Politics

RSS

The $1.3 trillion omnibus spending bill released Wednesday would exempt thousands of livestock and concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) from having to report emissions of ammonia and hydrogen sulfide.

Congressional leaders reached a last-minute agreement to put a rewrite of the new Section 199A tax benefit for farmer co-ops in an omnibus spending bill that lawmakers must pass this week, industry and congressional sources said.

The U.S. ag sector, already reeling from depressed prices, understands the White House’s desire to punish trade abuses by countries like China, but there is a growing fear that President Donald Trump’s aggressive tactics and rhetoric are threatening overseas markets, according to farm and trade officials speaking today at an Agri-Pulse forum.

Hundreds of ag stakeholders braved a Nor’easter Wednesday predicted to drop almost a half foot of snow in Washington to attend a summit on ag food and policy hosted by Agri-Pulse. Kicking off the event was Ray Starling, special assistant to President Trump for agriculture, who assured the audience that the White House position on ag trade was, "We are open for business."

Vice President Mike Pence says American farmers and ranchers are responsible for everything from feeding the hungry to serving on the school board, and the United States should be grateful for their contributions.

Congress faces a Friday deadline to pass a $1.3 trillion government-wide spending plan and companies that buy commodities from farmers hope it will include a fix to the Section 199A tax deduction that has rattled the industry.