012 —A new five-year farm bill by Christmas?
DEC 3, 2012 —For now: Cooperation rather than compensation for coexistence woes
NOV 19, 2012 —The next big thing in conservation policy
NOV 5, 2012 —Can the farm bill stand alone without food stamps?
OCT 22, 2012 —New school lunch menus stir debate
OCT 8, 2012 —The 2008 farm bill expired Sept. 30--Now what?
SEP 24, 2012 —Lessons learned from the drought of 2012
SEP 10, 2012 —New farm bill now?
AUG 27, 2012 —How Obama's farm bill proposals compare to Romney's approach
AUG 13, 2012 —Crop insurance payouts will help cover losses, but no free lunch
JUL 30, 2012 —Drought may drive farm bill passage
JUL 16, 2012 —Heat wave scorches crops, generates new farm bill concerns
JUL 2, 2012 —Immigration decisions do little to address long-term farm labor needs
JUN 18, 2012 —Different approaches to 'fairness' in the farm bill
JUN 4, 2012 —Should crop insurance subsidies be capped?
MAY 21, 2012 —No easy path to solving America’s obesity problems
MAY 7, 2012 —After a rocky start, Senate Agriculture Committee advances 2012 farm bill
APR 23, 2012 —Will U.S. growers lose their competitive edge to South America?
APR 9, 2012 —Senators try to put finishing touches on commodity title in new farm bill
MAR 26, 2012 —Voters question Santorum's ties to HSUS and 'consistent conservative' label
MAR 12, 2012 —Do you want new federal standards for animal care?
FEB 27, 2012 —Needed: New approaches to keeping rural America strong
FEB 13, 2012 —The search for new farm safety net options continues
JAN 30, 2012 —Crop insurance delivers record payments
JAN 16, 2012 —What's on the horizon for agriculture in 2012?
JAN 2, 2012 —MF Global 'debacle' continues to rattle confidence in the marketing chain
DEC 19, 2011 —For Sen. Roberts, farm bill proposals created sense of deja vu
DEC 5, 2011 —Look for changes in corn, soybean crop insurance premiums
NOV 21, 2011 —Why farmers and ranchers need to rethink the way they reach out to consumers
NOV 7, 2011 —Good intentions gone bad?
OCT 24, 2011 —A new farm bill by Christmas?
OCT 10, 2011 —New Food Day draws applause, skepticism
SEP 26, 2011 —President Obama unveils details of how he would cut the farm safety net
SEP 12, 2011 —Will the next farm bill be written by budget cutters?
AUG 29, 2011 —Regulatory burden: Real or perceived?
AUG 15, 2011 —Are U.S. growers losing their competitive edge because of regulatory hurdles?
AUG 1, 2011 —How to grow jobs in rural America
JUL 18, 2011 —GPS coalition fights to save its satellite-based signals
JUL 4, 2011 —Lawmakers look for ways to improve crop insurance
JUN 20, 2011 —In search of the new normal
JUN 6, 2011 —Free trade agreements 'held hostage' over aid for displaced workers, firms
MAY 23, 2011 —Room to grow for American agriculture?
MAY 9, 2011 —High commodity prices make for vexing 2012 farm bill debate
APR 25, 2011 —Better planning needed for rural America's transportation system
APR 11, 2011 —CRP: Lawmakers question costs versus benefits
MAR 28, 2011 —Is the timing right for a new version of 'Freedom to Farm?'
MAR 14, 2011 —Where would you cut?
FEB 28, 2011 —Ethanol industry adjusts to changing political challenges
FEB 14, 2011 —Where will agriculture spending be cut?
JAN 31, 2011 —Will this red tape nightmare ever end?
JAN 17, 2011 —Time to stop the EPA?
JAN 3, 2011 —Coexistence or 'no' existence for new high-yielding crops?
DEC 20, 2010 —RMA's Bill Murphy looks ahead at the future of crop insurance
DEC 6, 2010 —Fiscal farm and food program fight ahead?
NOV 22, 2010 —Meet the new House freshmen
NOV 8, 2010 —To the winners go the drawing tools
OCT 25, 2010 —How Walmart's sustainability efforts could impact on-farm production
OCT 11, 2010 —How the midterm elections will impact the next farm bill
SEP 27, 2010 —In search of 'sustainable' agriculture
SEP 13, 2010 —The search for a better safety net continues
AUG 30, 2010 —Estate tax debate makes planning for death even more difficult
AUG 16, 2010 —Ready for your next red-tape nightmare?
AUG 2, 2010 —Will conservation once again be on the cutting board?
JUL 19, 2010 —Vilsack wants to 'replenish' the farm supply
JUL 5, 2010 —A closer look at the new 'middle' in agriculture
JUN 21, 2010 —Dairy producers lead the drive for major changes in the 2012 farm bill
JUN 7, 2010 —Pigford case continues to haunt black farmers and USDA staff
MAY 24, 2010 —The search is on for better safety net in 2012 farm bill
MAY 10, 2010 —Over 75 years, conservation programs provide 'bang for the buck'
APR 12, 2010 —Will you stand up and be counted?
MAR 29, 2010 —For the 2012 Farm Bill, crop insurance moves to center stage
MAR 15, 2010 —Wanted: More competition for agriculture
MAR 1, 2010 —Conservation Reserve Program continues to be attractive option for many
FEB 15, 2010 —Understanding Olivia...and those who make a living bashing farmers
FEB 1, 2010 —How a topsy-turvy political world got turned upside down again
JAN 18, 2010 —Farm Bureau President: No more Mr. Nice Guy
JAN 4, 2010 —The farm bill cycle begins again
DEC 21, 2009 —How should U.S. tackle climate change concerns?
DEC 7, 2009 —How the search for anti-trust violations could impact your future productivity
NOV 23, 2009 —The push for climate change legislation loses steam
NOV 9, 2009 —Farmers flock to low-interest USDA loans-Should assistance be targeted to only certain types of farm
OCT 26, 2009 —A world free of hunger?
OCT 12, 2009 —Tonsager returns to his rural development roots
SEP 28, 2009 —Land of Lincoln?
SEP 14, 2009 —New bucks for biomass materials
SEP 14, 2009 —New bucks for biomass materials
AUG 31, 2009 —The big uneasy
AUG 17, 2009 —New Conservation Stewardship Program premieres
AUG 3, 2009 —An opportunity lost?
JUL 20, 2009 —Wanted: Farmers to look at the new ACRE program
JUL 6, 2009 —Ready for new carbon markets and greenhouse gas regulations?
JUN 22, 2009 —Will rural America be on the 'Roadmap to Recovery?'
MAY 25, 2009 —Farm groups divided over climate change legislation
MAY 11, 2009 —Health care costs hit rural Americans harder
APR 27, 2009 —More time needed for U.S. to figure out animal identification?
APR 13, 2009 —Who is going to participate in the new ACRE program?
MAR 30, 2009 —Lessons (that could be) learned from the new White House garden
MAR 16, 2009 —Ready for more corn in your tank?
MAR 2, 2009 —Secretary Vilsack makes the case for more rural development
FEB 16, 2009 —Extra crop insurance "homework" paid off last year
FEB 2, 2009 —The changing politics and dynamics of food production
JAN 19, 2009 —USDA plans to tighten farm program payment rules
JAN 5, 2009 —Time to relax Cuba's trade and travel restrictions?
DEC 22, 2008 —Tug of war begins over new stimulus package
DEC 8, 2008 —Free trade with Colombia- Another tool to jump-start the U.S. economy
NOV 10, 2008 —Animal ID- Despite progress, big challenges remain
OCT 27, 2008 —Wanted- New vets willing to live and work in rural America
OCT 13, 2008 —Is Gov. Palin the 'secret weapon' for Sen. McCain in rural America?
SEP 15, 2008 —Will agriculture's boom turn into a bust?
SEP 1, 2008 —Battle intensifies over rural voters
AUG 18, 2008 —New payment limit rules to kick in for 2009 crop year
AUG 4, 2008 —What should the next farm bill look like?
JUL 21, 2008 —Open up the CRP?
JUL 7, 2008 —The hunt for your next energy 'villain'
JUN 23, 2008 —How much impact is fuel having on food prices?
JUN 9, 2008 —USDA forges ahead with farm bill implementation
MAY 26, 2008 —Time to rethink rural infrastructure
MAY 12, 2008 —Critics call for short-term fixes on food, feed prices
APR 28, 2008 —Nation's newest wineries popping up in non-traditional places
MAR 31, 2008 —The deep split over disaster payments
MAR 17, 2008 —Lawmakers aim for April 18 farm bill
MAR 3, 2008 —No easy answers to food industries' price pressures
FEB 18, 2008 —Memories of Agriculture Secretary Earl Butz
FEB 4, 2008 —Animal activists take to the states
JAN 21, 2008 —Should the President veto the farm bill?
JAN 7, 2008 —Congress delivered an early Christmas present
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