Washington Policy
Helping Keep Grower Profits in Grower Pockets
Feb 4, 2010, Source: National Corn Growers Association
While most farmers are preparing for the planting season, the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) knows there is growing concern over major tax policy changes that may be coming our way. The volatility of income and production costs that growers have seen the last few years makes the tax code even more important for farm profitability...
Obama Budget Proposes Slashing Ag Programs
Feb 3, 2010
President Barack Obama released his proposed 2011 budget this week and immediately caught the ire of several farm groups, including the American Soybean Association (ASA). Specifically, the President’s new budget includes proposed reductions in federal support for crop insurance, cuts in maximum amounts of direct farm payments allowed to producers and a reduction in growth of conservation programs...
Corn Growers Applaud Missouri Leadership
Feb 2, 2010
Missouri Corn Growers Association (MCGA) farmer-leaders and CEO Gary Marshall joined Reps. Ike Skelton (D-04) and Jo Ann Emerson (R-08) this morning to support proposed legislation to strengthen America's renewable fuels industry and strip the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) of their power to regulate greenhouse gas emissions under the Clean Air Act...
Obama’s Proposed Budget Targets Farm, Conservation Programs
Feb 2, 2010
Agriculture advocacy groups have reacted with a flurry of unhappy responses to President Obama’s Feb. 1 release of his proposed 2011 budget. The proposed budget “reflects the serious challenges facing the country,” said Obama the day of its release...
Obama Seeks Farm Payment, Insurance Support Cuts
Feb 2, 2010, Source: Brock Associates
President Obama’s fiscal 2011 budget proposal, which was made public on Monday, calls for lower income caps on eligibility for federal farm programs, a reduction in the maximum amount of direct payments that producers can receive annually and a cut in federal support for crop insurance...
Senators Oppose EPA on Greenhouse Gases
Jan 29, 2010, By Forrest Laws
Farm organizations are welcoming the decisions of the chairman and ranking member of the Senate Agriculture Committee to support a Senate resolution opposing EPA’s plan to regulate carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases through the Clean Air Act...
NCGA Opposes House Cap-and-Trade Legislation
Jan 21, 2010
National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) President Darrin Ihnen has released the following statement related to the decision announced today to oppose H.R. 2454, The American Clean Energy and Security Act...
USDA Streamlines Farm Payment Limits
Jan 6, 2010, Source: Farm Press
The actions are intended to strengthen the integrity and defensibility of USDA farm safety net programs and help the agricultural industry to meet requirements included in the 2008 farm bill...
SURE Program Final Rule Published; Sign-up Begins
Jan 6, 2010, Source: Farm Press
After more than a year of work, the final rule implementing the Supplemental Revenue Assistance (SURE) program has finally been published by the USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA). According to Lubbock-based Plains Cotton Growers, Inc. (PCG) and the Southwest Council of Agribusiness it appears that the final rule...
USDA Analysis Confirms Cap-and-Trade Damages Agriculture
Dec 16, 2009, Source: U.S. Sen. Mike Johanns, Nebraska
The USDA has provided a summary of its latest analysis of the cap-and-trade bill, and we now have a clearer picture of just how much damage the bill would do to agriculture. Several of my Senate colleagues and I requested the analysis in July, and it's taken...
Senate Disaster Bill Draws Criticism
Dec 9, 2009, By Forrest Laws
New disaster legislation should be targeted to farmers who need it most without regard to the types of crops they produce, the president of the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) has written in a letter to the sponsors of an ad hoc disaster bill...
EPA Makes Progress Toward Approval of E15
Dec 1, 2009, Source: The American Coalition for Ethanol
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency made an announcement today on the E15 waiver request, stating that it should be in a position by mid-2010 to approve E15 for vehicles model year 2001 and newer. “While we would have strongly preferred that EPA approved E15 today for all vehicles...
Climate Change Legislation Delayed
Dec 1, 2009, Compiled By Greg Lamp
After a meeting of committee chairmen with jurisdiction over climate and energy legislation, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid announces that the Senate...
ASA Gets $12.8 Million of Export Funding
Dec 1, 2009, Compiled By Greg Lamp
USDA announces funding received by 70 U.S. trade organizations during fiscal year 2009 to promote U.S. food and agriculture exports under the Market Access...
ASA Offers New Online Political Advocacy Training
Dec 1, 2009, COMPILED BY GREG LAMP
If you want or need to get more involved in the political process and how it affects your operation, the America Soybean Association has a new online...
ARS Releases Study Highlighting Possible Stover Uses
Nov 30, 2009, Source: National Corn Growers Association
Researchers worldwide are trying to economically convert cellulosic biomass such as corn stover into cellulosic ethanol...
ACRE Signup Low
Nov 15, 2009, COMPILED BY GREG LAMP
The final signup numbers for the first year of the Average Crop Revenue Election (ACRE) program show that less than one out of every 10 farmers receiving...
Cap and Trade: Consider the Risks
Oct 28, 2009, Source: Farm Press
Whether writing for the Wall Street Journal or testifying before congressional committees, Louisiana State University (LSU) Economist Joseph Mason isn’t shy with his views regarding climate legislation...
No Final DCP Payments for Corn, Soybeans
Oct 20, 2009, Source: Farm Press
USDA will not issue final 2008 counter-cyclical payments to farmers enrolled in the Direct and Counter-cyclical Program for peanuts, corn, grain sorghum, soybeans and oats because average commodity prices remain above levels that trigger these payments...
Farm Bureau Strongly Opposes Boxer-Kerry Climate Change Bill
Oct 2, 2009, Source: American Farm Bureau Federation
The Boxer-Kerry climate change bill introduced in the Senate on Wednesday includes few provisions that are friendly to agriculture and will be strongly opposed by the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF)...
EPA Delaying Indirect Land Use Ruling
Sep 28, 2009, Source: Farm Press
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is reconsidering its decision to incorporate indirect land use changes in calculating the impact of biofuel production on greenhouse gas emissions for the Renewable Fuel Standard 2 (RFS 2)...
Senators Seek To Block EPA’s Indirect Land Use Rules
Sep 23, 2009, By Forrest Laws
Three Midwest senators have introduced legislation that would prevent EPA from penalizing U.S. corn and soybean growers for land-use changes or potential land clearing for increased biofuel production in other countries...
Lincoln To Chair Senate Ag Committee
Sep 10, 2009, Source: Delta Farm Press
In a move sure to please Southern agricultural interests, Arkansas Senator Blanche Lincoln has been named chairman of the Senate Agriculture Committee. Lincoln is widely viewed as a friend to Southern agriculture and has been credited with helping shape the last farm bill to the region’s benefit. She will set precedent as the first woman...
USDA Seeks Comments on Proposed Rule For Trade Adjustment Assistance for Farmers Program
Sep 3, 2009, Source: USDA
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack recently announced that the USDA is requesting comments on a proposed rule that would establish the procedures and eligibility criteria for receiving assistance under the Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) for Farmers Program. ...
Alternative Fuel Trade Alliance to Receive $1.6 Million from DOE to Expand Alternative Fuel Education
Sep 3, 2009, Source: Renewable Fuels Association
The Alternative Fuel Trade Alliance welcomed the Department of Energy’s (DOE) announcement of a grant up to $1.6 million to raise public awareness and foster understanding of alternative fuels and advanced vehicle technologies. The grant will provide support for a targeted educational plan aimed at Clean Cities Coordinators and related stakeholders...
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