Washington Week Ahead: House tackles ag labor; Senate to move Interior, USTR nominees

03/14/21 10:00 AM By Philip Brasher

The Senate is set to OK President Joe Biden’s nominees for Interior secretary and U.S. Trade Representative this week, while the House looks to jump-start a congressional debate over immigration reform and farm labor.

Lawmakers reintroduce ag labor bill

03/04/21 12:00 AM By Phil Brasher

The Farm Workforce Modernization Act, which would overhaul and expand the H-2A visa program, is in the mix again as lawmakers consider trying to pass immigration reform.

Lawmakers told to use stimulus to legalize farmworkers

09/24/20 10:51 AM By Brad Hooker

House Dems are using the pandemic to make the case that undocumented farmworkers get legal status.

California Dems join call for a COVID-19 rural task force

06/12/20 8:00 AM By Brad Hooker

Democratic congressmembers are advocating for more attention to rural areas in the federal response to the coronavirus pandemic.

Deep Dive on Dairy Episode Four: Help Wanted

02/13/20 12:00 PM By Spencer Chase and Ben Nuelle

This is the fourth podcast in our five-part series examining a wide range of issues facing the dairy industry sponsored by Edge Dairy Farmer Cooperative. In this episode, Spencer Chase and Ben Nuelle explore the realities of how hard it can be to secure a reliable workforce for the nation's dairy farms, what that means to the producer, and what is being done about it on Capitol Hill.

Daybreak: Push starts for ag labor reforms

10/29/19 11:34 PM By Brad Hooker

CDFA reports on antibiotic resistance * House Dems, Lighthizer expected to meet

Democrats look to farmers, workers for compromise on H-2A reforms

04/03/19 3:36 PM By Philip Brasher

House Democrats say they are sympathetic to farmers who are struggling to find sufficient labor, but a compromise on fixes to the H-2A visa program will likely require support from farmworkers.

House Democrats, White House both mull ag labor reforms

03/06/19 6:46 AM By Philip Brasher

Despite President Donald Trump’s ongoing battle with lawmakers over funding a border wall, preliminary efforts are underway both at the White House and in the House to craft immigration legislation that could address the labor shortage in agriculture.

New farmworker visa program squeaks through panel

10/25/17 5:19 PM By Philip Brasher

WASHINGTON, Oct. 25, 2017 - The House Judiciary Committee narrowly approved a proposed new agricultural guestworker program after two days of heated debate that saw Democrats take a page from President Trump's campaign playbook and argue that the plan would undercut U.S. wages by importing low-cost labor.

Sen. Tina Smith, D-Minn.

This week’s Open Mic guest is Sen. Tina Smith, D-Minn. In a state noted for its lakes and natural beauty, dry weather remains a huge issue for livestock and crop farmers alike. Smith says additional federal support may be needed in her state and others. In this interview, Smith discusses the two infrastructure packages at play on Capitol Hill as well as concerns over federal spending. Smith is a strong supporter of the Renewable Fuel Standard but agrees with a balanced “all of the above” attitude toward the nation’s energy needs. She shares concerns over cattle price discovery and sees labor issues as a top priority for the ag industry.

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Opinions

Opinion: American Families Plan “transfer tax” proposal is the real threat to agriculture

In this opinion piece, former Rep. Collin Peterson, D-Minn., discusses how family farms and ranches will negatively be affected due to the transfer tax that would have to be paid to use stepped-up basis.

Agri-Pulse TV

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Agri-Pulse TV

07.30.2021

Washington Week in Review: July 30, 2021: Infrastructure bill, confirmation and beef hearings

It was a busy week in Washington as Senators announced an infrastructure agreement and a pair of USDA nominees headed to Capitol Hill to try and make their way to the department. More on that and a look at a pair of hearings examining the beef industry in this week's video.

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