American Farm Bureau Federation
Seven groups call for a doubling of $1 a year beef checkoff
Seven national groups announced support for doubling the beef checkoff to $2 a head. The process would begin with passage by Congress of a bill allowing the $2 checkoff and would be followed within a year by a referendum among beef producers and importers whether to increase the checkoff, which as been $1 a head since 1986. Proponents say the $2 checkoff would offset the effects of inflation and the shrinkage in U.S. cattle numbers.
McDonald’s opts for no-antibiotic chicken, no-BST milk
The largest U.S. restaurant chain, McDonald's, announced a two-year plan to stop serving chicken raised with medically important antibiotics at its 14,000 outlets. "Our customers want food they feel good about eating -- all the way from the farm to the restaurant," said McDonald's U.S. president, Mike Andres, in a statement. The environmental group Natural Resources Defense Council said the announcement was "a big step forward" in efforts to prevent over-use of antibiotics and...
Farm Bureau opposes E-Verify bill in House
The six-million-member American Farm Bureau Federation opposes the workforce regulation approved by the House Judiciary Committee. AFBF president Bob Stallman said the bill would drive away farm workers without providing a way to find replacements. Half or more of farm workers are undocumented. Stallman told reporters that a vote for the Legal Workforce Act, HR 1147, known as E-Verify, "is a vote to harm U.S. agriculture."
Four lawyers, chief economist join Senate Ag Committee
Chairman Pat Roberts announced the hiring of eight additional staff members for the Senate Agriculture Committee, including Anne Hazlett as chief counsel and Matt Erickson as chief economist.
EPA withdraws interpretive rule for Waters of United States
The government withdrew the so-called interpretive rule for its Waters of the United States proposal, a step that farm groups said was required by the omnibus appropriations bill enacted at the end of 2015.
“The most challenging year” for crop insurance
One of the top lobbyists at the American Farm Bureau Federation says budget-cutting pressure means that, "This is probably the most challenging year for crop insurance in a long time," AgWeb reports in a story from the Crop Insurance and Reinsurance Bureau meeting.
US-Cuba normalization expected to bring larger farm exports
Normalization of U.S.-Cuba relations, announced by President Obama, will include easier terms for selling U.S. food and agricultural equipment to the island nation, long viewed by farm groups as a natural and nearby market.
Farm Bureau head opposes GMO food labels
The leader of the largest U.S. farm organization said GMO food labeling, debated at the state level for the past three years, would result in "patchwork regulation that will do nothing but raise the cost of food." At the opening session of the American Farm Bureau Federation convention in San Diego, president Bob Stallman said "we need a national, fact-based approach to food labeling." Stallman also said, "We need to maintain farmers' access to better seeds and technology, whether it's through today's technology or innovations yet to come."
Doggett is named Corn Growers executive vice president
The National Corn Growers Association promoted Jon Doggett, its vice president of public policy since 2002, to the post of executive vice president, starting Jan 1.
Coalition calls for Congress to pass “tax extenders” package
Some 525 trade and business groups, including farm groups, urged Congress to revive four dozen tax breaks that expired on Jan 1, the so-called "tax extenders" package. In a letter, the groups said the tax incentives should be restored as soon as possible. "We urge all members of Congress to work together to extend seamlessly, enhance, or make permanent these important tax provisions this year to provide a necessary bridge to comprehensive tax reform," said the groups.
Cost of Thanksgiving dinner is stable for fourth year in a row
A spot-check of grocery store prices across the country says the cost of materials for Thanksgiving dinner is nearly unchanged for the fourth year in a row.
Farm groups urge immigration, guest-worker reforms
Broad-ranging reform is needed for U.S. immigration and guest worker laws, said three farm groups who supported the comprehensive reform bill passed by the Senate in 2013.
Obama mulls action on immigration
President Barack Obama "is reportedly reviewing proposals to allow as many as 5 million illegal immigrants to stay in the United States at least temporarily, according to several people familiar with his plans," said the Washington Post, with a decision "either this month or in early December." Republican leaders in Congress say the president should delay action or risk opposition on a wide range of administration goals.
Farm groups, agribusiness agree on ground rules for Big Data
A dozen farm groups and agribusinesses agreed on a 10 principles for data privacy and security in the emerging field of agricultural Big Data. The agreement follows months of discussions.
USDA could take step this week toward new beef checkoff
The Agriculture Department could ask for suggestions as early as this week on how to structure a new beef checkoff program, said an official at the largest U.S. farm group.
Agriculture’s top hope for lame duck – revival of tax breaks
Congress is fairly likely during its post-election session to revive a package of tax incentives that expired on Jan 1, said the leaders of the two largest U.S. farm groups. The package includes the $1 a gallon tax credit for biodiesel, tax credits for wind and solar power, and generous write-offs for purchases of equipment and other assets. Bob Stallman, president of the American Farm Bureau Federation, told reporters the so-called tax extenders package was...
Big data is boon, farmers say, but they worry who gets it
U.S. farmers say Big Data allows them to reduce costs and boost yields but they also worry the information could wind up in the hands of regulators or could be used by someone else to speculate in the commodity market, says the largest U.S. farm group.
A home-cooked bacon cheeseburger costs more
Americans are paying noticeably more for the three main ingredients of a bacon cheeseburger - ground chuck, cheese and bacon - than a year ago, says the largest U.S. farm group in a semi-annual market basket survey.
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.