Harvey damaged cotton in Texas (USDA photo) House Agriculture Committee Chairman Mike Conaway (R-TX) toured south Texas last week with Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue to see first hand some of the agricultural damage caused by Hurricane Harvey. Conaway and Perdue viewed the area by helicopter and visited farms that were anticipating a record crop before the snow white fields of … Read More
Senate Ag Committee Hears from USDA Nominees
Nine months into the Trump Administration and the Senate Agriculture Committee just held a hearing this week on the first two nominees to help out Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue at the USDA. The committee heard from Stephen Censky, long time CEO of the American Soybean Association nominated to be Deputy Secretary of Agriculture; and Indiana Director of Agriculture Ted McKinney, … Read More
House Ag Committee at #FPS17
House Agriculture Committee Chairman Mike Conaway (R-TX), Ranking Member Collin Peterson (D-MN) and members of the committee hosted a farm bill listening session at the Farm Progress Show Thursday in Decatur, Illinois. It was the fifth such session the committee has held so far. “This was a terrific listening session that will benefit us as we write the next farm … Read More
Congressmen Talk Farm Bill at Peanut Meeting
U.S. Representatives Mike Rogers (R-AL) and Austin Scott (R-GA) both shared their perspectives on the new administration, gridlock in Congress, and the outlook for a 2018 farm bill at the 2017 Southern Peanut Growers Conference Saturday. “It’s going to be a tough fight, I don’t want anybody to fool themselves,” said Rep. Rogers about getting the next farm bill passed … Read More
Censky Nominated as Deputy Ag Secretary
Over two months since he took office, Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue is finally getting some nominations to fill USDA positions. Late Thursday, Perdue announced that President Trump has nominated American Soybean Association CEO Stephen Censky to be Deputy Secretary of Agriculture. “Our work has only just begun in delivering results for the people of American agriculture, and the experience and … Read More
House Ag Hearing on Specialty Crop Innovations
The House Agriculture Committee heard testimony Wednesday on technology and innovation in specialty crops as input toward the making of the 2018 farm bill. “As we look at the farm bill through the lens of the current farm economy, innovation and technology will remain essential for farmers and ranchers to continue producing more food and fiber with fewer resources,” said … Read More
Trump Commits to Agriculture in Iowa
President Donald Trump stood among various models of John Deere and Case IH farm equipment as he pledged to boost agriculture exports, loosen federal regulations on the agriculture industry, and support ethanol and biofuels yesterday while speaking to a crowd of about 250 at Kirkwood Community College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. “Today we are celebrating the dignity of work and … Read More
The Paris Accord and Agriculture
Unlike everyone else, agriculture interests had very little to say about President Trump pulling the U.S. out of the Paris Climate Accord. “President Trump promised that he would put America first and he has rightly determined that the Paris accord was not in the best interests of the United States,” said Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue in a statement. “The Earth’s … Read More
Trump’s Proposed Budget Meets Mixed Reviews
Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue offered a positive perspective, but farm groups are reacting to Trump’s proposed 2018 budget in the opposite way. American Farm Bureau Federation, National Corn Growers Association, American Soybean Association, National Association of Conservation Districts, and whole list of Crop Insurance organizations oppose the $4 billion in cuts to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. “I don’t … Read More
Trade Gets A Boost
Senate approval of Ambassador Robert Lighthizer as U.S. Trade Representative gives President Trump a full cabinet. Trade will be getting an additional boost, as Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue has announced that the USDA will soon have an undersecretary for trade and foreign agricultural affairs to help with the administration’s international trade goals. “Food is a noble thing to trade. This nation has a … Read More