AgribusinessA Texas farm policy consultant says lawmakers have discussed a roughly $12 billion agricultural assistance package that could join the Farm Bill and spending bills in the year-end session.
AgribusinessWith the US Farm Bill expired since 30 September, Agricultural Retailers Association chief Daren Coppock puts the chance of a new bill this year at somewhat less than 50-50, blaming the SNAP dispute.
CropsWith the 2018 farm law expired on 30 September, USDA's Farm Service Agency has stopped approving new Conservation Reserve Program contracts while Congress has yet to agree a new bill.
AgribusinessWith Congress on a month-long campaign recess and the last extension expired, the Senate agriculture chairman says the farm bill may not pass; a dispute over SNAP penalties remains a sticking point.
AgribusinessHouse Agriculture Committee chairman Glenn Thompson told reporters at World Dairy Expo that the Senate's bill matches the House on 11 of 12 titles, and that diesel costs and a legal, year-round workforce dominate dairy farmers' concerns.
CropsThe National Association of Wheat Growers says diesel near $7 a gallon, dearer fertilizer and low wheat prices are pushing family farms toward a breaking point as the latest 2018 Farm Bill extension expires.
LivestockThe Senate Agriculture Committee left Proposition 12 out of its farm bill, but the National Pork Producers Council says the House bill's provision could survive when the two versions are merged in conference.
AgribusinessSenator John Boozman says higher ARC and PLC payments are coming this autumn, House and Senate differences are small and USDA can keep programmes running, but SNAP cost-sharing still blocks the 60 votes needed.
CropsPlains Cotton Growers met about 26 lawmakers and Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins to push for a completed farm bill, emergency help and drought assistance as low margins squeeze producers.
CropsUS farmers must pick Agriculture Risk Coverage or Price Loss Coverage for 2026 by 11 December, and Texas A&M's Agricultural and Food Policy Center has updated its free online decision aid for the new rules.
LivestockNorth Dakota Senator John Hoeven told the state's cattle producers that the Senate farm bill carries his provisions to cap prairie dog colonies on federal grazing land and widen livestock disaster payments.
AgribusinessUSDA is making its fast-track direct-loan process permanent and cutting paperwork for guaranteed loans, while Farm Bureau says the loan caps themselves need Congress to act.
National Farmers Union brought nearly 250 family farmers and ranchers to Washington for its annual Legislative Fly-In, visiting every congressional office to demand an updated safety net, stronger competition rules, mandatory country-of-origin labelling and new domestic markets.
