Politics

RSS

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and National Economic Council Director Brian Deese unveiled a new report that blamed consolidation in the beef, pork and poultry sectors for higher grocery store bills and unveiled new actions to address the situation.

House Democrats are proposing a $35 billion expansion of child feeding assistance as part of their massive tax and spending package, and a lawmaker announced Wednesday that the measure also would include $1 billion in biofuel aid.

House Democrats are moving ahead this week with debating key provisions of the $3.5 trillion tax and spending package. The House Ways and Means Committee has announced plans to take up the health care, paid leave and child care provisions Thursday and Friday. That would push its action on tax issues into next week.

The California Farm Bureau Federation plans to host a rally outside of the California state Capitol on 11 a.m. Thursday in opposition of Assembly Bill 616, a measure that will change the current process for farmworker union elections.

An Agri-Pulse analysis of the compensation earned by leaders of the nation's most prominent farm, food and energy groups is beginning to reflect the months when the nation shut down and the food chain faced unprecedented challenges. But the true impacts; and their reflection in publicly available tax documents; might not be realized for another year or two.

House Democrats are forging ahead with writing a massive new tax and spending package with major implications for the next farm bill as well as producers’ finances.

The growing trade relationship between the U.S. and Colombia is threatening to turn sour for U.S. dairy, and industry representatives are asking the Biden administration to step in.

House and Senate Ag Committee Republicans are urging the Food and Agricultural Climate Alliance to join them in calling on Democrats to hold public hearings ahead of considering ag spending in the $3.5 trillion budget reconciliation bill. Committee Chairman David Scott, D-Ga., has announced a business meeting for Friday to consider the reconciliation package.

Fallen structures, electrical wires and damaged barges are still clogging the lower Mississippi River, but Louisiana Ag Commissioner Mike Strain says he expects the main artery for U.S. ag exports to be at least partially open for traffic in five days or less.

Despite an expected increase in net cash farm income this year, median total farm household income is projected to drop to $80,314 for 2020 and $79,909 in 2021, according to the Department of Agriculture.