American Farm Bureau Federation
Visa paperwork snarls delay of seasonal farmworkers, threatening harvests
Farmers reported labor shortages in more than 20 states, threatening harvests, due to delays in federal approval for seasonal workers from foreign countries, said the largest U.S. farm group.
White House threatens veto of WOTUS rider
As the Senate opened debate on the energy and water funding bill, the White House warned against using the bill as a vehicle to stop the EPA's Waters of the United States (WOTUS) regulation.
Ag outlook dour, wrong time to cut farm supports
In preview of issues for the 2018 farm bill, the leaders of the two largest U.S. farm groups argued against cuts in farm subsidies as the agricultural sector endures years of low commodity prices and income that is a fraction of the record set in 2013 at the end of a seven-year boom.
Cost of a spring picnic holds steady
Americans planning a spring picnic will spend around $53 for groceries to fix sandwiches, salad and non-alcoholic beverages for an outing of 10 people, according to a survey of grocery store prices in 28 states.
AFBF chief says low prices mean trying times on the farm
With farm income down sharply since 2013, "farmers are going through a trying time," said Zippy Duvall, the newly elected president of the American Farm Bureau Federation, the largest U.S. farm group. "It is a very difficult time with commodity prices as low as they are."
New Farm Bureau president says no to mandatory GMO labels
The largest U.S. farm group supports voluntary rather than mandatory nationwide labeling of GMO foods, said Zippy Duvall, shortly after his election as president of the American Farm Bureau Federation.
Farm groups ask EPA to allow sale of Dow herbicide
Farmers need "new technology to address the weed control challenges on U.S. farms now," and the EPA should make sure a new weedkiller is available for the spring planting season, said five large U.S. ag groups.
Higher-priced turkey pushes up cost of Thanksgiving dinner
The centerpiece of the Thanksgiving meal, a roasted turkey, will cost about 6 percent more than a year ago, the result of the avian influenza epidemic that swept turkey and poultry farms in the Midwest last spring.
U.S. groups detail benefits, or lack of them, in 12-nation TPP
The newly concluded Trans-Pacific Partnership will remove sales barriers from nations that buy $63 billion worth of U.S. farm exports, said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. Almost as soon as accord was announced in Atlanta, completing five years of negotiations, U.S. farm groups focused on its benefits - or lack of them - for Americans.
Head of largest U.S. farm group to retire in January
Cattle and rice producer Bob Stallman will retire as president of the American Farm Bureau Federation in January, after 16 years as leader of the organization.
House Republicans nix immigration reform-GOP lawmaker
Florida Republican Mario Diaz-Balart, an advocate of comprehensive immigration reform, said House Republican leaders told him "they have no intention to bring this bill to the floor this year,” said Roll Call. Diaz-Balart had drafted a reform bill. It was the latest setback for reform, stalled for a year in the GOP-controlled House. The outlook has been increasingly bleak for the past two weeks.
Crop scouting and data-gathering will be ag drones’ domain
Drone aircraft are a natural fit for data-hungry precision agriculture, helping growers fine-tune their operations and maximize income, says private consulting group Informa, which estimates the gains at $12 an acre for corn, $2.60 for soybeans and $2.25 for wheat.
Senate panel approves bill to override clean-water rule
The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee approved a bill to obviate the recently issued "waters of the United States" rule that defines the upstream reach of the Clean Water Act.
Biggest U.S. farm group steps up drive against water rule
The largest U.S. farm group says the EPA's proposed "waters of the United States" rule "is even worse than before." The six-million-member American Farm Bureau Federation released a lengthy analysis of the so-called WOTUS rule...
Price of picnic food is up 5 percent in a year
A check of food prices in 25 states says it will cost less than $6 a person to put on a summer picnic. Overall, the price of groceries for the meal is up 5 percent from 2013. Meat and cheese are up the most - more than 13 percent - in the informal survey by the American Farm Bureau Federation and timed to coincide with the Independence Day weekend. Its 84 volunteer shoppers gathered prices for enough food to feed 10 people.
Backyard cookouts cost less as dairy, pork prices fall
The grocery bill for a summertime cookout is a bit lower than a year ago, thanks to lower prices for cheese, hotdogs, buns and watermelon, says an informal survey by the largest U.S. farm group.
Canada, Mexico ask $3.7 billion in retaliation for U.S. label law
Canada and Mexico said they will ask the WTO approval for $3.7 billion in retaliatory tariffs on U.S. agricultural and manufactured goods in their latest response to a U.S. meat-labeling law. "The only way for the United States to avoid billions in immediate retaliation is to repeal COOL," said Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz of Canada, referring to the country-of-origin labeling law. The U.S. House could vote as early as next week on a bill to repeal COOL for beef, pork and chicken, the three most widely consumed meats.
“Repeal of mandatory COOL is the surest way,” says Roberts
Warning of retaliatory tariffs of more than $3 billion, Senate Agriculture chairman Pat Roberts said, "Repeal of mandatory COOL is the surest way to protect the U.S. economy." Farm and industry groups generally joined the call for repeal during an Agriculture Committee hearing on the impact of a WTO ruling that U.S. country-of-origin labels (COOL) on packages of beef and pork violate world trade rules by discouraging imports from Canada and Mexico.
Farm groups prod Congress for economic relief
With two weeks left in the congressional schedule for this year, time is running out for lawmakers to provide financial relief to agriculture, said two farm groups. "It is imperative that they address the well-defined and fully substantiated needs of farmers just trying to hold on for another season," said Zippy Duvall, president of the American Farm Bureau Federation.