Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack reminds farmers and ranchers that enrollment for CRP runs now through February 26, 2016. This month also marks the 30th anniversary for the federally funded program which provides funds for landowners to prevent soil erosion, protect wildlife, and restore habitat. As of September 2015, 24.2 million acres were enrolled in CRP. CRP also is protecting more … Read More
FDA Denies GMO Food Labeling Requirement
In a victory for food producers, the Food and Drug Administration Thursday denied petitions from anti-GMO activist organizations requiring the labeling of biotech foods. The FDA maintains that there is no need for additional labeling of foods derived from GE (genetically engineered) sources unless there is “a material difference – such as a different nutritional profile – between the GE … Read More
EPA Wants Better Relationship with Agriculture
EPA agricultural counselor Ron Carleton was at the National Association of Farm Broadcasting Trade Talk last week to discuss ways the agency is working to partner with farmers and ranchers for the benefit of all. “I understand that the relationship between EPA and agriculture over the years has not been necessarily been warm and fuzzy,” said Carleton, who was appointed … Read More
Ag Groups Discuss TPP at #NAFB15
The Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) has been a common topic covered by ag groups at the National Association of Farm Broadcasting convention in Kansas City this week. Representatives from six national farm groups joined USDA Foreign Agricultural Service Administrator Phil Karsting in Kansas City Wednesday for a press event to discuss the TPP. The event featured farmer leaders from the American … Read More
USDA Expands Water Conservation in Ogallala Aquifer
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has made an announcement that the USDA will be putting $8 million in the Ogallala Aquifer Initiative (OAI) in 2016. The purpose of the investment is to help farmers and ranchers conserve water annually while strengthening agricultural operations at the same time. The Ogallala Aquifer expands through eight states, including most all of Nebraska and a large part … Read More
Senate Passes #WOTUS Resolution
By a vote of 53-44 on Wednesday, the U.S. Senate passed a joint “resolution of disapproval” of the EPA Clean Water rule known as ‘Waters of the United States’ (WOTUS). Resolution sponsor Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA) says the action would “put an end to” the expanded EPA rule. “Our resolution stops the EPA from continuing to act as an unchecked … Read More
Senate Considers WOTUS Legislation
The controversial Clean Water rule known as Waters of the U.S. (WOTUS) was the subject of two bills in the Senate on Tuesday and hours of debate on both sides, despite one bill failing to invoke cloture. The bill that failed was sponsored by Sen. John Barrasso (R-WY) and would have instructed EPA to craft a WOTUS rule that “takes … Read More
CEOs Launch Sustainability & Innovation Council
The heads of several agribusiness companies last week made a new commitment to sustainability. Elanco president Jeff Simmons, Kellogg CEO John Bryant, and Chris Policinski, President and CEO of Land O’ Lakes, joined former Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman to discuss what sustainability means to their companies last Thursday and to launch a new council. These companies, along with DuPont Pioneer, … Read More
New Risks, New Rewards for Farmers and Big Data
Privacy concerns are still forefront in farmers minds even with the substantial benefits of new technology and the associated A”big data.” Missouri Farm Bureau President Blake Hurst explained farmer concerns to the House Agriculture Committee during a hearing this week. Hurst, a board member of the American Farm Bureau Federation, was asked to testify on innovation and its implications for … Read More
Farmers May Benefit From Bipartisan Bill Changing Tax Code
U.S. Senators Pat Roberts (R-KS) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) have introduced bipartisan legislation, supported by both the American Farm Bureau Federation and the National Farmers Union, to help farmers purchase new equipment and replace worn-out machinery by amending the U.S. tax code to permanently set a five-year depreciation schedule for certain agricultural equipment. The current tax code sets a seven-year … Read More