Federal

From the National Association of Wheat Growers The U.S. Departments of Agriculture (USDA) and Interior (DOI) yesterday announced more than $47 million in funding to help water districts and producers on private working lands better conserve water resources. The funds include $15 million in USDA funds and $32.6 million from the Bureau of Reclamation for local projects to improve water and energy efficiency ... Read More »

From Agri-Pulse A landmark Senate agreement on national disclosure standards for genetically engineered foods would allow companies to disclose GMO ingredients through digital codes rather than on-package language or symbols. The agreement, reached between Senate Agriculture Chairman Pat Roberts, R-Kan., and ranking Democrat Debbie Stabenow of Michigan, also would use a narrow definition of genetic engineering that would exempt the ... Read More »

By Trista Crossley Battle scars from the last farm bill debate have just barely faded, but according to industry representatives, it’s already time for agriculture to start thinking about the next farm bill, due in 2018. “It didn’t seem like agriculture had a loud enough voice in negotiations on the last farm bill,” explained Michelle Hennings, executive director of the ... Read More »

By Josh Tonsager Legislative Director, National Association of Wheat Growers Congressional action this year on policy priorities important to wheat farmers has taken some unexpected turns, and the outlook for the legislative process is unclear. By now, this should not come as a surprise to anyone who has been following Congress the past several years. What should come as a ... Read More »

From Agri-Pulse A spending bill that included a rider to stop the Obama administration from implementing its “waters of the U.S.” rule failed in the House after conservatives bolted over an amendment that was adopted to protect LGBT rights. The defeat of the bill threw in doubt the open amendment process that the GOP leadership was using to debate appropriations ... Read More »

The National Association of Wheat Growers (NAWG) has selected Chandler Goule as it’s new chief executive officer, replacing Jim Palmer who stepped down to spend more time with his family on his Missouri farm. Goule will assume his responsibilities on July 5. Most recently, Goule served as senior vice president of programs at the National Farmers Union (NFU) where he ... Read More »

From NAWG Last Thursday, the Senate Appropriations Committee unanimously approved the Senate version of the FY 2017 Agriculture Appropriations bill. The bill includes $21.25 billion in discretionary spending, including $2.54 billion for ag research through the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) and the National Institute of Food Agriculture (AFRI). Additionally, similar to the House version, the Senate bill increases funding for ... Read More »

From U.S. Wheat Associates and the National Association of Wheat Growers On May 18, the International Trade Commission (ITC) released its highly anticipated report on the economic impacts expected to accrue from the adoption of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP). For the entire agriculture and food sector, the report forecasts a $7.2 billion increase in exports or a growth of about ... Read More »

From Agri-Pulse The Trans-Pacific Partnership would reduce the U.S. trade deficit and increate jobs throughout the country, but some of the biggest gains would be for the agriculture sector, according to a U.S. International Trade Commission report released Wednesday evening. The report concludes that if the TPP were implemented agricultural exports would rise by about $7.2 billion per year by 2032. Imports ... Read More »

From the Capital Press Agriculture groups are nervous that a “technical report” released by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will be used to justify new federal controls over water usage. The EPA claims its report — “Protecting Aquatic Life from Effects of Hydrologic Alteration” — is meant to provide state regulators with “technical support” about the impact of water ... Read More »