Articles by Sarah Gonzalez

The House Agriculture Committee released its Farm Bill legislation today, the Federal Agriculture Reform and Risk Management Act (FARRM), to be marked up in the full committee on July 11.

WASHINGTON, June 27, 2011- The House Agriculture Appropriations bill is unlikely to hit the floor until after the House Agriculture Committee’s markup of farm bill legislation beginning on July 11, said House Agriculture Committee Chairman Frank Lucas, R-Okla., today.

While Russia’s accession to the WTO inches closer, Congress members are debating the appropriate way to address legislation that would grant Permanent Normal Trade Relations (PNTR) status with the nation, among the humanitarian and cooperative concerns they have with Russia.

The Senate voted to scrap two Farm Bill amendments today, including one to phase out the sugar program, and another to replace the federal food stamp program with a block grant program for states. The “Agriculture Reform, Food and Jobs Act of 2012” still has more than 240 amendments as of Wednesday

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton announced the 2012 World Food Prize Laureate is Daniel Hillel, an expert in irrigation systems and the developer of “micro-irrigation.”

Senators Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., and Pat Roberts, R-Kans., said they are prepared to consider several amendments to the Agriculture Reform, Food and Jobs Act of 2012. As the Senate prepares to take up the 2012 Farm Bill, the Senate Agriculture Committee leaders highlighted the reforms included in

Senator John Thune, R-S.D., said obstacles to passing the Agriculture Reform, Food and Jobs Act of 2012 through the Senate include amendments regarding regional differences as well as unrelated amendments that may be proposed.

Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Kathleen Merrigan spoke at the Atlantic’s 2012 Food Summit held in Washington, DC yesterday, where she said the Senate Agriculture Committee’s Farm Bill maintained and even increased programs designated for horticulture and organic food.

Senator John Thune, R-S.D., reiterated the urgency of passing a new farm bill this year during a conference call with media today. He said he is optimistic that the Senate will complete action on the Senate Agriculture Committee’s farm bill in June.