Federal

From the National Association of Wheat Growers This week, Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) and John Boozman (R-Ark.) introduced the Improving Access to Farm Conservation Act which is a bipartisan effort to improve farmer access to the voluntary farm conservation programs run through the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), an agency within the U.S. Department of Agriculture. NRCS works with farmers to improve ... Read More »

From the National Association of Wheat Growers The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is undertaking a refresh of the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) for new fiscal year 2017 enrollments and recently posted new and revised enhancements and program information on its website. NAWG’s Environment and Renewable Resources Committee and staff have been working with NRCS, participating in listening sessions and briefings throughout ... Read More »

From the National Association of Wheat Growers Record yields across the U.S. and favorable conditions around the world this harvest season have brought the lowest price of wheat in nearly a decade, with wheat futures down, causing a dilemma for elevator operators as an oversupply of wheat has caused overcapacity in some areas. Affecting everyone from farmers to agriculture suppliers, ... Read More »

From the Capital Press Federal authorities have five years to study changes to the operation of 14 Northwest hydropower facilities aimed at mitigating harms to threatened and endangered fish. Environmental groups had called for a shorter deadline but they’re optimistic the process will compel federal agencies to come up with more aggressive operational changes. Irrigators who depend on electricity from ... Read More »

From NAWG A number of factors, including favorable weather conditions in the U.S. and large production around the globe, have contributed to incredibly low prices for wheat throughout rural America.  Prices have dipped so low that loan rates have been triggered in many areas, meaning that Marketing Assistance Loans (MALs) and Loan Deficiency Payments (LDPs) through USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) are available ... Read More »

From Kiera Franz, Environmental Policy Advisor, National Association of Wheat Growers The NAWG Environment and Renewable Resources Committee held a conference call with representatives from the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) regarding the modifications to the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP). For the fall 2016 (FY2017) enrollment in CSP (new enrollment), the application process will be changed and the enhancements associated with ... Read More »

From NAWG President Barack Obama signed the GMO labeling bill on July 29, 2016. This historic bill will require the mandatory labeling of food that contains genetic engineering. The legislation gives food producers the option to either label their products with wording or a symbol, or to provide a smart phone accessible digital QR code that when scanned, discloses information concerning whether ... Read More »

From the Capital Press Agricultural leaders are lauding passage of the House Interior and Environment Appropriations bill for Fiscal Year 2017, which they say fully funds wildfire suppression and assistance to rural counties heavy in federal lands while addressing recent examples of what they describe as government overreach. The $32.1 billion spending bill is $1 billion less than President Barack ... Read More »

From NAWG Yesterday, the House passed the GMO labeling agreement designed by Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Pat Roberts and Ranking Member Debbie Stabenow, by a vote of 306-117. The Senate passed the bill last Thursday by a vote of 63 to 30, advancing the agreement on to the House this week, and now the bill will be on the President’s ... Read More »

From Agri-Pulse The Senate easily approved an historic compromise on GMO disclosure standards late Thursday, setting up final action in the House to shut down Vermont’s week-old labeling mandate. Industry groups are lobbying House leaders to allow a vote on the bill next week before lawmakers break for the national party conventions and their August recess. A House vote is needed before ... Read More »