Steve Davies

Daybreak Feb 26: Vilsack keeping powder dry on climate plan

02/26/21 10:00 AM By Philip Brasher, Bill Tomson, Steve Davies, and Ben Nuelle

Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack is meeting with climate advisers today as he moves ahead on what will be a top priority for his tenure. So far, he’s divulging little about the department’s plans or timetable for addressing the issue. But he does say USDA will be heavily focused on building a case for programs Congress could implement in the next farm bill, due in 2023.

Daybreak Feb 25: He’s back: Vilsack sworn in

02/25/21 10:00 AM By Philip Brasher, Steve Davies, Bill Tomson, and Ben Nuelle

Tom Vilsack is officially wearing the title “agriculture secretary” again. He was sworn in Wednesday evening and will be talking to the media today.

Daybreak Feb 24: Vilsack taking charge at USDA

02/24/21 10:00 AM By Philip Brasher, Ben Nuelle, Bill Tomson, and Steve Davies

Tom Vilsack will be back in very familiar surroundings today after winning easy Senate confirmation as agriculture secretary. He is expected to be sworn in today.

Minority advocates say debt relief provisions have legal backing

02/24/21 6:36 AM By Steve Davies

Advocates for minority farmers say historical discrimination justifies providing payments totaling 120% of debt held by “socially disadvantaged” farmers, as approved by the House Agriculture Committee in its $16.1 billion COVID relief package, part of a larger $1.9 trillion relief bill to be considered by the full House of Representatives.

Daybreak Feb 23: Vilsack faces long to-do list

02/23/21 11:00 AM By Philip Brasher, Spencer Chase, and Steve Davies

The Senate is finally set to vote today on sending Tom Vilsack back to USDA for a new stint as agriculture secretary, more than a month after Joe Biden became president.

Wage rates for H-2A farmworkers up 4.5% in 2021

02/22/21 12:25 PM By Steve Davies

The Adverse Effect Wage Rate that farmers are required to pay H-2A workers is rising by an average of 4.5% nationally to $14.62 per hour this year, with some western and Plains states seeing significantly higher increases.

Daybreak Feb 22: Senate panel sets Thursday hearing to consider Tai for USTR

02/22/21 8:59 AM By Bill Tomson, Philip Brasher, Steve Davies, and Ben Nuelle

The Senate Finance Committee will hold a hearing Thursday to consider the nomination of Katherine Tai to be President Joe Biden’s U.S. Trade Representative and point person on the future of trade relations with China.

Daybreak Feb 19: Best wishes to Bob Dole

02/19/21 9:37 AM By Philip Brasher, Steve Davies, Bill Tomson, Ben Nuelle, and Spencer Chase

Former Sen. Bob Dole, who is 97, starts treatment on Monday for stage four lung cancer. “While I certainly have some hurdles ahead. I also know that I join millions of Americans who face significant health challenges of their own,” Dole said in a statement he posted Thursday.

Biotech advocate warns of sustainability hurdles

02/18/21 1:50 PM By Steve Davies

Interest groups have become so hardened in their views about which types of agriculture benefit the environment that the fact that some COVID vaccines have been developed using genetic engineering is unlikely to change minds about the technology’s benefits, an industry advocate says.

Daybreak Feb 18: Ag Outlook kicks off, virtually

02/18/21 9:07 AM By Philip Brasher, Ben Nuelle, Bill Tomson, and Steve Davies

USDA’s 97th annual Ag Outlook Forum kicks off this morning, and for the first time the meeting will be held online. USDA’s new chief economist, Seth Meyer will provide the department’s annual forecast for crop and livestock production this year.

Newsmakers

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Agri-Pulse Newsmakers

09.13.2024

Agri-Pulse Newsmakers: Sept. 13, 2024: Sen. John Hoeven on trade, farm bill; farmer panel

North Dakota Republican Sen. John Hoeven joins the show to discuss the potential impact on agriculture of Donald Trump’s tariff proposals.

Then, incoming National Sorghum Producers Chairwoman Amy France and American Soybean Association director Ronnie Russell discuss the unique farm bill push from coalitions of row crop farmers on Capitol Hill this week.

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